In this Topic, we're going to learn about how to use verbs する and なる in more advanced ways. Specifically, we're going to learn about the にする pattern (used to say something is 'decided on') and the になる and くなる patterns (used to say that something 'becomes' something else).

We will also explore the relationship between する and なる further, and see how they can be thought of as two sides of the same coin, where one is active choice and the other is natural change.

なる and する are sometimes thought of as being related. Let's see why and how.

Becoming and Doing

While する is active, with a 'doer' (subject) and 'thing' being acted upon (object), なる does not have an active choice behind it, with no 'doer', only simple becoming or being. This is the difference between volition and non-volition. する implies control, choice, and action. なる implies spontaneity, flow, and natural change.

This is why にする means 'to decide on'. Volition is behind the selection. Conversely, this is why になる means 'to become', regardless of anyone's intentions.

This difference, between an active choice and a natural change, is actually a fundamental rule for how verbs work in Japanese. We will explore this more when we reach N4!

Yet Another Aspect

An important consequence of する representing 'doing' and なる representing 'becoming' is that their relationship with ‘aspect’ (whether something is ongoing or not) differs. This is particularly clear when using the ている pattern.

As する represents an action which can be continuously done, it will mean that the action is ongoing when ている is used. On the other hand, なる is a change of state. Something either has become or hasn't. As such, when なる uses ている it will mean that something has already become, and the resultant state is ongoing.

A Little Bit Tense

With the past tense (た), there is also a difference in nuance regarding outcome. For する, the past tense tells us that a volitional choice or action was completed. For なる, the past tense tells us that a natural (non-volitional) conclusion or result was reached.