Usage of Particles (に・で・を・と・が)

Particles を・で・に・が

Particles を, で, に, and が are case-marking particles that show the function of a noun in a sentence: object, place, means, destination, or subject. The choice of particle is almost always determined by the verb or adjective that serves as the predicate, so the key is to memorize the pattern of each predicate, not only the meaning of the particle.

Particle を (direct object marker) Particle を marks the direct object of a transitive verb, that is, the thing that receives the action. The basic pattern is 「Nを ＋ 動詞」. The verb 「飲みます(のみます, to drink)」 always uses を for the thing being drunk, for example 「お茶を飲みます(おちゃをのみます, to drink tea)」.

The verb 「撮ります(とります, to take a photo)」 also uses を for its object: 「写真を撮ります(しゃしんをとります, to take a photo)」.

Verbs in the form 「N＋する」 such as 「宿題をします(しゅくだいをします, to do homework)」 and 「テニスをします(テニスをします, to play tennis)」 also use を for their N part.

The verbs 「買います(かいます, to buy)」 and 「読みます(よみます, to read)」 use を with the thing bought or read: 「本を買います(ほんをかいます, to buy a book)」.

Time expressions such as 「毎朝(まいあさ, every morning)」 do not change the function of を: 「毎朝新聞を読みます(まいあさしんぶんをよみます, every morning I read the newspaper)」.

The invitation pattern 「〜ませんか(〜would you like to ～?)」 still places を before the verb: 「いっしょにケーキを食べませんか(いっしょにケーキをたべませんか, would you like to eat cake together?)」.

Particle で (place of activity, means, or manner) Particle で has three main functions.

• Place where an action takes place. Used after a place noun with an action verb. 「カフェでケーキを食べます(かふぇでけーきをたべます, to eat cake at a café)」. 「家で晩ごはんを作ります(いえでばんごはんをつくります, to cook dinner at home)」. 「デパートで服を買いました(でぱーとでふくをかいました, bought clothes at a department store)」. 「銀行でお金をおろします(ぎんこうでおかねをおろします, to withdraw money at a bank)」. 「図書館で本を読みました(としょかんでほんをよみました, read a book at the library)」. 「レストランでランチを食べました(レストランでランチをたべました, ate lunch at a restaurant)」. 「駅で友だちと待ち合わせします(えきでともだちとまちあわせします, to meet a friend at the station)」. 「公園で散歩をします(こうえんでさんぽをします, to take a walk in the park)」.
• Means or vehicle of transportation. 「タクシーで駅へ行きます(たくしーでえきへいきます, to go to the station by taxi)」. 「自転車で図書館へ行きます(じてんしゃでとしょかんへいきます, to go to the library by bicycle)」. Note that 「歩いて(あるいて, on foot)」 does not use で.
• Language or manner. 「日本語で話します(にほんごではなします, to speak in Japanese)」.

Note the pattern 「V ない形＋で ください(please do not ～)」. Here で is part of the te-form 「ないで」, not a place particle. Example: 「ここでたばこをすわないでください(ここでたばこをすわないでください, please do not smoke here)」.

Particle に (destination, time, existence, recipient, and boarding)

• Point in time. 「七時に起きます(しちじにおきます, to wake up at seven o'clock)」.
• Location of existence with いる and ある. Unlike で, which marks where an activity takes place, に marks the location of an object or person that exists there: 「机の上に本があります(つくえのうえにほんがあります, there is a book on the desk)」.
• Recipient of an action with verbs such as 書く, 話す, 送る: 「友だちに手紙を書きます(ともだちにてがみをかきます, to write a letter to a friend)」.
• Source of giving with もらう (to receive). The usual sentence order is: time expression → person (に) → thing (を) → verb: 「けさ友だちにプレゼントをもらいました(けさともだちにプレゼントをもらいました, this morning I received a present from a friend)」.
• Boarding a vehicle with 乗ります: 「バスに乗ります(ばすにのります, to get on a bus)」.

Particle が (subject and object of feeling)

• The subject of いる and ある is marked with が, while the location is marked with に.
• The na-adjectives 「好き(すき, fond of)」, 「嫌い(きらい, dislike)」, 「上手(じょうず, skilled)」, and 「下手(へた, unskilled)」, as well as the verb 「わかります(to understand)」, use が for the target of a feeling or ability. So the correct form is 「りんごが好きです(りんごがすきです, to like apples)」, not 「りんごを好きです」.

Important differences

• で vs に for place: で = place where an activity happens (公園で遊びます); に = place of existence (公園にいます).
• を vs が: the object of an action uses を; the object of the feelings 好き/嫌い uses が.
• に vs へ: both are used with 行く/来る to show destination. へ places more emphasis on direction, while に emphasizes the destination point.