テーブルの上には猫がいた。

table

indicates possessive; nominalizes verbs and adjectives; substitutes for "ga" in subordinate phrases; (at sentence-end, falling tone) indicates a confident conclusion; (at sentence-end) indicates emotional emphasis; (at sentence-end, rising tone) indicates question

topic marker particle; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis

cat; shamisen; geisha; wheelbarrow; clay bed-warmer; bottom; submissive partner of a homosexual relationship

indicates sentence subject (occasionally object); indicates possessive (esp. in literary expressions); but; however; still; and

to be (of animate objects); to exist; to stay; (after the -te form of a verb) verb indicating continuing action or state (i.e. to be ..ing, to have been ..ing)