![(Alt Text: Natural rain falling [Ga] vs. Making rain fall with a machine [Wo]](https://jplt-dialogplus.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Gemini_Generated_Image_rdgypqrdgypqrdgy.png)
(Alt Text: Natural rain falling [Ga] vs. Making rain fall with a machine [Wo])
“The door opens” (Doa ga aku).
“I open the door” (Doa o akeru).
In Japanese, the particle changes depending on whether the action happens naturally or someone does it. This is the difference between Intransitive (Jidoushi) and Transitive (Tadoushi) verbs. Let’s master it!
🗣 Conversation Scene
Joy and Ken are watching a movie being filmed.
(Ah, rain is falling! I don’t have an umbrella.)
(It’s okay. That’s a movie machine. The staff is *making* the rain fall.)
💡 Explanation
The choice of particle (Ga vs Wo) depends on the Verb Type.
Point 1: 〜が (Ga) + Intransitive (Natural/Automatic)
Use Ga with Intransitive Verbs (Jidoushi). This describes something that happens naturally or focuses on the state.
- ドアが 開（あ）きます。
(The door opens. [Automatic door]) - 電気（でんき）が つきました。
(The light turned on. [State]) - 雨（あめ）が 降（ふ）ります。
(Rain falls. [Natural phenomenon])
Point 2: 〜を (Wo) + Transitive (Action by Person)
Use Wo with Transitive Verbs (Tadoushi). This describes an action someone performs on an object.
- (私が) ドアを 開（あ）けます。
(I open the door.) - (私が) 電気（でんき）を つけました。
(I turned on the light.) - (機械で) 雨（あめ）を 降（ふ）らせます。
(Make the rain fall. [Causative Action])
📊 Comparison List
Here are common pairs of verbs.
🚧 Joy’s Mistake
❌ Wrong: 私（わたし）は ドア が 開（あ）けました。
(You cannot use “Ga” with “Akemashita” (Transitive). You are the actor, so use “Wo”.)
✅ Right: 私（わたし）は ドア を 開（あ）けました。
(I opened the door.)
🔥 Practice Quiz
Tap to check the answer!
