නිපාත

Particles

Particles are the small words after a noun that show its job in the sentence. Get them right and your sentences make sense.

ජපන් වාක්‍යයක නිපාත (は, が, を, に, で) භාවිත කරන ආකාරය.

Ten particles to know

Three are read differently from how they're written: は (wa), を (o) and へ (e).

は "wa"

Marks the topic: what the sentence is about. Written は but read "wa".

わたしはがくせいです。I am a student.

が "ga"

Marks the subject, often with すき, あります and います.

ねこがすきです。I like cats.

を "o"

Marks the object of an action. Written を but read "o".

パンをたべます。I eat bread.

に "ni"

A point in time, a destination, or where something exists.

七時におきます。I get up at 7 o'clock.

へ "e"

Direction of movement. Written へ but read "e".

にほんへいきます。I go to Japan.

で "de"

Where an action happens, or the means (by bus, in Japanese).

としょかんでべんきょうします。I study at the library.

と "to"

"And" between nouns, or "with" a person.

ともだちとえいがをみます。I watch a movie with a friend.

も "mo"

"Also, too". It replaces は, が or を.

わたしもがくせいです。I am a student too.

の "no"

Connects nouns: possession or description.

これはわたしのほんです。This is my book.

か "ka"

At the end of a sentence it makes a question.

これはなんですか。What is this?

Pick the particle that fits each gap. Get 8 of 10 right to pass.