© S. Hamano and W. Kikuchi1

Visualizing Japanese Grammar

Appendix

Shoko Hamano

George Washington University

© S. Hamano and W. Kikuchi2

• Particles are divided into sentence-final particles, clause-final particles, 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

© S. Hamano and W. Kikuchi3

• 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

© S. Hamano and W. Kikuchi4

• 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

© S. Hamano and W. Kikuchi5

• 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

© S. Hamano and W. Kikuchi6

• 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”