74171
I noticed that particles are sometimes omitted after 何か. Is there a
grammatical rule that dictates omission of a particle after 何か or this is just
a conversational contraction?  
E.g., are the following sentences equivalent?

> 何か焦げる匂いがしている。  
>  何か **が** 焦げる匂いがしている。
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2019-12-24T03:44:53.033
73606
2020-02-01T07:11:03.520
2019-12-24T06:17:01.757
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question
grammar particles
Is a particle required after 何か？
> 「何か焦{こ}げる匂{にお}いがしている。」
>
> 「何か **が** 焦げる匂いがしている。」

These two sentences mean different things and the difference is **not** a very
small one at least in a place like this, if not anywhere else.

In the first sentence, 「何か」 is used as an **adverb** meaning " _ **somehow**_
", " _ **for some reason**_ ", etc. You could **not** attach a particle to it
even if you wanted to.

> "There is somehow a burning smell." or
>
> "For some reason, there is a burning smell (around here)."

In the second, 「何か」 is used as a **pronoun** meaning " _ **something**_ ". To
a noun or pronoun, you can, of course attach a particle.

> "I smell something burning."

One more thing -- the pronunciation.

「何か」 in the first sentence, as an adverb that is, would often be pronounced 「な
**ん** か」 whereas 「何か」 in the second sentence would generally be pronounced 「な
**に** か」 even in informal speech at least by the more careful speakers.

Suggested readings:

  * [Is 誰か行きたい人 a form of double-headed relative clause?](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/74104/is-%e8%aa%b0%e3%81%8b%e8%a1%8c%e3%81%8d%e3%81%9f%e3%81%84%e4%ba%ba-a-form-of-double-headed-relative-clause/74133#74133)

  * [ってことはどっか Usage in プロってことはどっかスポンサーがついてるってことですよね？](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/63199/%e3%81%a3%e3%81%a6%e3%81%93%e3%81%a8%e3%81%af%e3%81%a9%e3%81%a3%e3%81%8b-usage-in-%e3%83%97%e3%83%ad%e3%81%a3%e3%81%a6%e3%81%93%e3%81%a8%e3%81%af%e3%81%a9%e3%81%a3%e3%81%8b%e3%82%b9%e3%83%9d%e3%83%b3%e3%82%b5%e3%83%bc%e3%81%8c%e3%81%a4%e3%81%84%e3%81%a6%e3%82%8b%e3%81%a3%e3%81%a6%e3%81%93%e3%81%a8%e3%81%a7%e3%81%99%e3%82%88%e3%81%ad/63209#63209)

I warn you, however, that the author of the "best" answer in the _**second**_
Q&A above does not appear to be familiar with the adverbial usage of "question
word + か" words.
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2020-01-31T12:16:13.273
74171
2020-02-01T07:11:03.520
2020-06-17T08:18:27.500
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answer