Skip to main content
All Japanese activities

Activities: What is the difference between は (wa) and が (ga) in Japanese?

By: Saeko Kitamae

Activity 1: Sort out the sentences

These words might help you unscramble the sentences below!

Vocabulary
スマホ
Transcription: sumaho
Translation: smartphone
エレベーター
Transcription: erevētā
Translation: elevator
エスカレーター
Transcription: esukarētā
Translation: escalator

Situation 1: Lost in Tokyo

You are visiting Tokyo for the first time. You are looking for a hotel called ABC Hotel, but you lost your guidebook and you don’t know where you are! Let’s ask someone and find the way. Unscramble the sentences below to complete the conversation!

  • You:

    Word BankChoose a word, then choose a blank. You can also drag.
    • すみません。 。
    • "Excuse me. Where am I?"

  • Tokyo Local:

    東京駅ですよ。
    Transcription: Tōkyō eki desu yo.
    Translation: You are at Tokyo Station.

  • You:

    ありがとうございます。ABCホテルに行きたいのですが、ガイドブックを無くしてしまいました。
    Transcription: Arigatō gozaimasu. ABC Hoteru ni ikitai no desu ga, gaidobukku o nakushite shimaimashita.
    Translation: Thank you very much. I would like to go to the ABC Hotel, but I have lost my guidebook.

  • Tokyo Local:

    Word BankChoose a word, then choose a blank. You can also drag.
    • すみません。 。
    • "I see. Do you have a map?"

  • You:

    Word BankChoose a word, then choose a blank. You can also drag.
    • いいえ、 、 。
    • "No. I do not have a map, but I have a smartphone."

  • Tokyo Local:

    では、スマホのGoogle Map で一緒に探しましょう。
    Transcription: Then, let’s look for it on Google Maps together.
    Translation: Then, let’s look for it on Google Maps together.

Situation 2: Shopping for a yukata

You are visiting a department store. You want to buy a yukata meaning summer kimono. Let’s ask at the information center which floor you should go to. Unscramble the sentences below to complete the conversation!

  • Salesperson:

    いらっしゃいませ。
    Transcription: Irasshaimase.
    Translation: Hello! Come in!

  • You:

    Word BankChoose a word, then choose a blank. You can also drag.
    • すみません、ゆかたを買いたいのですが、 。
    • "Where is the yukata section?"
      (Lit.) As for yukata, where is the selling section?

  • Salesperson:

    ６階で売っています。
    Transcription: Rokkai de utte imasu.
    Translation: They are sold on the 6th floor.

  • You:

    ６階ですか。エレベーター*はありますか。
    Transcription: Rokkai desu ka. Erevētā wa arimasu ka.
    Translation: Oh, it’s on the 6th floor. Is there an elevator?

  • Salesperson:

    Word BankChoose a word, then choose a blank. You can also drag.
    • 、 。
    • "There is no elevator, but there is an escalator over there."

  • You:

    ありがとうございます。
    Transcription: Arigatō gozaimasu.
    Translation: Thank you very much.

Activity 2: Which sentence is correct?

In each pair of sentences below, choose the correct phrasing. Use the vocab list at the bottom if you get stuck!

  1. You step out of your house. You’ve just opened the door and realized that it is raining. You say …
    Select your answer
  2. At university, your professor asks you how many students came to the study meeting. You answer…
    Select your answer

Activity 3: What is the difference between は (wa) and が (ga)?

Here are some exercises for you, to check if you can use は transcribed wa and が transcribed ga properly. We've added some vocabulary at the bottom to help you out if you get stuck!

