Topic Particle は and Particle も

Last time, you learned how to express state-of-being with Japanese nouns like “学生がくせいだ ([I’m a] student.)” In Japanese, sentences without subjects are very common when contexts clearly tell what or who you are referring to. Then, what should you do when it is not clear what you are talking about? In this article, you will learn how to use the topic particle は and the particle も.

Expressing a Topic with the Topic Particle は and the Particle も

In Japanese, being able to use particles correctly (you will learn more later on) has a significant importance on determining whether a sentence makes sense or not. Take it e asy. The number of the major particles is approximately ten. Let’s see how it works one by one.

The Topic Particle は

私わたしは学生がくせい（だ / です）。
I’m a student.

山やま田ださんは先生せんせい（じゃない / じゃありません）。
Yamada-san is not a teacher.

ボブはアメリカ人じん（だ / です）。
Bob is an American.

The topic particle は is always pronounced as わ and placed after a word that you want to make a topic. This has a function that separates a sentence into two sections: Topic and Predicate. In general, the topic particle は should be used once in a sentence.

私わたしは	学生がくせい（だ / です）
Topic / Subject	Predicate

When a Subject Differs from a Topic

Although a topic set by は can be a subject at the same time, it’s not necessarily that they are the same in a sentence and this structure is common in Japanese. *You will learn how adjectives work in the next lesson.

色いろは	赤色あかいろが	きれい（だ / です）
Topic	Subject	Predicate
As for colors, red is beautiful.

ごはんは	寿司すしが	美味おいしい（です）
Topic	Subject	Predicate
As for meals, Sushi is delicious.

The Particle も

The particle も has a function expressing “inclusion” and is placed after a word when you want to emphasize inclusion. The particle も can be translated as “too” or “also.” Let’s check the following examples.

色いろは	青色あおいろも	きれい（だ / です）
Topic	Subject (Inclusion)	Predicate
As for colors, blue is also beautiful. *It implies that there are other beautiful colors.

夜よるごはんも	寿司すしが	いい（です）
Topic (Inclusion)	Subject	Predicate
As for dinner, Sushi is good, too. *It implies that he thinks Sushi is good for lunch or breakfast.

More Examples

名な前まえはボブ（じゃない / じゃありません）。
[My] name is not Bob.

私わたしもボブ（じゃない / じゃありません）。
I’m not Bob, too.

歌うたは芸げい術じゅつ（だ / です）。
Songs are the arts.

絵えも芸げい術じゅつ（だ / です）。
Drawings are also the arts.

大学だいがくは東とう京きょう大学だいがくがいい（です）。
As for universities, the University of Tokyo is good.

病びょう院いんも東とう京きょう病びょう院いんがいい（です）。
As for hospitals, the Hospital of Tokyo is good, too.

ホテルは京きょう都とホテルもいい（です）。
As for hotels, Kyoto Hotel is good, too.

Summary

The topic particle は works as “X is …”
The topic particle は also works as “As for X, … is …”
The particle も can express “inclusion”

Now, you can set a topic and express what the topic is like. Next, you will learn how Japanese adjectives work in order to make your sentences more colorful.