Japanese Particles Exercises: 50 Practice Questions with Answers
Japanese particles are the most common source of errors at every JLPT level. Unlike English prepositions, particles carry precise grammatical roles — and a single wrong particle changes the meaning of the entire sentence.
These 50 exercises cover the five most tested particle pairs and combinations at N5–N3 level. Try each blank before reading the answer.
Quick reference: the 10 core particles
| Particle | Core use | Key rule |
|---|---|---|
| は | Topic marker | What the sentence is about; implies contrast in negatives |
| が | Subject marker | Required with existence, desire, ability; in who/what questions |
| を | Direct object | Marks what the action acts on |
| に | Location (exist), destination, time, recipient | Use with あります/います, movement verbs, clock times |
| で | Action location, means, scope | Use with action verbs; "by/using"; "among N people" |
| へ | Direction | Interchangeable with destination に; emphasises direction |
| と | And (exhaustive), with | Lists all items; marks person doing something together |
| も | Also / too | Replaces は or が to add "me too" nuance |
| から | From (source/reason) | Starting point in time/place; "because" in speech |
| まで | Until / up to | Endpoint in time or space |
Set A: は vs が — 8 exercises
This is the hardest particle distinction in Japanese. Focus on the pattern: が for existence, desire, ability, and new-information subjects; は for known topics and contrast.
1. 私___学生です。
Choices: は / が
Answer: は
は marks the topic. "As for me, I am a student." は is used when stating general facts about yourself.
2. 誰___先生ですか。
Choices: は / が
Answer: が
が is used in "who/what" questions. 誰が is asking for the subject identity.
3. あそこに猫___います。
Choices: は / が
Answer: が
が is required with います/あります when introducing new information about what exists.
4. この映画___面白いです。
Choices: は / が
Answer: は
は marks the topic (this movie). The sentence states a general fact about it.
5. 私___日本語___好きです。
Choices: は / が
Answer: が
好き (like) requires が for the thing liked: 〜が好きです. The first は marks the topic (私は).
6. A: コーヒーとお茶、どちら___いいですか。B: お茶___いいです。
Choices: は / が
Answer: が
In "which do you prefer" answers, が marks the chosen item.
7. 彼女___来ません。
Choices: は / が
Answer: は
は here implies contrast ("as for her, she is NOT coming"). Negative sentences with contrastive nuance use は.
8. 空___青いです。
Choices: は / が
Answer: は / が
Both are grammatically possible. は = stating a general fact about the sky. が = the sky is (noticeably) blue right now. Context determines which is most natural.
Set B: に vs で — 10 exercises
The key question: is the verb an existence verb (あります/います) or an action verb? Existence → に. Action → で.
1. 図書館___本を読みます。
Choices: に / で
Answer: で
で marks where an action happens. 読む is an action verb, so the library is the action location.
2. 部屋___猫がいます。
Choices: に / で
Answer: に
に marks existence location with います/あります. The cat exists in the room.
3. 東京___行きます。
Choices: に / で
Answer: に
に marks the destination of movement verbs (行く, 来る, 帰る).
4. バス___学校へ行きます。
Choices: に / で
Answer: で
で marks the means or tool used. Here it means "by bus".
5. 7時___起きます。
Choices: に / で
Answer: に
に marks specific time points (7 o'clock). Clock times always use に.
6. 公園___遊びました。
Choices: に / で
Answer: で
で is the action location. Playing is an action, so the park uses で.
7. 机の上___本があります。
Choices: に / で
Answer: に
に with あります marks where the non-living thing exists.
8. 日本語___話してください。
Choices: に / で
Answer: で
で marks the language/means used. "Please speak in Japanese."
9. 友達___手紙を書きました。
Choices: に / で
Answer: に
に marks the recipient of communication/giving verbs. Writing a letter TO a friend.
10. 3人___その仕事をします。
Choices: に / で
Answer: で
で marks scope: "three people doing the work together / among three people".
Set C: Mixed particles (を、と、も、から、まで) — 10 exercises
These exercises mix multiple particles. Read each sentence carefully and identify what grammatical role the blank position plays.
1. コーヒー___砂糖を入れます。
Choices: に / を / で
Answer: に
に marks the target/destination: putting sugar INTO the coffee.
