Understanding Japanese Grammar Particles: A Visual Guide

1. VisualizingJapanese GrammarAppendix Shoko Hamano George Washington University

2. Particles are divided into sentence-final particles, clause-finalparticles, topic-related particles, particles connecting nouns to nouns, and particles connecting noun phrases to verbs. • All particles mark the functions of the units before them in relation to some other important party. • Sentence-final particles connect sentences to speakers and listeners. Particles Sentence-final particles か listener has information; question よ speaker has information; assurance ね shared information; sympathy; confirmation

3. Clause-final particles subordinates secondary sentences to main sentences. Particles Clause-final particles から“because” けど/けれど “although” が “although” と “when(ever)” か embeds a question と quotation

4. The particles wa and mo link the preceding noun phrases to a contextual set. Particles Topic-related particles は indicates that the preceding item is in the contextual set of items; old information も indicates that the preceding item is added to the contextual set of items; addition

5. Some particles connect noun phrases (or nouns) to other noun phrases (or nouns) and expand noun phrases. Particles Particles expanding noun phrases と “and” か “or” とかconnects examples や connects examples の the preceding item modifies the following item な the preceding item modifies the following item

6. Many particles link preceding noun phrases to predicates (like verbs and adjectives). Particles Particles connecting noun phrases to predicates が subject を direct object に target; recipient; point in time; non-subject participant へ goal で location of an activity; means から source まで “up to” までに “by” より “than” ほど “to the extent of” と co-participant; “with”