How to tell them apart
が marks the subject performing an action or the thing being described, while を marks the direct object receiving the action. The key test is whether the noun is doing the verb or having the verb done to it: ステーキが美味しい describes steak, but 車を買った shows a car being bought. Swapping them is wrong because 飲み物を飲む needs を for the thing consumed, not が.
- が Use が when the noun is the one doing the action or the thing you are identifying.
- を Use を when the noun is the direct object that the verb acts upon.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| が ga | particle that indicates the subject of a sentence | N5 |
| を wo | Particle indicating the thing an action is done to | N5 |
が ga
particle that indicates the subject of a sentence
The particle が marks the subject of a sentence, showing who or what performs an action or exists. It comes directly after a noun or noun phrase, as in ウサギが or あなたが. It is also used inside clauses, such as before から or in embedded questions.
-
「どうかしたの？」と小さな白いウサギが聞きました。
"What's the matter?" asked the little white rabbit.
-
それはあなたが一人になりたくないからです。
It's because you don't want to be alone.
を wo
Particle indicating the thing an action is done to
The particle を marks the noun that directly receives an action, as in イタリア語を話せますか. It attaches directly after a noun, whatever kind of verb follows. It appears in both casual and polite speech.
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きみにちょっとしたものをもってきたよ。
I brought you a little something.
-
もう何をしたらいいか分からない。
I don't know what to do anymore.
が and を are both JLPT N5 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side on meanings, usage and example sentences, so you can tell them apart.