All JLPT grammar
N5

A は B が〜

Describe a feature of topic A, such as a part of it or what it likes or can do; 'as for A, B is ~', 'A has a ~ B'.

At a glance

A は B が〜 introduces a topic A and then describes one feature of it: a part of A, or something A likes, wants, or can do. B is the part or thing, and the predicate says what is special about it.

[A] は [B] が [adjective / できます / わかります]

この部屋へやは窓まどが大おおきいです。 This room has big windows.


How to form it

A is the topic (は). B is a noun (が). The predicate is usually an adjective, or a verb such as できる or わかる:

Predicate Polite Casual Negative (polite) Example
い-adjective (高い, 痛い, 欲しい) 高たかいです 高たかい 高たかくないです 父ちちは背せが高たかいです。
な-adjective (好き, 嫌い, 上手) 好すきです 好すきだ 好すきじゃないです 私わたしは猫ねこが好すきです。
Verb (できる, わかる) できます できる できません 私わたしはテニスができます。

好すき, 嫌きらい and 上手じょうず are な-adjectives. 欲ほしい and 痛いたい are い-adjectives. They are not verbs.

Examples

  • 彼女かのじょは髪かみが長ながいです。

    What's special about her is that she has long hair.

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The rest of the lesson

When to use it, common mistakes, nuances and a quick check, with spaced repetition to make it stick.

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