Contrastive は vs. が


This is an old and perhaps exhausted topic, but there's still something I
don't get.

I read [these](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/22/whats-the-
difference-between-wa-%E3%81%AF-and-ga-%E3%81%8C?noredirect=1&lq=1)
[two](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/68705/usage-of-%E3%81%AF-
and-%E3%81%8C-with-adjectives-na-adj-and-i-adj) questions and its best
answers, but I don't understand why then

>   1. [あなたの目 **は**
> きれいです](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/40201/differences-
> between-%E3%81%AF-and-%E3%81%8C?noredirect=1&lq=1)
>

implies that one's eyes are pretty, but not rest of the their body, and

>   2. あなたの目 **が** きれいです
>

just says that one's eyes are pretty.

The fact that their eyes are pretty might be newly perceived information to
the speaker, but it isn't temporary. So why is が not contrastive, even though
it is in [this
case](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/57219/about-%E3%81%AF-
particle-and-the-contrast-it-implies)?

Would that が in sentence 2 only be contrastive (and rude) if the person had
asked, for example, 「私の髪がきれいだと思いますか？」? Like:

> Do you think my hair is pretty?
>
> Your eyes are the ones that are pretty (meaning your hair isn't).

Would that は in sentence 1 be understood as the topic-marker は and therefore
would the sentence not be rude only if that person and the speaker were
previously talking about that person's eyes for some reason?

It's the same with 好き, isn't it? If I say 「あなたのそういうところは好き」, it would imply
that's the only part of that person I like, right? And the correct phrase
would be 「あなたのそういうところが好き」, but once again, this is not necessarily newly
perceived information, and it most likely isn't temporary. And, if it were
exhaustive listing が, it should be contrastive as well. So what type of が is
that?

According to [this
question](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/68705/usage-
of-%E3%81%AF-and-%E3%81%8C-with-adjectives-na-adj-and-i-adj)'s top answer, は
can also be the preferred particle to use with adjectives, such as in
「ポストは赤い」, so I don't really get the pattern here. What types of adjectives
require が? The ones based on opinion?




Let me just explain how your example sentences feel like. Please refer to the
previous questions for the generic explanation about those particles.

> >   1. あなたの目はきれいです
>>

>
> implies that one's eyes are pretty, but not rest of the their body

No, that's not correct. This is usually a plain neutral sentence that just
means "(I know) Your eyes are (always) beautiful". Unless you emphasize は when
you read it loud, は like this is a plain topic marker, not a contrast marker.
The rest of the body is not mentioned at all.

> >   2. あなたの目がきれいです
>>

>
> just says that one's eyes are pretty.

No, that's not correct. This is a nuanced sentence that makes sense only in
limited contexts:

  1. as a 現象文, "(I noticed) Your eyes are beautiful!" (But note that you normally have to omit あなた and say something like 目がきれいですね instead)
  2. (exhaustive-listing-ga) as an answer to a question like "Which part of my body is beautiful?"

> 「私の髪がきれいだと思いますか？」  
>  「あなたの目 **は** きれいです。」

This は after 目 _is_ taken as a contrast marker, because there is clearly
something that can be contrasted in the question, and you suddenly mentioned
目. This response is like "(Instead,) your eyes are beautiful", and it _does_
imply the questioner's hair is not beautiful.

> 「私の髪がきれいだと思いますか？」  
>  「あなたの目 **が** きれいです。」

This が after 目 is not a contrast marker but an exhaustive-listing marker. This
response sounds like "It's your _eyes_ that is (the most) beautiful!" This
_can_ be rude, but not necessarily so.




Let me just explain how your example sentences feel like. Please refer to the
previous questions for the generic explanation about those particles.

> >   1. あなたの目はきれいです
>>

>
> implies that one's eyes are pretty, but not rest of the their body

No, that's not correct. This is usually a plain neutral sentence that just
means "(I know) Your eyes are (always) beautiful". Unless you emphasize は when
you read it loud, は like this is a plain topic marker, not a contrast marker.
The rest of the body is not mentioned at all.

> >   2. あなたの目がきれいです
>>

>
> just says that one's eyes are pretty.

No, that's not correct. This is a nuanced sentence that makes sense only in
limited contexts:

  1. as a 現象文, "(I noticed) Your eyes are beautiful!" (But note that you normally have to omit あなた and say something like 目がきれいですね instead)
  2. (exhaustive-listing-ga) as an answer to a question like "Which part of my body is beautiful?"

> 「私の髪がきれいだと思いますか？」  
>  「あなたの目 **は** きれいです。」

This は after 目 _is_ taken as a contrast marker, because there is clearly
something that can be contrasted in the question, and you suddenly mentioned
目. This response is like "(Instead,) your eyes are beautiful", and it _does_
imply the questioner's hair is not beautiful.

> 「私の髪がきれいだと思いますか？」  
>  「あなたの目 **が** きれいです。」

This が after 目 is not a contrast marker but an exhaustive-listing marker. This
response sounds like "It's your _eyes_ that is (the most) beautiful!" This
_can_ be rude, but not necessarily so.

