Components

Grammar detail: nominalization with こと

nominalization with こと  create nouns from other parts of speech
136 words
My current mastery of this grammar point:
LOG IN to view grammar mastery data
It is common in Japanese to convert phrases into nouns that can then be used as building blocks for more complex sentences. Conversion of a phrase into a noun is known as 'nominalization' (or 'nominalisation' depending on where you learned your English). Several words can be used as nominalizers, including こと, の and もの, and the situations in which they can be used vary slightly. The most common is こと (thing, object).
verb phrase using verb dictionary form
+
こと
nominalizes the verb phrase. For example:
  • 走る run ➜ 走ること (the act of) running
  • 本を読む read a book ➜ 本を読むこと(the act of) reading a book
  • 時間を過ごす spend time ➜ 時間を過ごすこと (the act of) spending time
Here are some examples of the usage of こと in more complex sentences:
はなみ
花見
とは
はな
ながらたのしくすごすことです
Cherry blossom viewing is about viewing the flowers and having a good time.
かれ
しゅみ
趣味
えが
ことです
His hobby is painting pictures.
ブログ
こと
です
I like reading blogs.
Please LOG IN for free flashcards

Kanji used in this grammar

ソウ   はし run   
ホン   book   もと origin   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
ドク   トク   トウ   よ to read   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
ジ   とき time, occasion   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
カン   ケン   あいだ interval, between   ま space, room   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
カ   あやま mistake   あやま to slip up   すぎる to overdo, be more than   すごす to pass, spend   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
カ   はな flower   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
ケン   み to see   みえる to be seen; to appear   みせる to show   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
ヒ   かれ he   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
シュ   おもむき gist, purport; appearance   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
ミ   あじ taste   あじわう to taste   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
カイ   エ   picture
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
ビョウ   か    えが to draw, depict, portray   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
コウ   この    す to like   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
Problem with this grammar? Question or comment? Please CONTACT US.
Kanshudo is your AI Japanese tutor, and your constant companion on the road to mastery of the Japanese language. To get started learning Japanese, just follow the study recommendations on your Dashboard. You can use Quick search (accessible using the icon at the top of every page) to look up any Japanese word, kanji or grammar point, as well as to find anything on Kanshudo quickly. For an overview, take the tour.
×