Is it possible to use the 〜たい form with the particle が instead of を?


For example,

> 寿司【すし】 **を** 食【た】べたい。 寿司【すし】 **が** 食【た】べたい。

If it is possible, then what is the difference in meaning or nuance?

Thank you.




Here’s the technical explanation, according to _‘Intermediate Japanese: A
Grammar and Workbook'_ by Tsujioka and Hamano (2012, Routledge).

Basically they describe how Japanese verbs can be classified into two
categories:

  * **eventive verbs** - describing an event. For example, 食べる. 
  * **stative verbs** - describing a state. For example, ある.

In general, eventive verbs take the particle `～を` to mark the object of the
action:

> ピアノ **を** ひきます。

Stative verbs, on the other hand, generally use `～が` to mark the object:

> ピアノ **が** あります。

A verb like 食べる in its base form is an eventive verb, as it describes the
‘event’ of eating. However, when you add the ～たい ending to make the formation
食べたい, the verb takes on a stative aspect. It is now describing the state of
wanting to eat. So it has both eventive and stative properties. It also
assumes the grammatical properties of a stative verb, which means that you can
use `～が` to mark the object. These dual grammatical roles mean that either
`～を` or `～が` can be used without much difference in meaning.

In summary, there is very little difference in meaning between your two sample
sentences, according to the explanation by those authors. One final note is
that if other volitional suffixes (such as ～がる) are used, the stative meaning
is reduced and ～を is preferred. So it all depends on the level of volition
introduced by the suffix.




Here’s the technical explanation, according to _‘Intermediate Japanese: A
Grammar and Workbook'_ by Tsujioka and Hamano (2012, Routledge).

Basically they describe how Japanese verbs can be classified into two
categories:

  * **eventive verbs** - describing an event. For example, 食べる. 
  * **stative verbs** - describing a state. For example, ある.

In general, eventive verbs take the particle `～を` to mark the object of the
action:

> ピアノ **を** ひきます。

Stative verbs, on the other hand, generally use `～が` to mark the object:

> ピアノ **が** あります。

A verb like 食べる in its base form is an eventive verb, as it describes the
‘event’ of eating. However, when you add the ～たい ending to make the formation
食べたい, the verb takes on a stative aspect. It is now describing the state of
wanting to eat. So it has both eventive and stative properties. It also
assumes the grammatical properties of a stative verb, which means that you can
use `～が` to mark the object. These dual grammatical roles mean that either
`～を` or `～が` can be used without much difference in meaning.

In summary, there is very little difference in meaning between your two sample
sentences, according to the explanation by those authors. One final note is
that if other volitional suffixes (such as ～がる) are used, the stative meaning
is reduced and ～を is preferred. So it all depends on the level of volition
introduced by the suffix.

