は

Particle (Intermediate ㊥ 564)

A particle which emphatically affirms or negates the proposition represented by the preceding verbal and other related elements.

Equivalent: [emphatic] {do/does/did} V; will V; {am/are/is/was/were} Adjective/Noun; (not) V/Adjective/Noun

行きはしますが、何も手伝えませんよ。: I am going (there) but I cannot help you, all right?
疲れてはいるが、まだ休みたくない。: I am tired but I don't want to take a break yet.
あの男には説明しても分かりはしない。: That guy would not understand even if you explained it to him.
あのズボンは安くはあるが、ちょっと時代遅れだ。: Those pants are cheap but they are a little too old-fashioned.
この本は内容を考えれば決して高くはない。: This book is not expensive at all when you consider its content.
酒は飲みはするが、それほど好きではない。: I do drink but don't like it very much.
彼は日本語を読めはするが、話せはしない。: He can read Japanese but cannot speak it.
彼女はベッドに横になってはいるが、目は開いている。: She is lying in bed but her eyes are open.
試験を受けてはみるが、通る自信は全然ない。: I will take the exam (and see what will happen), but I have no confidence that I will pass it.
彼は何を言っても聞きはしない。: He does not listen, no matter what we tell him.
この花瓶は高くはあるが、それだけの値打ちはある。: This vase is expensive but it is valuable to that extent.
この問題はよく考えれば難しくはないはずだ。: If you think carefully, this problem should not be difficult.
あの男は優秀ではあったが、不正なことをしたので首になった。: He was smart but he was fired because he did something illegal.
彼は日本人ではあるが、あまり日本語を話せない。: He is Japanese but cannot speak Japanese well.

Formation

(i) Vます	は{する(が)/しない}
	話しは{する(が)/しない}	Someone will tell (but)/will not tell
(ii) Vて	は{いる(が)/ いない}	{みる(が)/みない}, etc.
	食べては{いる(が)/ いない}	Someone is eating (but)/is not eating
(iii) Adjective い stem	くは{ある (が)/ ない}
	面白くは{ある (が)/ ない}	Something is interesting (but)/is not interesting
(iv) Adjective な stem/Noun	では{ある (が)/ ない}
	便利では{ある (が)/ ない}	Something is convenient (but)/is not convenient
	学生では{ある (が)/ ない}	Someone is a student (but)/is not a student

は

Formation

Notes