Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 5: 22/22

～たものだUsed to

Structure

Verb［た］+ ものだ

Details

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    物

About たものだ

As mentioned the ものだ lesson, the combination of the noun 物(もの) 'thing', with the auxiliary verb だ forms a strong determination about whatever comes before it as being 'the way it is'. As an extension of this nuance, ものだ can be paired with verbs in the past tense, creating a phrase similar to 'I used to (A) in the past'. However, the literal meaning is closer to '(A) was the way it used to be'.

Due to ものだ being a strong determination of something's existence/truth, this expression quite often carries the nuance that the speaker is nostalgic about (A), reminiscing about (A), or being introspective about (A). This means that it will not sound natural when describing things that are seemingly inconsequential, or have no meaningful significance.

When highlighting things in the past that are not particularly important, たことがある will be used instead.

Related

Examples

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    若(わか)い頃(ころ)は、いろんな苦労(くろう)をしたものだ。

    I used to have lots of hardships when I was young.

    子供(こども)の頃(ころ)はよく海(うみ)に泳(およ)ぎに行(い)ったものだ。

    I used to go swimming in the ocean a lot when I was a child.

    昔(むかし)はよく、車(くるま)を運転(うんてん)して遠(とお)くに出(で)かけたものだ。

    A long time ago, I often used to go out and take long drives.

    子供(こども)の頃(ころ)は授業(じゅぎょう)中(ちゅう)、よく居(い)眠(ねむ)りをしたものだ。

    When I was a child, I used to nod off a lot in the middle of class.

    私(わたし)が子(こ)どもの頃(ころ)、よく父(ちち)に映画(えいが)を見(み)に連(つ)れていってもらったものだ。

    Dad used to take me to the movies when I was a child.

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たものだ – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (8 in total)

  • mrnoone

    mrnoone

    English translation:
    used to

    Structure:
    Verb[ た ] + ものだ

    View on Bunpro

  • Johnathan-Weir

    Johnathan-Weir

    Misa made a video covering this grammar point that I think should be added to the readings.

    Also according to her this grammar point can often be replaced by っけ so maybe it should be added to the related grammar tab. Additionally, that even when used in conversation it will become もんだ.

    Also, the description should mention it’s used for things in the past that you don’t do anymore now. Though that can be somewhat concluded from the example sentences.

  • Saimin

    Saimin

    “used to do x” already implies you don’t do x anymore. (or at least not to the same extent)

    but the Misa video and note about っけ and もんだ are great additions!

  • Johnathan-Weir

    Johnathan-Weir

    Yeah I suppose so. I guess I was just thinking that that explaination would further differentiate it from other similar grammar points like たことがある.

    In these later grammar points you start to get so many points that only have subtle differences so having clear distinctions can make them easier to remember.

  • Daru

    Daru

    Love to see Misa-sensei!

    Went ahead and added this to the Resources.

  • RezoneH

    RezoneH

    “I used to dislike eating breakfast, but now I love it.”

    how can i say that in japanese?
    (i do not want to say “i didnt like breakfast.”)

  • IcyIceBear

    IcyIceBear

    Hiii again
    Have you heard of the Hinative app? I recommend it, it was basically built for those kinds of questions! I haven’t used it in a while, but I would use it to check with natives if my sentences were natural. It’s really easy to get translations from multiple natives and learners alike, as well as corrections/suggestions on how to say something better

  • RezoneH

    RezoneH

    thank you for your reply and valuable time.

    I’ve heard of it, yes. As you said, I think it is a useful site for this purpose. Have you tried ChatGPT? If you have heard or experienced it before, I do not want to make any additional explanations about it.

    I hope that there are many people at a higher level than me at Bunpro who can answer this question.

  • RezoneH

    RezoneH

    Not bad yes. I liked it. It’s integrated with A.I., that’s great, I didn’t know that. Thanks for your advice.

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