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〜が (Identifying the Subject)

Learn how to ask and answer who or which one does something using the subject particle が to introduce specific focus information.

In Japanese, when a question word like 誰 (dare, who) is the subject of the sentence, it must be marked by the particle が (ga), not は (wa). In the response, the person who is the subject must also be marked with が because it is introducing new, specific focus information that directly answers the 'who' question.

田中さんが来ます。

Mr. Tanaka is coming.

Similarly, when asking 'which one' using どれ (dore), you must use が. The responder also uses が with a demonstrative like これ (this one) or あれ (that one over there) to identify the specific object.

これが私のペンです。

This is my pen.

Practice

Follow along with these examples to strengthen your understanding.

誰が来ますか？

Who is coming?

田中さんが来ます。

Mr. Tanaka is coming.

誰がコーヒーを飲みますか？

Who will drink coffee?

佐藤さんが飲みます。

Mr. Sato will drink it.

どれがあなたのペンですか？

Which one is your pen?

これが私のペンです。

This is my pen.

どれが美味しいですか？

Which one is delicious?

あれが美味しいです。

That one over there is delicious.

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〜が (Identifying the Subject) | Ringoo