は 〜 が (topic + subject in one sentence)
wa ... ga
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
The topic (は) is what you talk about; the subject (が) is what the predicate directly describes.
Many Japanese sentences have both は and が. は sets the big topic ("as for elephants"), and が marks the smaller subject that the description is really about ("the nose is long"): 象は鼻が長いです. English says "Elephants have long trunks"; Japanese says "As for elephants, the nose is long". You already use this shape in 私は寿司が好きです.
Describing a feature of a person, place or thing (Tanaka has big eyes, Tokyo has many people), and with likes, abilities and wants (私は〜が好きです／できます／ほしいです).
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
Topic + は + Subject + が + Predicate
Visual diagram
- 象big topic
- はtopic marker
- 鼻the part described
- がsubject marker
- 長いですdescription
Natural examples
象は鼻が長いです。
ぞうは はなが ながいです。
Elephants have long trunks. (lit. As for elephants, the nose is long.)
Topic elephant, subject nose.
田中さんは目が大きいです。
たなかさんは めが おおきいです。
Ms Tanaka has big eyes.
Topic Tanaka, subject eyes.
東京は人が多いです。
とうきょうは ひとが おおいです。
Tokyo has a lot of people.
Topic Tokyo, subject people.
私は頭が痛いです。
わたしは あたまが いたいです。
I have a headache. (As for me, the head hurts.)
Body parts and pain use は〜が.
この店はパンがおいしいです。
この みせは パンが おいしいです。
This shop has good bread.
Topic shop, subject bread.
Similar grammar and the difference
は alone marks the topic; here it combines with が. Compare side by side
が marks what the adjective directly describes. Compare side by side
The same は〜が shape: 私は寿司が好きです. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 象は鼻は長いです。
- ✓
- 象は鼻が長いです。
- Why
- Two は in one sentence means contrast, not description. The part described takes が.
- ✗
- 象の鼻が長いです。(as a general description)
- ✓
- 象は鼻が長いです。
- Why
- Both are grammatical, but は〜が is the natural way to describe a feature of the topic.
- ✗
- 私が頭が痛いです。
- ✓
- 私は頭が痛いです。
- Why
- The person is the topic (は); only the body part takes が.
Very common in N5 reading passages. The same structure underlies #29–#32 (私は犬が好きです). If the subject is a question word it always takes が: 誰が来ましたか — 田中さんが来ました.
JLPT N5 tips
On the exam
- In a sentence with two blanks like 田中さん（ ）目（ ）大きいです, the answer is は／が: big topic first, described part second.
- Reading passages use this structure to describe people and towns. Read the が part as the real subject of the adjective.
Frequently asked questions
What does は 〜 が (topic + subject in one sentence) mean?
The topic (は) is what you talk about; the subject (が) is what the predicate directly describes. Many Japanese sentences have both は and が. は sets the big topic ("as for elephants"), and が marks the smaller subject that the description is really about ("the nose is long"): 象は鼻が長いです. English says "Elephants have long trunks"; Japanese says "As for elephants, the nose is long". You already use this shape in 私は寿司が好きです.
How do you form は 〜 が (topic + subject in one sentence)?
Topic + は + Subject + が + Predicate. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is は 〜 が (topic + subject in one sentence) used?
Describing a feature of a person, place or thing (Tanaka has big eyes, Tokyo has many people), and with likes, abilities and wants (私は〜が好きです／できます／ほしいです).
What is the difference between は 〜 が (topic + subject in one sentence) and は?
は alone marks the topic; here it combines with が.
What is the difference between は 〜 が (topic + subject in one sentence) and が?
が marks what the adjective directly describes.
What is a common mistake with は 〜 が (topic + subject in one sentence)?
Wrong: 象は鼻は長いです。 Right: 象は鼻が長いです。 Two は in one sentence means contrast, not description. The part described takes が.
Quick check
What goes in ( )? 象（ ）鼻（ ）長いです。