Questions & Answers about soto wa samui desu.
What does the particle は do in 外は寒いです? Why not が?
- は marks the topic: "As for outside, [it] is cold." It introduces what you’re talking about.
- が marks the subject and tends to identify or select: 外が寒いです is used when specifying which place is cold (e.g., in answer to どこが寒いですか “Which place is cold?”).
- As a spontaneous weather remark, 外は寒いです sounds more natural.
Where is the subject “it”?
Japanese often omits subjects, and there’s no dummy subject like English “it.” The topic 外 supplies the context: “(Speaking of) outside, (it) is cold,” which translates naturally as “It’s cold outside.”
Do I need です after an い‑adjective like 寒い?
- です adds politeness; it doesn’t change the meaning. 寒い and 寒いです both mean “is cold,” with the latter being polite.
- Tense and negation happen on the adjective itself, not on です.
- Casual: 外は寒い. Polite: 外は寒いです.
- Don’t say 寒いだ; い‑adjectives don’t take だ.
How do I say it in the past or negative?
- Past: 外は寒かったです (polite) / 外は寒かった (plain).
