Meaning
Think of は as “as for …”. 私は学生です literally means “As for me, (I) am a student”. The topic is set first, then the rest of the sentence says something about it. は can also show contrast, as in コーヒーは好きですが、紅茶は好きじゃありません.
Formation
How to build this grammar pattern, with an example for each case.
| Pattern | Structure | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noun sentence | Noun は Noun です | 私は学生です。 | I am a student. |
| With a verb | Noun は Object を Verb | 私は水を飲みます。 | I drink water. |
| With an adjective | Noun は Adjective です | 今日は暑いです。 | Today is hot. |
| Negative | Noun は Noun ではありません | 私は先生ではありません。 | I am not a teacher. |
| Contrast | A は …が、B は … | ワインは飲みますが、ビールは飲みません。 | I drink wine, but not beer. |
Usage notes
Read it as “wa”
は is written with the hiragana for “ha” but pronounced “wa” when it is a particle.
Topic, not always subject
は introduces what the sentence is about. The topic can be the subject, an object or a time.
Shows contrast
When a noun with は is set against another, it means “this one, but not that one”.
Replaces が and を
は cannot sit next to が or を. It takes their place: 水を飲みません becomes 水は飲みません.
Can combine with others
は can follow に, で, と and から: 学校では, 日本には, 友達とは.
Topic can be dropped
Once the topic is clear, Japanese usually omits it: 学生です。 (I am a student.)
Example sentences
Common mistakes
Similar grammar
が
Marks the subject; new or emphasized information
誰が来ましたか。 Who came?も
Means “also” and replaces は
私も学生です。 I am a student too.を
Marks the direct object of a verb
水を飲みます。 I drink water.には
Place or time (に) with topic or contrast (は)
日本には山が多いです。 As for Japan, there are many mountains.Quick quiz
1. 私（ ）学生です。
2. 田中さん（ ）先生です。
3. この店（ ）安いです。
4. あなた（ ）日本人ですか。
5. 私の名前（ ）マリアです。
6. In 私は学生です, how is the particle は pronounced?
7. 日本語（ ）難しいです。
8. In ワインは飲みますが、ビールは飲みません, what does は show?
9. 毎朝、私（ ）コーヒーを飲みます。
10. In 田中さんは先生です, which word is the topic?
Frequently asked questions
Why is は pronounced “wa”?
は is an old particle that kept its spelling. As a particle it is read “wa”, but inside words such as はな (flower) it is still read “ha”.
What is the difference between は and が?
は sets the topic and often gives known information or contrast. が marks the subject and often introduces new information or answers “who / what?”.
Can I use は with other particles?
Yes. は combines with に, で, と and から (には, では, とは, からは). It cannot combine with が or を, because it replaces them.