Japanese Language Stack Exchange
Japanese Language Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [topic]

20 questions
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Can the は particle be a topic and contrast marker at same time?

I know the は particle can function as a topic marker or contrast marker. But can it be topic and contrast marker at the same time? Here are a few examples: A) ビールは飲{の}まない。 B) 肉{にく}は食{た}べないけど魚{さかな}は食{た}べるよ。 C) 田中さんは日本語{にほんご}は上手{じょうず}です。 If I…
ZeroProcess
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私の or 私が to introduce a possessed topic

If I want to say "I lack of imagination" for example, or "My car is red" is it better to use 私の or to use 私は? what are the differences between these examples ? are they correct and natural…
Poulp
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More complex sentences - When to use は? When to use が?

I know the basics about the difference in the usage between は and が. Nevertheless, when it comes to more complex sentences, I encounter difficulties that I want to explain on base of some examples. Maybe, somebody can briefly confirm whether my…
Kenny
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Does も change the topic?

Given a simple pattern like this, I'm wondering what the topic of the third sentence is. クラウスさんは学生です。 私も学生です。 日本語を勉強します。 After using も in the second sentence, is the topic of the third sentence still クラウスさん, 私, or both?
manonthemat
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Sentence topic without grammatical function

From here: このスポーツは、海の上を走る水上オートバイから足に付けたボードにホースで水を送って、ボードから出る水の強い力で空中を飛びます。 In this sport you fly through the air using the force of water ejected from a board attached to the feet. Water is sent to the board using a hose from a jet ski that runs…
user3856370
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について as a topic marker

I don't know if this question is appropriate for this site or not, but I am going to ask this question hoping for clarification. When I hear について It feels like the declaration or introduction of something and somehow I expect a comment (wathever it…
Splikie
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は after words like 何か or 誰か

So I know you can't use は after an interrogative word like 何 or 誰. However, if you add a か after them, they're no longer interrogative words, right? So I should be able to say something like: 誰かは教室に入ったみたいだな But for some reason, it sounds wrong.…
Fernando
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Use of ni or wa for " I always eat with my older brother on monday"

In my textbooks solution it says getsuyoubi ha itsumo ani to isshoni tabemasu I thought it would be getsuyoubi ni Thank you in advance
Ciff
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Where is the topic in a Japanese sentence?

I'm currently learning Japanese, and I realise that the language has something known as a topic, something which is unheard of in English. According to Wikipedia, It is written with the hiragana は, which is normally pronounced ha, but when used as…
Kyoma
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は vs が when the subject is modified by a relative clause

Please note that the question is not whether the subject in a relative clause should be followed by は or が. (In that case I am aware that the thematic は cannot be used.) I was reading section II.2, Wa and Ga, of the Structure of the Japanese…
LAMC
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In ジョンは台所で本を読みました。does で modify book or kitchen?

I'm trying to teach myself about linguistics, and one example of Subject-Object-verb word order was ジョンは台所で本を読みました Which the Wikipedia article translates as John read a book in the kitchen. But given that the paragraph before says: The basic…
AncientSwordRage
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When to use は instead of other particles

I have seen that は acts as a sort of negation (or contrast) particle, although I'm not sure how it works, for example: 1) わたし は ともだち が いません 2) わたし の ともだち が いません Is 1) the only correct sentence? Why? And what's the rule for using は instead of other…
Noxio
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The role of って in 「コーヒーって若いうち**は**あまり飲まないほうがいいんですか。」

Consider コーヒーって若いうちはあまり飲まないほうがいいんですか。 Is it best to not drink a lot of coffee while you're young? Here, is って just short for と言う, and it acting as a topic marker (は)? If so, would the sentence change in meaning (or connotation) if って was just…
George
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What is the exact difference between the particles が and は?

I understand that が is meant to mark the subject and that は is the particle placed after the topic, but still after a heck ton of research, I haven't been able to truly comprehend the meaning of both these particles, and in particular, the…
amito135
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Can が be replaced by something else in this structure?

So reviewing basic grammar I've come across a structure where you use は and が to show contrast in the following way: (私は)土曜日は暇ですが、日曜日は忙しいです。 This sentence sounds right to me, but it would sound right like this as…
Fernando
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