Subject marker が

Meaning

Marks the grammatical subject — usually new or emphasized information. Identifies "which one" or introduces something for the first time.

Formation

[noun] が [predicate]

Notes

Unlike は (topic / known info), が identifies a specific thing. Common in wh-questions (だれが "who"), with 好き/わかる, and to introduce new subjects (雨が降っている).

Examples

猫（ねこ）がいます。

There is a cat. (introducing the cat as new information)

Breakdown

ねこ猫 cat が (subject marker) います is (living thing)

どれがあなたのですか。

Which one is yours? (が highlights the unknown subject)

Breakdown

どれ which one が (subject marker) あなた you の (possessive) です is か (question)

雨（あめ）が降（ふ）っています。

It is raining. (newly perceived event)

Breakdown

あめ雨 rain が (subject marker) ふっています降っています is falling

私（わたし）が学生（がくせい）です。

It is I who am the student. (identifying "who")

Breakdown

わたし私 I が (subject marker) がくせい学生 student です is

誰（だれ）が来（き）ましたか。

Who came?

Breakdown

だれ誰 who が (subject marker) きました来ました came か (question)

納豆（なっとう）が好（す）きですか。

Do you like nattō? (が with 好き)

Breakdown

なっとう納豆 nattō (fermented beans) が (subject marker) すき好き liked です is か (question)

日本語（にほんご）がわかります。

I understand Japanese. (が with わかる)

Breakdown

にほんご日本語 Japanese が (subject marker) わかります understand

⚠️ Often confused with

〜は〜です

Topic marker は

Marks the topic of the sentence — "As for X, X is Y." The most common particle; it establi...