STRUCTURE
N＋が＋述語
HOW TO USE IT
- が follows a noun and marks the subject of the sentence: N + が + predicate.
- When a question word is the subject (だれが, 何が), use が. The answer to that question also uses が.
- Use が for a person or thing you have just noticed or are introducing: あそこに猫がいます。
- When the subject is already mentioned and the new part is the predicate, は is usually used (see ～は).
WATCH OUT
×だれはパーティーに来ましたか。
○だれがパーティーに来ましたか。
A question word used as the subject does not take は. Use だれが.
×部屋に猫をいます。
○部屋に猫がいます。
います／あります take no object. The thing that exists is the subject, so use が.
Examples
あそこに田中さんがいます。
あそこにたなかさんがいます。
Tanaka is over there.
教室にだれがいますか。
きょうしつにだれがいますか。
Who is in the classroom?
駅の前に新しいコンビニがあります。
えきのまえにあたらしいコンビニがあります。
There is a new convenience store in front of the station.
Often confused with
How each pair differs, with the exam trap in context, is in the Toey lesson.
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