Particles can feel like secret code in Japanese. Good news: you don’t need years to start using the big three—は (wa), が (ga), and を (o)—confidently. In this lesson, you’ll learn what each one does, see natural examples, and practice with short, A1-friendly exercises.

Meet the three: は, が, を

を (o): marking what you act on

Use を to mark the thing your verb affects. Keep it simple: [thing] + を + [action].

• パンを食べます。= I eat bread.
• テレビを見ます。= I watch TV.
• 音楽を聞きます。= I listen to music.

すし食べます。

いぬをいます。 → いぬがいます。 あります／います (there is/are) take が, not を. を marks a direct object with action verbs like 食べます・見ます。

が (ga): introducing or identifying the subject

Use が when the subject is new, unknown, or in focus. Common beginner patterns:

1. Question/answer about who/what

• だれが来ますか。= Who will come?
• 山田さんが来ます。= Yamada will come.

2. Existence

• 公園に子どもがいます。= There are children in the park.

3. Likes/abilities

• 私はコーヒーが好きです。= I like coffee.
• 田中さんは日本語が上手です。= As for Tanaka, (he) is good at Japanese.

私は日本語を好きです。 → 私は日本語が好きです。 好きです and きらいです take が before the liked/disliked thing.

は (wa): setting the topic clearly

Use は to say what you want to talk about, then add a comment.

• 私は学生です。= As for me, I am a student.
• 日本はきれいな国です。= As for Japan, it is a beautiful country.
• 今日（きょう）は雨です。= As for today, it’s rainy. Notice how the topic can be different from the grammatical subject in later parts of the sentence (like 私は りんごが 好きです). は frames the conversation; が marks the subject in focus.

猫います。

Handy beginner vocabulary you’ll see in examples

Cultural note: topics and what’s “obvious” in Japanese

Japanese often drops subjects when they’re understood from context. The topic particle は helps the listener follow what you’re talking about. Once the topic is set, you don’t need to repeat は every sentence. Use が when you need to specify who/what exactly is doing something or exists, especially when that is new or important information.

Mini summary

• は sets the topic (as for X...).
• が marks the subject, often new/specific info, and with あります／います／好きです.
• を marks the direct object of an action.

If you’re unsure: ask “Is this the thing I’m acting on?” → を. “Is this existence or who/what?” → が. “Am I just setting the topic?” → は.

Final practice: one line at a time

コーヒーのみます。

You’ve got this! Keep listening for は to hear the topic, watch for が in answers and existence sentences, and drop in を whenever your verb needs a direct object. With a little practice, these three will start to feel automatic.