Marking the topic with は and も
Grammar: Particles
は marks the topic of a sentence, the person or thing that the comment is about. も marks something as also included in the same kind of statement.
Usage Notes
Japanese often uses a topic-comment structure. The topic marked by は sets the frame, and the rest of the sentence says something about that frame.
も works similarly in position, but instead of simply setting a topic, it adds the marked item to something already mentioned or understood: “also”, “too”, or “as well”.
Formation
View formation details
- Noun + は + comment
- 私は学生です
- "as for me, I am a student"
- Time or place + は + comment
- 今日は寒い
- "as for today, it is cold"
- Noun + も + comment
- 私も行きます
- "as for me, I will go too"
- Particle phrase + は / も
- 学校には行った
- "as for me, I did go to school"
Topic and Comment
The particle は marks the topic, what the sentence is about. The rest of the sentence is the comment, what is being said about that topic.
- 私は東京に住んでいます。
As for me, I live in Tokyo.
- この店は静かだ。
- As for this shop, it is quiet.
English often translates these without “as for”, but that phrase helps show the Japanese structure.
Example 1 of 5: In another world with 異世界

Zen lived in a glittering, idyllic town until his family moved. During his first day of school, he found everyone to be glaring and rugged. Rather than being gentle and playful, his classmates sought a brawl and chased after him.
- 禅:
- 「ここは異世界だ」
- “This is another world.”
- 「異世界に迷い込んだに違いない」
- “I must have wandered into another world.”
Zen uses ここは to set “here” as the topic, then makes a comment identifying the place as another world with 異世界だ.
Example 2 of 5: Eating breakfast like a giant monster with 怪獣

At breakfast, Touya teases Sakura for stomping down the stairs like a giant monster. He finishes eating and heads out on his bike to meet his friend Yukito on their way to school. Sakura hurries to eat her breakfast and get her roller blades on, so she can see Yukito, too. When they reach Yukito, he commends Sakura for being up early.
- 桃矢:
- 「怪獣は五分で朝飯食えるからな」
- “Well, monsters can finish breakfast in five minutes.”
Touya starts with 怪獣は to make the “monster” his topic, then makes the comment that it can finish breakfast in five minutes.
Example 3 of 5: A meal provided by the school with 給食

Chiyo is a child prodigy who’s skipped from elementary school to high school.
During her first day of class, Chiyo is invited by a couple of classmates to join them for lunch.
- ちよ:
- 「小学校は給食だったからお弁当は楽しいです」
- “Since we were provided lunches in elementary school, a boxed lunch is fun.”
On her first day of class, Chiyo joins two classmates for lunch. Her sentence has two topics, each with its own comment: 小学校は給食だった, “elementary school had school lunches”, and お弁当は楽しいです, “a boxed lunch is fun”. Putting the two side by side also hints at a contrast.
Example 4 of 5: Nothing out of the ordinary with 異常

Yui, Sacchan, and Kotoha go on an early-morning patrol to check for any issues in their neighborhood. Because it’s so early, none of the shops are open yet, and the streets are empty.
- さっちゃん:
- 「朝は平和だ」
- “Morning is peaceful.”
- 結衣:
- 「朝は平和だね」
- “Morning is peaceful, isn't it?”
- 琴葉:
- 「異常なし」
- “No abnormalities.”
Yui, Sacchan, and Kotoha patrol the neighborhood at dawn, and the streets are empty. 朝は平和だ, “mornings are peaceful”, is a bare topic and comment: 朝 is what they’re talking about, and 平和だ is what they say about it. Yui repeats it with ね to agree.
Example 5 of 5: A sign of summer with 風物詩

Conan has joined the other children for radio exercises at school. As everyone follows the routine, he broods over how he should be enjoying his summer vacation as a second-year high school student. Instead, he is stuck exercising with elementary schoolers and wonders what he is doing there.
- 元太:
- 「おい! 真面目にやれよな!」
- “Hey! Take this seriously!”
- 歩美:
- 「ラジオ体操は大切な夏の風物詩の一つなんだよ!」
- “Radio exercises are one of those treasured signs of summer!”
- コナン:
- 「夏の風物詩ねえ…」
- “A sign of summer, huh...”
Ayumi responds to Conan’s lack of enthusiasm by explaining what radio exercises mean to her. ラジオ体操は sets the exercises as the topic; the comment identifies them as one of the treasured signs of summer.
は Is Not Always the Subject
The topic is not always the grammatical subject of the predicate. It can be a person, object, time, place, or broader frame.
- 日本語は少し分かります。
As for Japanese, I understand a little.
- 週末は家で休みたい。
- As for the weekend, I want to rest at home.
In the first sentence, Japanese is the thing understood, but the speaker is the one who understands it. In the second, the weekend is the time frame, but the speaker is the one who wants to rest at home. は marks what the comment is about, not necessarily the doer of an action.
Example 1 of 6: A preference for pudding with 嗜好

