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㊦ お ←

→ ㊦ を(2)

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Particle

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A particle which marks a direct object.

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Key Sentences

(ks). 私は日本語を勉強している・います。

I'm studying Japanese.

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Examples

(a). 前田さんは昨日車を買った。

Mr. Maeda bought a car yesterday.

(b). 何を飲みますか。

What will you drink?

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Notes

1. を marks the direct object. It is noted, however, that the direct object in English is not always marked by を in Japanese. Compare Japanese and English in the following sentences, for example.

(1)
• 私は英語が分かる。
• I understand English.

(⇨ は~が; 分かる)

(2)
• ジムはベスに電話した。
• Jim called Beth.

(3)
• 僕はきのう田中さんに/とあった。
• I met Mr. Tanaka yesterday.

2. In some constructions, the direct object marker を can be replaced by the subject marker が.

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(4)	ミルクを飲む	→	ミルクを/が飲みたい	(⇨ たい)
drink milk	want to drink milk
(5)	日本語を話す	→	日本語を/が話せる	(⇨ られる2)
speak Japanese	can speak Japanese
(6)	窓を開ける	→	窓を/が開けてある	(⇨ ある2)
open the window	The window has been opened.

3. を cannot occur more than once in a clause, whether it is the direct object marker (i.e., を1) or the space marker (i.e., を2). Thus, in the causative construction, for example, the causee can be marked only by に if another element in the same clause is marked by を. (⇨ させる)

(7)
• 父は私にrを酒を飲ませた。
• My father made me drink sake.

(8)
• 友達は私に/*を急な坂をのぼらせた。
• My friend made me go up a steep slope.

If the direct object is presented as a topic or a contrastive element, を is replaced by は.

(9)
• 日本語は知りません。
• I don't know Japanese.

(10)
• その本はもう読みました。
• I already read that book.

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㊦ お ←

→ ㊦ を(2)

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