What are the major differences between English and Japanese

The major differences between English and Japanese grammar include:

Key Facts

• Sentence Structure: English follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order, while Japanese typically uses Subject-Object-Verb (SOV).
• Particles: Japanese uses particles (e.g., は, が, を) to indicate grammatical functions, whereas English relies more on word order.
• Verb Conjugation: Japanese verbs conjugate based on politeness levels and tense, while English verbs change primarily for tense and subject agreement.
• Noun Modifiers: In Japanese, modifiers (adjectives, nouns) precede the noun they modify, contrasting with English where they can follow.

Examples or Use Cases

• An English sentence like "I eat sushi" becomes "Watashi wa sushi o tabemasu" in Japanese, demonstrating the SOV structure.
• Particles in Japanese clarify subject and object roles, which are inferred in English by order alone.

FAQs

1. Why is learning Japanese grammar challenging for English speakers?
   • The structural differences and use of particles can be difficult to grasp for English speakers accustomed to SVO order.
2. Do Japanese verbs change based on the subject?
   • No, Japanese verbs do not change based on the subject but do change according to tense and politeness.