Particle - が - Subject - subject-marking particle
The particle が is used to mark a subject in a sentence. The particle is very similar to the particle は (Topic marker) which makes it troublesome for people learning Japanese. The difference is usually in the emphasis: 猫が歩きます (The cat is walking) vs 猫は歩きます (The cat is walking). The particle is always used instead of は to mark the answer when answering questions.
Note that the subject with this particle needs to be well-defined. This means that you cannot use the particle や in the subject.
Sample sentences
-
あ!蝶々がいる!
Oh, there's a butterfly! -
今日は、私はすることがたくさんある。
Today I have a lot of things to do. -
私は猫が好きです
I like cats -
あの映画はもう一度見る価値がある。
This movie is worth seeing again. -
仕方がない
It can't be helped -
今日は雨が降っていました
It was raining today -
私はチーズケーキが好きです。
I like cheesecake. -
お茶かコーヒーが飲みたい
I want to drink tea or coffee -
病院が近くにあります
The hospital is nearby -
ここに水が少しある
Here's some water