After Yousuke finishes moving his belongings into his new home with the help of his friend Jumbo, Jumbo offers to pick up some gifts for Yousuke to give his new neighbors when he goes around the neighborhood to introduce himself.
- 葉介:
- 「変なもん持ってくんなよ」
- “Don't bring back anything weird.”
- ジャンボ:
- 「俺はプリンが好きなんだ」
- “I happen to like pudding.”
- 葉介:
- 「いや おまえの嗜好はいい」
- “Never mind what you like.”
Jumbo makes himself the topic with 俺は, but he uses プリンが for the thing he likes. You can read 俺 as the topic and プリン as the grammatical subject.
Example 2 of 6: Because strong players gather here with 〜ので

Cocoa inquires about the board and pieces sitting in front of Chino. Chino says it’s chess and gives a further explanation.
- チノ:
- 「この温泉は強者が集まるのでおじいちゃんは白熱してました」
- “Grandpa would get excited because strong players gather at this hot spring spa.”
- ココア:
- 「温泉に浸かりながらチェス出来るのっていいねー」
- “It's nice being able to play chess while soaking in the hot spring.”
Chino uses この温泉は to make the hot spring a location frame. She uses 強者が for the people who gather there, so the location topic is not the subject of 集まる.
Example 3 of 6: Greeting a cousin's friend with どうも

On his way home from buying groceries, Hiroto sees his cousin Natsumi cheering and dancing over a winning popsicle stick. While Natsumi agonizes over having been seen, Hiroto notices she’s brought a friend he hasn’t met.
- なつみ:
- 「ぎゃ〜 はずかしー」
- “Gah, how embarrassing!”
- ヒロト:
- 「どうもーーー なっちゃんのいとこの生田ヒロトです。」
- “Howdy. I'm Nacchan's cousin, Hiroto Ikuta.”
- あかり:
- 「え! あ、初めまして。横山あかりです!」
- “Oh, ah, pleased to meet you. My name's Akari Yokoyama!”
- 「今日はお世話になります!」
- “Thank you for having me today!”
- ヒロト:
- 「こちらこそ〜」
- “The pleasure is mine!”
Akari meets Natsumi’s cousin Hiroto for the first time. 今日はお世話になります, “thank you for having me today”, uses 今日は as a time frame. The topic says when, and the person being looked after is Akari herself, left unsaid.
Example 4 of 6: According to the rules with 〜によると

Now that Mao is living at Hiro’s house, Hiro presents her with a list of rules. Before going to bed, Mao looks the list over.
- 真魚:
- 「ルールによると朝ごはんは必ず一緒に食べる」
- “According to the rules, we must always eat breakfast together.”
- 「夕飯もなるべく一緒に」
- “We should eat dinner together too, as often as possible.”
- 「朝は一緒に家を出る」
- “We leave the house together in the morning.”
- 「近くの神社にお参りしてから会社ないし学校へ行く」
- “After praying at the nearby shrine, we go to work or school.”
Mao reads over the house rules Hiro gave her. In 朝ごはんは必ず一緒に食べる, breakfast is the topic, but it’s the thing being eaten, so は has taken the place of を. 朝は一緒に家を出る makes a time the topic, and 夕飯も adds dinner to the eat-together rule.
Example 5 of 6: Becoming uninhibited with 気が大きくなる

