kono kikai wa kuuki o suimasu.

topic particle

Breakdown of kono kikai wa kuuki o suimasu.

• を: direct object particle
• この: this
• 空気くうき: air

Questions & Answers about kono kikai wa kuuki o suimasu.

How do you read this sentence?

It is read:

この きかい は くうき を すいます。

Word by word:

• この = this
• 機械 = きかい = machine
• は = topic marker
• 空気 = くうき = air
• を = object marker
• 吸います = すいます = sucks / inhales

A useful pronunciation note:

• The particle を is written を, but in modern Japanese it is usually pronounced お.

Why does この come before 機械?

この is a demonstrative that must directly modify a noun.

So:

• この機械 = this machine

You cannot usually say この by itself to mean this one. For that, Japanese uses:

• これ = this one

So:

• この機械 = this machine
• これ = this one

This is similar to the difference between an adjective-like word and a pronoun in English.

What is the job of は in this sentence?