2.1 Subject and Topic

AI-generated

Overview

Learn how Japanese uses は to set the topic and が to introduce or focus on what exists in a situation.

The particle が is used when something appears, exists, or changes. In this story, が introduces new information or events.

。

There is a cat.

。

A child came.

。

The cat runs away.

Once something is known, は is used to set it as the topic and to describe it further.

。

The cat is white.

。

The child looks at the cat.

は is also used to show contrast. In the final part of the story, the park stays the same, but the cat is no longer there.

。

The park is quiet.

。

There is no cat.

As information moves from new to known, Japanese naturally shifts from が to は.

In the morning, I went to the park. The park is quiet.

Under the bench, there is a cat. The cat is white.

Its eyes are big. Its tail is long.

After a while, a child came. The child looks at the cat.

The cat looks at the child. But the cat runs away.

Now, the park is quiet. But the cat is not there.

Title	Description
が	introduces or focuses on the subject (existence, appearance, change)
は	sets the topic or creates contrast

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