Bocchi was up late reading a book on how to make friends. At the time, she was overly enthusiastic, but at school the next morning she finds her social anxiety has returned.
- ぼっち:
- 「夜は気が大きくなる」
- “At night, I get bold.”
- なこ:
- 「おーぼっち おはよ」
- “Oh, Bocchi, morning!”
- 「? どした?」
- “What's wrong?”
Bocchi stayed up late reading a book on making friends and felt ready for anything, but her nerves are back by morning. 夜は sets the time frame, and 気が is the subject of 大きくなる: at night, she gets bold. The は also sets the night apart from the morning she’s in now.
Example 6 of 6: Might get along with 〜かもしれない

Tippy remarks on how Cocoa adapted immediately to working in the café.
- お父さん:
- 「ただあの娘あっという間に店になじんでしまった」
- “Still, that girl settled into the café in no time.”
- ティッピー:
- 「チノにはああいう友達が合ってるかもしれん」
- “Maybe a friend like that suits Chino.”
Tippy remarks on how quickly Cocoa has settled into the café. チノには, “for Chino”, makes Chino the topic, while 友達が is the subject of 合ってる: a friend like that might suit her.
Contrastive は
Because は sets one topic apart, it can also suggest contrast.
- コーヒーは飲むけど、紅茶は飲まない。
I drink coffee, but I do not drink tea.
- 駅には行ったが、店には入らなかった。
- I went to the station, but I did not go into the shop.
The contrast does not always need to be translated with “but”. Sometimes the contrast is only implied by the context.
Example 1 of 6: Furthermore, it's just a bonus item with それに〜

After school, Ninako notices Ren sleeping a few seats away on the train. When Ren wakes and rushes for his stop, he knocks Ninako’s phone from her hand. The phone hits the floor, and the strap charm breaks. Ren misses his exit while apologizing and offers to replace the charm.
- 仁奈子:
- 「だっ 大丈夫ですっ」
- “I—it's all right.”
- 「ケータイは無事だし!」
- “Since my cell phone is safe!”
- 「それにこのストラップただのジュースのおまけだし」
- “Furthermore, this strap was just a freebie that came with some juice.”
- 「しかももうだいぶ前〜〜〜〜のやつで古いから」
- “Plus, it's from way back when, so it's old.”
Ninako singles out the phone as safe with ケータイは無事. This contrasts it with the phone’s broken strap charm.
Example 2 of 6: Call me Teacher with と呼べ

Sanae’s teacher, Mr. Tanabe, has proposed to her older sister, who is also a teacher at the school.
- 「次の日。」
- “The following day.”
- サナエ:
- 「おはよーございます、ニーサン。」
- “Good morning, Big Brother.”
- 田辺:
- 「学校では先生と呼べ、月本…」
- “Call me 'Teacher' at school, Tsukimoto.”
Tanabe limits his command to school with 学校では. He contrasts 先生 at school with what Sanae may call him elsewhere.
Example 3 of 6: Told me not to come with と言う

Takeo and Yamato go out on a date for Yamato’s birthday. They have a great time spending the day together, but when Yamato asks Takeo what his friend Sunakawa is doing, Takeo becomes silent. He says Suna helped him plan the date’s events, and Takeo gives her the tickets to the date’s finale. He tells Yamato to take a friend, because he needs to go be with Suna.
- 猛男:
- 「砂川の父さんが今日手術なんだ」
- “Suna's dad is having surgery today.”
- 大和:
- 「え……」
- “Eh......”
- 猛男:
- 「区立病院で2時からだ」
- “It's at the municipal hospital at 2 o'clock.”
- 猛男:
- 「砂川には来るなと言われたが」
- “Suna told me not to come, but...”
Takeo tells Yamato that Suna’s father is having surgery today. In 砂川には来るなと言われたが, に marks who said it, since 言われた is passive, and は sets Suna’s wish apart from what Takeo means to do about it. The trailing が, “but”, leaves that contrast hanging.
Example 4 of 6: Unable to fall asleep after a horror movie with 目が冴える

Komura and his mother watch a late-night horror movie. After his mother heads off to bed, Komura texts with Mie from class, who had also watched the movie with her father. The two switch to a phone call, and after a bit the subject of bedtimes comes up. Normally Mie can’t keep awake as late as Komura does.
- 小村:
- 「あ じゃあもう眠い…?」
- “Ah, then right now you're sleepy?”
- 三重:
- 「あ 今日は… なんか… 目が冴えちゃって…」
- “Ah, today I'm somewhat unable to fall asleep.”
Mie usually can’t stay up as late as Komura. 今日は sets tonight apart from her usual nights: “today, for some reason, I’m wide awake”. Nothing names the contrast, but は implies it.
Example 5 of 6: Too cute pajamas with 〜すぎる

