Breakdown of ryokou no junbi ga owarimashita.
がga
subject particle
のno
possessive case particle
旅行ryokou
trip
準備junbi
Questions & Answers about ryokou no junbi ga owarimashita.
What does 旅行の準備 mean, and why is の used here?
旅行の準備 literally means “preparations for a trip.” The particle の links 旅行 (“trip”) to 準備 (“preparation”), showing a relationship much like “’s” or “of” in English.
Why is the particle が used before 終わりました instead of は?
The particle が marks 準備 as the subject of the verb 終わりました and simply states that it finished. Using は would make 準備 the topic and could imply contrast (e.g. “As for the preparations, they finished, but…”).
Why is 終わりました in the past tense and polite form?
- Past tense (終わりました, from 終わる) indicates the action is completed.
- The -ました ending makes it polite, suitable for formal or neutral contexts.
In casual speech you might say 終わった instead.
Could I say 旅行の準備を終えました instead? What’s the difference?
Yes. ～を終える is a transitive verb meaning “to finish something.”
- 旅行の準備を終えました focuses on the person completing the action.
- 旅行の準備が終わりました focuses on the preparation itself being finished.Both are correct and often interchangeable.
