Meaning
To emphasize the direct object of a sentence, move it to the beginning and change the particle を to は. This shifts focus to what is being acted upon rather than the action itself. The pattern changes from the normal 「noun + を + verb」 word order to 「noun + は + verb」 when the object becomes the topic of emphasis.
Formation
| Part of speech | Formation |
|---|---|
| 名词 | 宾语は 動詞 |
Examples
-
家で 朝ごはんを 食べます。
I eat breakfast at home. (neutral statement) -
お弁当は もう 作りました。
As for the bento box, I've already made it. (emphasis on the bento box) -
ここで タバコを 吸っても いいですか。
Is it okay to smoke here? (questioning about smoking)
Summary
- Move the direct object (what receives the action) to the front of the sentence
- Change the particle を to は when fronting the object for emphasis
- This pattern highlights what is being acted upon as the main topic