が（主語）: rules, examples & exercises | Japanese Grammar A1

が（主語）

A1 — 助詞

Subject marker が — marks the subject, new information, and grammatical focus

Can use が to mark the subject for new information, existence, and with question words

Subject marker が — marks the subject, new information, and grammatical focus

Examples

助詞A1

Subject marker が — marks the subject, new information, and grammatical focus

Learning Goal

Can use が for subject marking

Exam Skills:JLPT N5 Grammar

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

日本語が好きです。

I like Japanese.

あそこに猫がいます。

There is a cat over there.

何がありますか。

What is there?

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

が marks the subject — especially for new information, with existence verbs, and after question words.

Key rule: After question words (誰, 何, どこ), always use が, never は.

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Using は instead of が after question words; Forgetting が with 好き/嫌い/分かる/ある/いる

日本語が好きです。

I like Japanese.

日本語(にほんご, Japanese) + が(subject) + 好き(すき, liked) + です — with 好き, the liked thing takes が

あそこに猫がいます。

There is a cat over there.

あそこ(over there) + に(location) + 猫(ねこ, cat) + が(subject) + います(exists, animate)

何がありますか。

What is there?

何(なに, what) + が(subject — always が after question words) + あります(exists, inanimate) + か

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

When is が（主語） used?: が marks the subject — especially for new information, with existence verbs, and after question words.
How is が（主語） formed?: Key rule: After question words (誰, 何, どこ), always use が, never は.
What are common mistakes with が（主語）?: Using は instead of が after question words; Forgetting が with 好き/嫌い/分かる/ある/いる