Breakdown of eiga ha sugu ni hazimarimasu.
はha
topic particle
映画eiga
movie
始まるhazimaru
to start
すぐ にsugu ni
immediately
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Questions & Answers about eiga ha sugu ni hazimarimasu.
Why is the particle は used after 映画, and not が?
は is the topic marker, signaling “as for the movie….” It sets 映画 as the known topic of the sentence. If you used が (映画がすぐに始まります), you’d be marking 映画 as the grammatical subject and often introducing it as new or emphasized information. In public announcements, speakers usually present the movie as already on everyone’s mind, so は sounds more natural. Using が isn’t wrong, but it shifts the nuance toward simply stating “the movie is the thing that will start,” rather than framing it as “for the movie, here’s what happens.”
What does すぐに mean, and how is it different from saying すぐ始まります?
すぐに literally means “immediately” or “right away.” The に turns すぐ into a clear adverb modifying the verb. You can say 映画はすぐ始まります without に, and it remains understandable—すぐ alone can act adverbially. However, すぐに is more explicit and common in polite announcements. It emphasizes the swift timing more strongly.
Why is the particle に needed after すぐ?
While すぐ can function as an adverb on its own, adding に (making すぐに) explicitly marks it as an adverbial phrase. This construction is especially common in formal or polite speech, as it neatly links the time expression to the verb. In casual conversation you might drop the に, but in announcements it’s more natural to include it.
Why do we use 始まります instead of 始めます? Isn’t there no object before the verb?
Because 始まる is an intransitive verb meaning “to begin (by itself).” When you say 映画が始まる, you’re saying “the movie begins.” In contrast, 始める is transitive—“to start something”—and requires a direct object (e.g., 映画を始める means “to start the movie” [by someone]). Since the announcement is about the movie beginning on its own, 始まります is correct.
Why is 始まります in the polite form, and could we use the plain form 始まる?
Announcements in public spaces or formal contexts typically use the polite form (〜ます/〜です) to show courtesy. You could say 映画はすぐに始まる in an informal setting (like chatting with friends), but 始まります is more appropriate for public or polite speech.
Can I replace すぐに with もうすぐ?
Yes. もうすぐ means “very soon” or “any moment now.” If you say 映画はもうすぐ始まります, it’s perfectly natural. The nuance is slightly different: すぐに often implies “immediately” or “at once,” while もうすぐ suggests “very shortly” but allows a tiny bit more lead time. Both work in announcements, with もうすぐ perhaps sounding a bit warmer or anticipatory.
Is the adverb position flexible? Could I say すぐに映画は始まります?
Japanese adverbs are relatively flexible, so すぐに映画は始まります or even すぐに始まります、映画は can be used for emphasis or stylistic effect. That said, the most common and clear order in announcements is 映画は (topic) → すぐに (adverb) → 始まります (verb). This sequence flows naturally and leaves no doubt about what is happening when.