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Object marker
Definition
The object marker を is used to indicate the direct object of an action verb, which is the thing being acted upon. It can also be used with movement verbs to indicate the place passed through or departed from. This particle helps to clarify the relationship between the subject and the object in a sentence. For example, in the sentence "私は本を読みます" (I read a book), the object marker を indicates that the book is the thing being acted upon by the subject "私は" (I).
Structure
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Action verb (動詞) | Verb + を | 食べる (to eat) + を = 食べます |
| Movement verb (動詞) | Verb + を | 歩く (to walk) + を = 歩きます |
| Action verb with a direct object (動詞 + direct object) | Verb + を + direct object | 食べる (to eat) + を + パン = 食べます |
Examples
毎朝、パンを食べます。
Mainichi, pan o tabemashou.
I eat bread every morning.
毎朝 (every morning), パン (bread), を (object marker), 食べます (to eat)
日本語を勉強しています。
Nihongo o benkyou shite imasu.
I am studying Japanese.
日本語 (Japanese), を (object marker), 勉強 (to study)
毎日、公園を散歩します。
Mainichi, kōen o sanpo shimasu.
I take a walk in the park every day.
毎日 (every day), 公園 (park), を (object marker), 散歩 (to take a walk)
本を読みます。
Hon o yomimasu.
I read a book.
本 (book), を (object marker), 読みます (to read)
家を出ます。
Ie o demasu.
I leave the house.
家 (house), を (object marker), 出ます (to leave)
Context
The object marker を is used to indicate the direct object of an action verb. It is often used with verbs that take a direct object, such as action verbs and movement verbs. It is not used with adjectives or existence verbs, which use the particle が instead.
Watch out
Adjectives and existence verbs do not take direct objects, so they use が instead of を.
The two particles have different functions and are used in different contexts.
Some verbs do not take direct objects, so they use other particles instead of を.
Strategy
Pay attention to the verb and the object in the sentence. If the verb takes a direct object, use を. If the verb does not take a direct object, use other particles instead.
In context
Worked examples drawn from JLPT N5 test-style questions. Each sentence shows 〜を used correctly, with a brief note on what the pattern is doing.
毎朝、パンを食べます。
Pattern used: を
を marks パン as the direct object of 食べます (eat). The thing being eaten takes を.
日本語を勉強しています。
Pattern used: を
を marks 日本語 as the direct object of 勉強する. What you study takes を.
毎日、公園を散歩します。
Pattern used: を
を marks the place passed through with movement verbs. 公園を散歩する means 'take a walk through the park.'
Interactive
毎朝、パン______食べます。
Adaptive practice
Our adaptive engine will quiz you on this grammar pattern and track your progress toward mastery.