kare wa bouryoku o tsukawanakatta.

topic particle

Breakdown of kare wa bouryoku o tsukawanakatta.

• を: direct object particle
• 使つかう: to use
• 彼かれ: he

Questions & Answers about kare wa bouryoku o tsukawanakatta.

What is は doing in 彼は?

は marks the topic of the sentence.

So 彼は暴力を使わなかった means something like:

• As for him, he did not use violence
• He did not use violence

In English, we usually just say he, but in Japanese, は often sets up what the sentence is about.

A very important point: は is written ha but pronounced wa here.

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Why is を used after 暴力?

を marks the direct object of the verb—the thing being used, eaten, seen, etc.

Here:

• 暴力 = violence
• を使う = to use something

So 暴力を使う literally means to use violence.

This is very standard Japanese grammar:

• 道具を使う = use a tool
• 日本語を使う = use Japanese
• 暴力を使う = use violence

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How is 使わなかった formed?