N4 · Linking clauses
Turning a verb into a noun with の and こと
nominalising with の and こと
A particle needs a noun, so a verb that is liked, forgotten or heard first becomes one with の or こと.
Particles attach to nouns. When a whole action is the thing that is liked, difficult, forgotten or seen, the action has to become a noun first, and Japanese does that by putting の or こと after the plain form: 泳ぐのが好きです, "I like swimming"; 漢字を覚えるのは大変です, "learning kanji is hard work". English does the same job with "-ing" or "to", which is why learners forget that Japanese needs a word for it.
In many sentences the two are interchangeable: 料理をするのが好きです and 料理をすることが好きです mean the same. の is the more conversational of the two; こと sounds a little more neutral and is the usual choice in writing.
Only こと works before です when you say what something is: 趣味は本を読むことです, "my hobby is reading". It is also fixed in set patterns such as ことができる (can), ことがある (have done; sometimes) and ことにする (decide to).
Only の works when the action is something perceived as it happens or something you take part in: with 見る, 聞こえる, 待つ, 手伝う, 止める. 電車が来るのを待っています is "I am waiting for the train to come"; with こと it would be wrong.
The form
| I like swimming. | 泳ぐのが好きです。 |
| Learning kanji is hard work. | 漢字を覚えるのは大変です。 |
| My hobby is reading. (only こと) | 趣味は本を読むことです。 |
| I can drive. (only こと) | 車を運転することができます。 |
| I heard someone singing. (only の) | 誰かが歌っているのが聞こえました。 |
| I forgot to buy milk. | 牛乳を買うのを忘れました。 |
The rules one by one
の or こと follows the plain form and turns the clause into a noun that can take a particle.
朝早く起きるのは苦手です。I am not good at getting up early.
Before です, when you say what something is, use こと.
夢は世界を旅行することです。My dream is to travel around the world.
With seeing, hearing, waiting and helping, use の.
弟が宿題をするのを手伝いました。I helped my younger brother do his homework.
In set patterns such as ことができる, only こと is possible.
私はピアノを弾くことができます。I can play the piano.
A closer look
Why the choice is not random
の points at an action as an event: something that happens in front of you, that you can see, hear, wait for or help with. That is why the verbs of perception take の, and why 子供が遊んでいるのが見えます describes children you are actually watching.
こと points at an action as an idea: something you can name, define, plan or possess as an ability. A hobby, a dream, a rule or a skill is an idea, which is why こと is used before です and in ことができる. When a sentence could be read either way, either word is fine, and that covers the large middle ground where the two are interchangeable.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
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の comes at the very end of a sentence, before です
it is usually not the nominaliser but the explaining のです (spoken んです), which gives a reason or background.
明日は早く出かけるんです。The thing is, I am leaving early tomorrow.
行くのです means "the thing is, I am going", not "it is going". That is why "my hobby is reading" cannot end in 読むのです: it would sound like an explanation of something else.
How to spot it
- 〜のが好き
- 〜のは
- 〜のを
- 〜ことです
- 〜ことができる
- 〜のが見える
Example sentences
音楽を聞くのが好きです。I like listening to music.
日本語で話すのはまだ難しいです。Speaking in Japanese is still difficult for me.
私の仕事は子供に英語を教えることです。My job is teaching English to children.
電車が来るのを待っています。I am waiting for the train to come.
窓を閉めるのを忘れないでください。Please don't forget to close the window.
健康のためには、よく寝ることが大切です。Sleeping well is important for your health.
7 more example sentences
絵を見るのが好きで、よく美術館に行きます。I like looking at paintings, so I often go to art galleries.
一人で旅行するのは少し寂しいです。Travelling alone is a little lonely.
彼が部屋に入るのを見ました。I saw him go into the room.
毎日運動することは簡単ではありません。Exercising every day is not easy.
鍵をかけるのを忘れてしまいました。I forgot to lock the door.
子供たちが歌うのを聞いて、うれしくなりました。Hearing the children sing made me happy.
大切なのは、毎日少しずつ続けることです。What matters is keeping at it a little every day.
Worth knowing (1)
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こと after a person: everything about them
After a noun with の, こと means "things concerning": 彼女のこと is "her, and everything about her". It is how Japanese says it is thinking about, worried about or in love with a person, and it is not a nominalised verb at all — but it is the same word, doing the same job of turning something into a subject of thought.
家族のことをいつも考えています。I am always thinking about my family.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
English "I like swimming" turns the verb into a noun with "-ing", and nothing in the Japanese verb does that by itself. 泳ぐ is still a verb, and が cannot attach to a verb. The の is not decoration — it is the "-ing".
A verb needs の or こと before a particle; こと before です, の with seeing and waiting.
Your turn
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