Nominalizers: こと and の

Last time, you learned combined particles like には and にも, and noun phrases like 朝あさから昼ひるまで. In Japanese, you can combine some parts of speech and make them a noun. In this lesson, you will learn how to let verbs and adjectives work as a noun like “doing,” “to do,” and “being….”

The Usage of the Nominalizer with the Conjugation

Verbs Treated as Nouns

When you use verbs as nouns in English, you attach “to” or “-ing” with verbs. Japanese has a similar rule. If you place の or こと after verbs, it will become a noun. Let’s take a look at some examples.

Plain From + の or こと

Be careful, this is ONLY applicable for the PLAIN FORM. You cannot attach them with the polite form. Here are more examples.

Again, the followings are wrong because of the conjugation. Don’t use the polite form.

走ります の・こと は私わたしの趣しゅ味み（だ / です）。
泳ぎます の・こと は私わたしの趣しゅ味みじゃ（ない / ありません）

Verbs Treated as Nouns with Multiple Elements

You can add subjects, objects, and supplementary information in the の or こと part, except for topics because it should be for whole sentences. This is a little complicated, so let’s analyze them in detail.

Again, the following one is wrong because you cannot use the topic particle は in the noun phrases.

友達は引っ越す の・こと は悲かなしい（です）。

Adjectives and Nouns with の and こと

In English, you can express even adjectives as a noun by using “being” such as “being good.” In Japanese, you can also express adjectives as a noun by using の and こと. The conjugation is the same as when adjectives directly modify nouns. However, the conjugation for nouns will work differently. Let’s go over them one by one.

Na-adjective: Adding な + の・こと

I-adjective: Adding の・こと

That’s very simple, isn’t it? You can add subjects, objects, and supplementary information as well.

In regards to nouns with の and こと, you need to pay attention to the conjugation as the following example shows. By the way, you may wonder about how nominalizers with nouns work. Sentences sometimes end with a noun like “田た中なかさんは女優じょゆうだ (Tanaka-san is an actress).” Nominalizers with nouns can be used to make such a sentence a noun phrase.

Noun with こと: Adding である + こと

Noun with の: Adding な + の

Although both of them have the same meaning, the conjugation is different. Japanese people will perhaps understand your speech even if you make a mistake in the conjugation. However, if you’d like speak natural Japanese, this is what you need to memorize.

Advanced Topic: Difference between の and こと

In many cases, の and こと are interchangeable. Here, we will pick up some exceptions.

You Can Use Only こと

1. When You Use the Nominalizers  with だ / です

2. When Verbs Are Related to Communication or Internal Thoughts

You Can Use Only の

1. When Verbs are Perception Verbs Like "聞きく to hear" and "見みる to see"

2. When Verbs Are 止とめる and 止やめる

3. When Verbs Are 手て伝つだう, 待まつ, etc*.

*We know that it’s a vague explanation, but let us tell you: when a verb is an action which should be done while observing people’s situations, you need to use の. For example, you can use only の with the verb: "邪じゃ魔まする to disturb."

Summary

1. When you nominalize verbs, you add の or こと.
2. When you nominalize na-adjectives, you add な + の or こと.
3. When you nominalize i-adjectives, you add の or こと.
4. When you nominalize nouns, you add な + の or である + こと.

You may not completely understand the advanced topic. Don’t worry. As you proceed with your learning, you will be able to recognize the difference gradually. For the time being, it’s alright if you know just the grammatical rules. Anyway, you can nominalize verbs and adjectives and make noun clauses now. Next, you will learn how to make relative clauses like “a person who learns Japanese.”