Grammar · Particles

が, the subject marker

[Subject] が [verb / adjective]

が marks the subject, and it points at new information: the thing the listener did not already know. It is also required with あります, います, すき, きらい, じょうず and ほしい.

The mistake to avoid

English says 'I like cats', so learners reach for を. In Japanese the cat is the subject of the liking, so it takes が.

Examples

犬がいます。

いぬがいます。

There is a dog.

猫が好きです。

ねこがすきです。

I like cats.