Chiya and Syaro unexpectedly have to stay the night at Chino’s home.
- シャロ:
- 「チノちゃんにパジャマ借りたのはいいけどちょっとかわいすぎない?」
- “Borrowing pajamas from Chino-chan is fine, but aren't they a little too cute?”
- 「いつもはジャージなのに」
- “Even though I usually wear a tracksuit.”
- 千夜:
- 「本物のお嬢様みたい♪」
- “You look like a real young lady♪”
Syaro has borrowed pajamas from Chino for an unexpected sleepover. 借りたのはいいけど, “borrowing them is fine, but”, grants one point before she objects. いつもはジャージなのに, “even though I usually wear a tracksuit”, sets her usual nights against this one.
Example 6 of 6: A hot-blooded cavalry battle with 血の気が多い

During sports day, the events break for lunch. Lulu joins her friends, and they discuss the upcoming afternoon activities.
- 響子:
- 「騎馬戦は特に血の気が多いけど」
- “The cavalry battles are especially full of hot-blooded guys, though.”
- 清美:
- 「うちは番長がいるから安泰だよね~」
- “As long as the big boss is here, we're safe and sound, right~”
Over the sports day lunch break, Kyouko warns that 騎馬戦は特に, “the cavalry battles in particular”, draw hot-blooded guys, singling them out from the other events. Kiyomi answers with うちは, “our class”, setting her side apart: they have the big boss, so they’re safe.
Adding with も
The particle も marks that the item is included too.
- 田中さんも来ます。
Tanaka is coming too.
- 私もそう思います。
I think so too.
- 水も買った。
- I bought water too.
Like は, も can replace が or を. After other particles, it usually follows them.
- 学校にも図書館にも行った。
I went to both the school and the library.
- 朝から夜までも働いた。
- I worked even from morning until night.
Example 1 of 9: An accomplice in sharing lunch with 共犯

Yacchin eats little and dislikes many foods, so his friend Takeo helps by eating the parts of his lunch he doesn’t like. A teacher catches sight of this and yells at them not to give or take food from one another. When the coast is clear, Takeo continues, only to be sighted and punished by the teacher. Yacchin goes up to the teacher afterward.
- やっちん:
- 「あの… さっきは猛男くんひとりが悪いみたいになったんですけどオレも共犯です…」
- “Um... It seemed like Takeo was the only one at fault just now, but I was in on it too...”
Yacchin says Takeo looked like the only person at fault and adds himself with オレも. He uses も in the place that は or が would occupy in a statement about him.
Example 2 of 9: Relieving stress with 解消

Kogoro, Ran, and Conan are at a convention for game software makers, since Kogoro helped as a consultant for a murder mystery video game. There, a punch strength test game catches Ran’s eye. She sees one of the developers throw a punch at it.
- 竹下:
- 「それよりどーですか?蘭さんも一発…」
- “What about you? Would you like to take a shot at it, too?”
- 蘭:
- 「いえ わたしは別に」
- “No, I'm not particularly...”
- 竹下:
- 「ストレス解消にもなるし…」
- “It's also a great way to relieve stress...”
Takeshita uses 蘭さんも to invite Ran after someone else has tried the machine. He places も after に in ストレス解消にもなる when he presents stress relief as another benefit.
Example 3 of 9: Another round with おかわり

Akari visits Caffè Florian to wait until Alicia’s association meeting is over. There she meets a gentleman and the two pass the time together.
- おじいさん:
- 「ウェイターおかわりをっ」
- “Waiter, I'll have another.”
- 灯里:
- 「あ 私も」
- “Ah, me too.”
Akari is passing the time at Caffè Florian with an elderly gentleman. When he orders another cup, she adds 私も, “me too”. She leaves the rest unsaid, since も already makes it clear she wants the same.
Example 4 of 9: Might appear bigger with 〜かもしれない

