Particles: (i)Object Marker -O and (ii)Topic Marker -Wa

Object Marker -O and Topic Marker -Wa

1. We learned that the word order of Japanese is relative 'free'.
In English, the word order let us know which noun is the subject or the object of a sentence
. By contrast, in Japanese, so-called "particles" signal which noun is the subject/the object/etc. of a sentence.
When you use the formal speech style, it's better to use particles.
In this chapter, we introduce two particles:
Object Marker -O
Topic Marker -WA

2. Object Marker -o
Identify the object of a sentence and attach -o right after that object noun!

For instance, consider the following. The italicized parts indicate the object nouns.

eat suchi. sushi-o tabemasu.
read a newspaper. shinbun-o yomimasu.
cook breakfast. asagohan-o tsukurimasu.
play golf. gorufu-o shimasu.
study Japanese. nihongo-o benkyooshimasu.

3. Topic Marker -wa
Topic is something that you and your conversation partner(s) have been talking about. It is sometimes called "old information."
The topic marker -wa roughly corresponds to English 'as for'.

For instance, imagine the situation that you and your friend have been talking about Mr. Tanaka.

As for Mr. Tanaka, (he) cooks dinner. Tanaka-san-wa, bangohan-o tsukurimasu.
As for Mr. Tanaka, (he) plays tennis. Tanaka-san-wa, tenisu-o shimasu.
As for Michiko, (she) studies English. Michiko-san-wa, eego-o benkyooshimasu.

Next, the topic of your utterance is "this wine."

As for this wine, (it) is delicious. Kono wain-wa oishii desu.
As for this wine, (it) is expensive. Kono wain-wa takai desu.

4. Now, let's make full sentences, using the topic marker -wa and the object marker -o.

Say the following in Formal Style!

As for Chris, (she) eats sushi.
As for this magazine, (it) is interesting.
As for this cake, (it) is delicious.
As for Yoshiko, does (she) play tennis?

OK! Let's go to this drill!