Add は transcribed wa or が transcribed ga to each of the sentences below.
  1. Speaker A:
    これだれの本ですか。
    Transcription: Kore ... dare no hon desu ka.
    Translation: Whose book is this?
    Speaker B:
    それ私の本です。
    Transcription: Sore ... watashi no hon desu.
    Translation: It is my book.
  2. Speaker A:
    テーブルの上に何見えますか。
    Transcription: Tēburu no ue ni nani ... miemasu ka.
    Translation: What is seen on the table?
    Speaker B:
    かばん見えます。
    Transcription: Kaban ... miemasu.
    Translation: A bag is seen.
  3. Speaker A:
    だれその写真を取りましたか。
    Transcription: Dare ... sono shashin o torimashita ka.
    Translation: Who took the picture?
    Speaker B:
    私です。
    Transcription: Watashi desu.
    Translation: I did.
  4. Speaker A:
    ここに３枚の絵あります。
    Transcription: Koko ni sanmai no e ... arimasu.
    Translation: Here are 3 pictures.
    Speaker B:
    どれも素敵です。でも、わたし真ん中の絵一番好きです。
    Transcription: Dore mo suteki desu. Demo watashi ... mannaka no e ... ichiban suki desu.
    Translation: They are all nice. But as for me, I like the picture in the middle the most.
  5. Speaker A:
    どの人山田さんですか。
    Transcription: Dono hito ... Yamada san desu ka.
    Translation: Which person is Mr./Ms. Yamada?
    Speaker B:
    赤い服を着た人山田さんです。
    Transcription: Akai fuku o kita hito ... Yamada san desu.
    Translation: The person who wears red clothes is Mr./Ms Yamada.
  6. Speaker A:
    山田さん着ている服赤いです。
    Transcription: Yamada san ... kiteiru fuku ... akai desu.
    Translation: The clothes Mr./Mr. Yamada wears are red.
    Speaker B:
    山田さんの帽子青いです。
    Transcription: Yamada san no bōshi ... aoi desu.
    Translation: Mr./Ms. Yamada’s hat is blue.
  7. Speaker A:
    鈴木さん食べているラーメンはおいしそうですね。
    Transcription: Suzuki san ... tabeteiru rāmen wa oishisō desu ne.
    Translation: The ramen that Mr./Ms. Suzuki is eating looks tasty.
    Speaker B:
    はい、あのラーメンとてもおいしいです。
    Transcription: Hai, ano rāmen ... totemo oishii desu.
    Translation: Yes, that ramen is very tasty.
  8. 鈴木さんどんな映画をよく見ますか。
    Transcription: Suzuki san ... donna eiga o mimasu ka.
    Translation: What kind of movies does Mr./Ms. Suzuki often watch?
  9. Speaker A:
    電車遅れたので、会議に間に合いませんでした。
    Transcription: Densha ... okureta node, kaigi ni maniaimasendesita.
    Translation: Since my train was delayed, I wasn’t able to be in time for the meeting.
    Speaker B:
    それ大変でしたね。
    Transcription: Sore ... taihen deshita ne.
    Translation: It should have been terrible.
  10. Speaker A:
    お誕生日いつですか。
    Transcription: O-tanjōbi ... itsu desu ka.
    Translation: When is your birthday?
    Speaker B:
    ７月18日です。星座かに座です。
    Transcription: Shichigatsu jūhachi nichi desu. Seiza ... kaniza desu.
    Translation: July 18th. My star sign is cancer.
  11. Speaker A:
    ３月３日 何の日ですか。
    Transcription: Sangatsu mikka ... nan no hi desu ka.
    Translation: What day is March 3rd?
    Speaker B:
    ひな祭りです。
    Transcription: Hinamatsuri desu.
    Translation: Girls’ day.
  12. Speaker A:
    この電車どこへ行きますか。
    Transcription: Kono densha ... doko e ikimasu ka.
    Translation: Where does this train go?
    Speaker B:
    東京へ行きます。
    Transcription: Tōkyō e ikimasu.
    Translation: It goes to Tokyo.
    Speaker A:
    どの電車大阪へ行きますか。
    Transcription: Dono densha ... Ōsaka e ikimasu ka.
    Translation: Which train goes to Osaka?
    Speaker B:
    あの電車です。
    Transcription: Ano densha desu.
    Translation: That train.