Topic Particle は and Particle も

Particle は and 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

わたし学生がくせい(だ / です)。
I’m a student.
やまさん先生せんせい(じゃない / じゃありません)。
Yamada-san is not a teacher.
ボブアメリカじん(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.

わたし 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.

いろ 赤色あかいろ きれい(だ / です)
Topic Subject Predicate
As for colors, red is beautiful.
ごはん 寿司すし 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.

いろ 青色あおいろ 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.
よるごはん 寿司すし 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

まえボブ(じゃない / じゃありません)。
[My] name is not Bob.
わたしボブ(じゃない / じゃありません)。
I’m not Bob, too.
うたげいじゅつ(だ / です)。
Songs are the arts.
げいじゅつ(だ / です)。
Drawings are also the arts.
大学だいがくとうきょう大学だいがくがいい(です)。
As for universities, the University of Tokyo is good.
びょういんとうきょうびょういんがいい(です)。
As for hospitals, the Hospital of Tokyo is good, too.
ホテルはきょうホテルいい(です)。
As for hotels, Kyoto Hotel is good, too.

Summary

  1. The topic particle は works as “X is …”
  2. The topic particle は also works as “As for X, … is …”
  3. 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.