Grammar Study 01

みんあさんおはよ！

Here we are again, another day and another session of the Nihongo. Let's get busy right way, ok?

Hmmm, I don't really feel like starting with the very basic particles like は、　が and　の, but there is a chance that some of us here are absolute beginners. Also, I want to somewhat follow my notes from when I started taking this seriously. Won't take a while, right?

Particles
Nihongo has a lot of particles. To make it simple, these particles are used to denote special functions or relations regarding other elements of the sentence. Such functions include designating the main topic, making the talk more polite, designating the object of the action and so on and relations of inclusion, possession, location, direction and so on. Knowing these particles is a fundamental part of learning the Nihongo. There is a lot, but keep your mind set and we will be able to learn as many as we need.

Let's discuss five really basic ones today.

01)は - it is used to designate the main topic of the conversation. When used as particle it is pronounced "wa".
例えば：
日本語は面白いですね。
にほんはおもしろいですね。
Japanese is interesting, isn't it?

Note that right after Nihongo, there is "wa", indicating that the main topic of the conversation is the Nihongo.

02)が -  it is used to mark the secondary topic of the conversation. Wikipedia has an interesting way of distinguishing between both が and　は.
ジョンは学生です。
ジョンはがくせいです。
Jon is a student. (Jon is the main topic)

ジョンが学生です。
ジョンががくせいです。
(Of all the people we are talking about) It is Jon who is a student.

Our friend Jon is only someone in the crowd in the second sentence.

There is a lot of discussion to be made about は and　が, but we won't engage in this discussion now.

03)の - indicates possession or grouping.
日本語の本。
にほんごのほん
A Japanese book. (the belong belongs to the Nihongo kind of books)

木村さんの車。
きむらさんのくるま。
Mr. Kimura's car. (the car belongs to Mr. Kimura)

04)も - indicates that the topic has something similar to the previous topic. It is somewhat equivalent to "too" and "also".
ジョンは学生です。ケイコも学生です。
ジョンはがくせいです。ケイコもがくせいです。
Jon is a student. Keiko is a student also.

05)か - use to imply doubt or question. Add か to the end of sentence to make it a question. And almost always you will pronounce it with a rising tone.
駅の前で公園がありますか？
えきのまえでこうえんがありますか？
Is there a park in front of the station?

That's it guys. I need to rush now with my other studies or I will be really in trouble. Thank you for your visit and I see you tomorrow.

Gustavo.