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Questions & Answers about watasi ha hayaku hasirimasu.
Why is は used after 私 and how is it pronounced?
- は is the topic marker, indicating “as for me.”
- When used as a particle, it’s pronounced wa, not ha.
- It differs from the subject marker が, which emphasizes the subject rather than introducing the topic.
What is the role of 速く in this sentence? Why isn’t it 速い?
- 速い is an い-adjective meaning “fast.”
- To modify a verb, you change an い-adjective to its adverb form by replacing い with く, giving 速く (“quickly”).
- Adverbs like 速く describe how the action 走ります (“run”) is performed.
Why does 走ります end with ます? What does that imply about formality?
- 走ります is the polite, non-past form of the verb 走る (“to run”).
- The ます ending adds a level of politeness appropriate for everyday conversations with strangers, teachers, or in business.
- In casual speech, you’d use 走る instead.
Why is the verb placed at the end of the sentence instead of next to the subject?
- Japanese typically follows a subject–object–verb (SOV) order.
- Verbs come last, so you first introduce the topic (私), any adverbial phrases (速く), and then the verb (走ります).
Do I have to include 私 in every sentence?
- No. If the topic (“I”) is clear from context, you can omit 私.
- 速く走ります still means “I run fast,” assuming you’re talking about yourself.
Could I use 早く instead of 速く?
- 速く refers to physical speed (“run fast”).
- 早く means “early” or “soon” (related to time).
- To talk about speed, always choose 速く.
How would I make this sentence past tense or negative?
- Past polite: replace ます with ました → 走りました (“I ran fast”).
- Negative polite: replace ます with ません → 走りません (“I do not run fast”).
- Past negative polite: 走りませんでした (“I did not run fast”).