Particle が
Subject/focus marker; but
が identifies what the sentence is specifically about, and can also softly connect contrasting clauses.
In plain language
が is a particle that often points to the person or thing the sentence is about right now. It can introduce who did something or what exists. Some expressions, including 好き (“like”), also use が.
When to use it
Look for が when identifying who came, saying a cat is in the garden, or naming something you like.
How to build it
Put が immediately after the person or thing it marks: 猫が, だれが, 音楽が. は introduces a broader topic; が often draws attention to a particular answer or subject.
A basic pattern
Noun + が + predicate
Examples in context
The grammar point is shown in blue in each sentence.
猫が庭にいます。ねこがにわにいます。There is a cat in the garden.
だれが来ましたか。だれがきましたか。Who came?
私は音楽が好きです。わたしはおんがくがすきです。I like music.
Watch for this
だれは来ましたか。 → だれが来ましたか。
が commonly marks the unknown subject in a “who?” question.
Quick practice: Particle が
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