2. 映画___見ます。
Choices: を / が / は
Answer: を
を marks the direct object of action verbs. 見る is an action — を is required.
3. 先生___一緒に勉強しました。
Choices: と / に / で
Answer: と
と marks "together with" a person when doing something jointly.
4. 私___妹___学生です。
Choices: も / と / や
Answer: も
も means "also/too". If the sister is also a student (like the speaker), use も.
5. 9時___5時___働きます。
Choices: から / まで / に
Answer: から
から marks the starting point. から…まで = from…to.
6. りんご___みかん___買いました。
Choices: と / や / も
Answer: と or や
と lists items exhaustively ("apples and oranges, that's all"). や is non-exhaustive ("apples, oranges, and other things").
7. 山田さん___電話しました。
Choices: に / を / で
Answer: に
に marks the recipient of communication: calling someone.
8. どこ___来ましたか。
Choices: から / に / で
Answer: から
から after location/source = "from where". "Where did you come from?"
9. 日本語___英語___話せます。
Choices: も / と / や
Answer: も
も marks "also". "I can speak Japanese and also English."
10. この道___まっすぐ行ってください。
Choices: を / に / で
Answer: を
を with movement verbs can mark the path traversed: "go straight along this road".
Set D: Advanced particle usage — 8 exercises
N4–N3 level particle nuances: し for multiple reasons, しか with negatives, が in embedded clauses, and に for standards/audiences.
1. 彼女は歌___上手です。
Choices: が / を / は
Answer: が
上手 (skilled at) requires が: 〜が上手です。
2. 水___飲みたいです。
Choices: が / を / は
Answer: が / を
Both are used with たい. を is standard; が emphasises desire. が is more common in casual speech.
3. 病院___行く前に、予約します。
Choices: に / へ / で
Answer: に / へ
Both に and へ mark destination. へ emphasises direction slightly more than に.
4. 試験まで、あと3日___ある。
Choices: しか / だけ / ばかり
Answer: しか (with negative) / だけ
しか requires a negative verb: "only 3 days left (and that's not enough)". だけ = "only 3 days" (neutral).
5. このケーキは甘い___、おいしい。
Choices: し / が / けど
Answer: し
し connects multiple positive reasons: "it's sweet, and (also) delicious".
6. 彼___来るかどうか、わかりません。
Choices: が / は / を
Answer: が
が marks the subject in embedded clauses (〜かどうかわかりません).
7. 子供___わかる言葉で話してください。
Choices: に / が / で
Answer: に
に here marks the intended audience / standard: "words understandable to children".
8. 財布を家___忘れてきました。
Choices: に / で / を
Answer: に
に marks the location where something was left/forgotten.
The 5 most common particle mistakes
- 「図書館でいます」 — で with います is always wrong. Existence uses に: 「図書館にいます」.
- 「私はが好きです」 — Never use は and が together on the same noun. Choose one based on what you're marking.
- 「友達で行きました」 — With person (together), use と: 「友達と行きました」. で marks means/tool, not companion.
- 「日本語を話せます」 — Ability (できる/potential form) uses が, not を: 「日本語が話せます」.
- 「7時で起きます」 — Clock times use に, not で: 「7時に起きます」.
Check your particle writing with AI
Fill-in-the-blank is passive practice. For maximum retention, write your own sentences using each particle and check them immediately. Use ZISTICA MOJIIQ's free Japanese grammar checker — paste any Japanese and get particle corrections with plain-English grammar explanations.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between は and が?
は marks the topic (what the sentence is about) and often implies contrast. が marks the grammatical subject, especially in existence sentences (あります/います), in questions asking who or what, and with verbs of desire, ability, and like/dislike.
What is the difference between に and で?
に marks the location of existence (with あります/います), destination of movement, specific time points, and recipients. で marks the location of actions, the means or tool used, and scope (among N people). If the verb is あります or います, always use に.
How many Japanese particles are there?
There are approximately 188 particles in Japanese when you count all combinations and compound particles. However, learners at N5–N3 level primarily need to master about 20–25 core particles. The 10 listed in the quick reference above cover the majority of everyday usage.