zatsuon ga aru to, kaiwa ga kikoemasen.

When there is noise, I can’t hear the conversation.

Breakdown of zatsuon ga aru to, kaiwa ga kikoemasen.

• が: subject particle
• と: conditional particle
• ある: to exist
• 〜ません: negative polite form

Questions & Answers about zatsuon ga aru to, kaiwa ga kikoemasen.

What does the particle が mark in 雑音がある?

In this sentence, が is the subject marker. It indicates that 雑音 (noise) is what “exists” (via the verb ある). So 雑音がある literally means “there is noise.”

Why is ある used instead of いる?

Japanese distinguishes animate vs. inanimate existence. You use いる for animate beings (people, animals) and ある for inanimate objects or abstract things. Since 雑音 is not alive, you use ある.

What role does the conditional と play in 雑音があると、会話が聞こえません?

Here, と expresses a general condition: “whenever/if the first clause is true, the second clause naturally follows.” So 雑音があると means “if/whenever there is noise, …”

Why is 聞こえません used instead of 聞きません?

聞こえる is an intransitive verb meaning “to be audible” (i.e. sound reaches your ears on its own). 聞く is transitive, meaning “to listen” or “to hear” (actively). Because you’re saying the sound itself isn’t reaching you, you use 聞こえません.

Why does 会話 take が in 会話が聞こえません rather than を?