The actor is often marked by が or introduced as topic with は, but it can be omitted when clear.

In basic English clauses, the actor is usually before the verb and can trigger subject-verb agreement.

The predicate normally comes at the end and carries tense, aspect, polarity and politeness.

English events are centered on verbs, often supported by auxiliaries for tense, aspect, voice, or questions.

The affected target is commonly marked by を, but can be omitted when understood.

English usually identifies the affected target by position after the verb, with pronoun case still visible in forms like him and her.

Japanese participants are noun phrases or pronouns; roles are often shown by particles and context.

English participants are usually expressed as noun phrases or pronouns, often with articles and number marking.

States are expressed with i-adjectives, na-adjectives plus copula, or existence verbs ある and いる.

English usually requires the verb 'be' for states, locations, existence, and many descriptions.

Identity and classification use noun predicates with the copula, especially in polite style.

English identity and classification commonly use 'be', often with an article before singular count nouns.

Japanese strongly separates topic with は from subject-like marking with が.

English has topic-comment patterns, but ordinary subject-verb-object order is more common than strong topic marking.

Recipients are usually marked with に, and benefactive verbs can add who benefits.

English marks recipients with double-object order or with prepositions such as to and for.

Experiences and preferences often use は for the experiencer and が for what is liked or felt.

English often puts the experiencer as the subject, but some patterns use objects or prepositional phrases.

Instruments and means are commonly marked by で.

English usually expresses instruments with prepositions, especially with.

Time points often appear as adverbials, sometimes without a particle.

English uses time adverbs and prepositions such as at, on, in, for, and since to locate events in time.

Japanese mainly contrasts past and non-past; future is often inferred from time words and context.

English finite verbs normally show present or past tense; future is usually expressed with auxiliaries or context.