が and に interchangeability and difference in meaning


Consider these sentences:

>   * だれ{が・に}これが出来るか
>
>   * だれ{が・に}日本語が分からないか
>
>

When both が and に are acceptable, what is their difference in meaning and
practical usage?




This is a great question, and one of which I'm not sure I fully understand the
nuances. But here goes:

What I learned in my first Japanese class was the `は／が` for basic things like
this:

>   * あの人は日本語がわかる → That guy understands Japanese.
>   * 友達は子供が３人います → My friend has 3 children.
>   * だれがこれが出来るか → Who can do this?
>

Then I heard some people start using `に` and I was like WTH? But after hearing
`に` for a while, it seems to translate like "unto 〜" or "by 〜". It's not how
we'd naturally say it in English (at least most people, I'd imagine), so it
seems a little strange.

>   * あの人に日本語がわかる → "Japanese is understood by that guy," or "Japanese is
> understandable unto him."
>   * 友達に子供が３人います → "3 children exist unto my friend," or "My friend has 3
> children (unto himself)."
>   * だれにこれが出来るか？ → For/To whom is it possible?
>

My understanding is that with the `は／が` the emphasis is more on the
person/subject, whereas with the `に` version, it seems to be more on the
"other part" (Japanese being understood, 3 children, the thing able to be
done) for lack of a better term.




This is a great question, and one of which I'm not sure I fully understand the
nuances. But here goes:

What I learned in my first Japanese class was the `は／が` for basic things like
this:

>   * あの人は日本語がわかる → That guy understands Japanese.
>   * 友達は子供が３人います → My friend has 3 children.
>   * だれがこれが出来るか → Who can do this?
>

Then I heard some people start using `に` and I was like WTH? But after hearing
`に` for a while, it seems to translate like "unto 〜" or "by 〜". It's not how
we'd naturally say it in English (at least most people, I'd imagine), so it
seems a little strange.

>   * あの人に日本語がわかる → "Japanese is understood by that guy," or "Japanese is
> understandable unto him."
>   * 友達に子供が３人います → "3 children exist unto my friend," or "My friend has 3
> children (unto himself)."
>   * だれにこれが出来るか？ → For/To whom is it possible?
>

My understanding is that with the `は／が` the emphasis is more on the
person/subject, whereas with the `に` version, it seems to be more on the
"other part" (Japanese being understood, 3 children, the thing able to be
done) for lack of a better term.

