Japanese grammar · Intermediate (B1)
Turning verbs into nouns: の and こと
How の and こと turn a verb into a noun (見るのが好き), when to use which, and the fixed patterns ～ことができる, ～ことがある, ～ことにする and ～ことになる.
Verb + の or こと = a noun
To use an action as a noun, like English “swimming” or “to swim”, put (no) or (koto) after the plain form. The result can take particles like any noun: (hon o yomu no ga suki desu), I like reading books; (mainichi aruku no wa karada ni ii desu), walking every day is good for you.
In many sentences either word works: and both mean “I like cooking”. is more common in conversation; sounds a little more formal and abstract. But some patterns only take one of them.
- 祭りを見るのが大好きです。Matsuri o miru no ga daisuki desu.I love watching festivals.
- 日本語で話すのはまだ難しいです。Nihongo de hanasu no wa mada muzukashii desu.Speaking in Japanese is still difficult.
- 朝早く起きるのは苦手です。Asa hayaku okiru no wa nigate desu.I'm not good at getting up early.
Only の
Use (no) with verbs of perception, when you see or hear the action happening: (kodomotachi ga asonde iru no ga miemasu), I can see the children playing. Also with verbs like (matsu), wait for; (tetsudau), help with; and (wasureru), forget to.
is also used in the pattern ～のは … だ (-no wa … da), which puts the focus on the last part: (daiji na no wa tsuzukeru koto desu), what matters is to keep going.
- 電気を消すのを忘れました。Denki o kesu no o wasuremashita.I forgot to turn off the light.
- 隣の人が歌っているのが聞こえる。Tonari no hito ga utatte iru no ga kikoeru.I can hear the neighbour singing.
- 引っ越しを手伝うのは大変でした。Hikkoshi o tetsudau no wa taihen deshita.Helping with the move was hard work.
Only こと
Use (koto) before (desu) or (da) when you say what something is: (shumi wa shashin o toru koto desu), my hobby is taking photos. also appears in a set of fixed patterns (see the next section), in rules and in written instructions.
- 私の夢は自分の店を持つことです。Watashi no yume wa jibun no mise o motsu koto desu.My dream is to have my own shop.
- 一番大切なのは、毎日少しずつ続けることです。Ichiban taisetsu na no wa, mainichi sukoshi zutsu tsuzukeru koto desu.The most important thing is to keep at it a little every day.
Fixed patterns with こと
These patterns are very common. Note the difference between ～ことにする (koto ni suru), I decide, and ～ことになる (koto ni naru), it is decided, by others or by circumstances; the second is also a modest way to announce your own decision.
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| dictionary form + (koto ga dekiru) | can (formal) | (koko de taberu koto ga dekimasu), you can eat here |
| た-form + (koto ga aru) | have done (experience) | (mita koto ga aru), I've seen it |
| dictionary form + (koto ga aru) | sometimes | (okureru koto ga aru), it's sometimes late |
| (koto ni suru) | decide to | (mainichi aruku koto ni shita), I've decided to walk every day |
| (koto ni shite iru) | make it a rule to | (yoru wa tabesuginai koto ni shite iru), I make a point of not eating too much at night |
| (koto ni naru) | it's been decided, end up | (Ōsaka ni tenkin suru koto ni narimashita), I'm being transferred to Osaka |
| (koto ni natte iru) | it's the rule or the custom | (Tanabata ni wa negaigoto o kaku koto ni natte iru), at Tanabata people write wishes |
- 健康のために、たばこをやめることにしました。Kenkō no tame ni, tabako o yameru koto ni shimashita.I've decided to give up smoking for my health.
- 来月から新しい店を任されることになりました。Raigetsu kara atarashii mise o makasareru koto ni narimashita.From next month I'll be put in charge of a new shop.