Due to Chino’s concerns about her height, Rize suggests a solution.
- リゼ:
- 「声が大きければ存在も大きく見えるかもしれない」
- “If your voice is loud, your presence might seem bigger too.”
- チノ:
- 「錯覚ですか」
- “An optical illusion?”
Chino worries about her height, and Rize suggests speaking up. 存在も大きく見える, “your presence might look bigger too”, puts も where が would be: a bigger voice, and a bigger presence along with it.
Example 5 of 9: Too much to handle on top of class representative duties with 荷が重い

Takako and Azu tell their teacher they want to participate in the sports day relay race. The teacher points out that participants have already been decided, then one of the decided participants chimes in.
- 生徒:
- 「私もクラス代表はちょっと荷が重いなと思っていたので…」
- “I was also thinking I have too much on my plate as class representative.”
- 「できれば代わってもらえたら嬉しいです」
- “If possible, I'd be happy if someone could take my place.”
Takako and Azu want to run in the relay, and one of the students already picked speaks up. 私も, “I also”, puts her alongside them in wanting a change, and クラス代表は then sets the topic for 荷が重い, “is a heavy load”. も and は can share a sentence, each marking a different item.
Example 6 of 9: Skilled clock maker with 職人

Having received a letter requesting help solving a mystery, Kogoro finds himself in a house filled with animal designs everywhere, including the doors, the chairs, and the plates. His attention turns to the clocks covering the walls.
- 小五郎:
- 「しかし動物もさることながら、時計もたくさんありますなー...」
- “But aside from the animals, there are also a lot of clocks, huh...”
- 男:
- 「当たり前ですよ... 祖父は時計職人だったんですから...」
- “Of course there are... Grandfather was a clock maker, after all...”
Kogoro is in a house with animal designs on everything, and clocks cover the walls. 動物もさることながら、時計も is a set pattern for “not only A, but B too”: the animals are one thing, and there are lots of clocks as well. Both items take も.
Example 7 of 9: Thanks for the gift with あざっす

Urushi returns from her school trip with gifts for the underclassmen in the shogi club. First she presents the treats she bought for everyone, then she pulls out shogi piece keychains.
- うるし:
- 「凛ちゃんは香車」
- “Rin, this one's the lance.”
- 「タケルは角と竜買ってきたから桜子ちゃんにもあげてくれ」
- “Takeru, I bought a bishop and a dragon, so give one of them to Sakurako too.”
- タケル:
- 「あざっす」
- “Thanks.”
Urushi hands out shogi-piece keychains from her school trip. She bought Takeru two, so she tells him to share: 桜子ちゃんにもあげてくれ, “give one to Sakurako too”. Here も follows に instead of replacing it.
Example 8 of 9: Being strict with oneself and one's student with 心を鬼にする

Conan’s classmates aren’t fond of their new teacher’s strict attitude. Ms. Kobayashi explains how at her last school, she couldn’t bring herself to be strict, and it allowed her students to get so out of control that students were injured in a fight.
- 小林:
- 「だから、この学校では二度とあんな事は繰り返すまいと…」
- “Therefore, to keep from repeating that kind of situation at this school...”
- 「心を鬼にして自分にも生徒にも厳しくしてきたの…」
- “I hardened my heart and became strict, with myself and with my students...”
Ms. Kobayashi explains why she’s so strict with Conan’s class. 自分にも生徒にも厳しくしてきた, “I’ve been strict with both myself and my students”, repeats にも on each item, the “both A and B” pattern from the start of this section.
Example 9 of 9: Making it so you can walk on water with 〜ようにする

During a test of courage in a cave, Sakura’s classmates vanish one by one. Li senses a Clow Card near the shrine by the spring at the end of the cave, and he lights a candle with fire magic so they can see. The bridge across the water to the shrine has burned. Sakura suggests flying over with the Fly card, but Li says they should approach quietly so the card won’t notice them. He chants a spell, and sparkles swirl around both their feet. Then Li steps out onto the water, and Sakura cries out his name.
- 桜:
- 「それも李君の魔法?」
- “Is that your magic too, Li?”
- 小狼:
- 「おまえも歩けるようにした」
- 「早くこい」
- “I made it so you can walk on it too.”
- “Hurry up and come on.”
Li is already standing on the water, and his spell lets Sakura walk on it as well. おまえも歩けるようにした is “I made it so you can walk on it too”. も adds Sakura to Li, in the place が would take.
Related Grammar
- Not only this but also that with 〜だけではなく〜も
- も marks the added item in "not only A but also B" patterns.