Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 3: 4/18

ことConverting a verb into a noun

Can also express something that is concrete - a fact.

Structure

Verb + こと

Details

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    Standard

About こと

In a very similar way to のは, こと is used in Japanese for nominalization (creating a noun-like phrase). However, unlike のは, which is a combination of two particles, こと is a noun. To use こと, just add it to the end of a verb in its dictionary form.

こと (or 事(こと) in its kanji form) is a noun that is often translated as 'thing', and in this way, literally means 'the thing that is (A)' when used for nominalization.

As we can see from these examples, ない can also be used between the verb and こと, to form a 'not' statement. There are other auxiliary verbs that may be used with こと in this way, but ない is the most common.

Although this lesson discusses こと pairing with the dictionary form of verbs, it can actually pair with any standard verb form. Standard form just means anything that does not finish with the polite ます.

Fun Fact

Unlike もの (another noun used to describe 'things'), こと is a noun that is frequently used to describe things that are 'intrinsic'. This basically means things that are describable, but not necessarily always observable (feelings, conditions, events, etc.).

Caution

When a sentence (usually short) finishes with こと, it quite often has the nuance of being a rule, or command. This こと is not actually a noun, but a sentence ending particle.

  • 1．クラスメイトをいじめないこと。
    1. Do not bully your classmates.

こと as a particle will almost never be written in the kanji form. However, it does originate from the same word.

Examples

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    日本語(にほんご)を話(はな)すことは難(むずか)しい。

    Speaking Japanese is difficult.

    スポーツをすることが好(す)き。

    I like playing sports.

    ダンスをすることは楽(たの)しい。

    Dancing is fun!

    大(おお)きい声(こえ)で喋(しゃべ)らないこと。

    Not talking loudly.

    フォークじゃなくて、お箸(はし)を使(つか)うこと。

    Not using a fork, using chopsticks.

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こと – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (21 in total)

  • TurboSushi1

    TurboSushi1

    I’m confused, I think. I thought 〜ている was adding ~ing to the end of a verb.

    Is this the difference in English?

    〜ている I am eating. (The ~ing focuses on the continuous state of eating, as a verb)
    〜こと I like eating (The ~ing focuses on the act of eating, as a noun)

  • Fuga

    Fuga

    Hey @TurboSushi1 !

    〜ている is used to convey that someone/something is in a constant state of ‘doing’ the verb it is attached to, and this こと is to nominalize verbs that comes before it.

    For example, the sentence 想像することは大切なことです is translated as ‘Using your imagination is important.’, but a closer translation would be, ‘That which is to use your imagination, is important’.

  • TurboSushi1

    TurboSushi1

    Nice, thank you!

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