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Nominalizer ...
こと・の |
Nominalizers are used to change verbs, adjectives, etc., into nouns or noun phrases. In English, for instance, by adding "ing" to the end of a verb, you form the gerund or noun form. (For example: Seeing is believing. 「見ることはしんじることです。」)
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Plain form of verb Plain form of い-adjective |
+ こと or の |
の
is used in sentences that express something
subjective
(i.e., something directly related to the speaker or something perceived or
experienced by the speaker).
こと
is used when talking more
generally or objectively.
|
verb + nominalizer |
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yomu koto/ yomu no |
読むこと・読むの |
Reading |
|
yomanai koto /yomanai no |
読まないこと・読まないの |
Not reading |
|
yonda koto /yonda no |
読んだこと・読んだの |
Having read |
|
yoma nakatta koto/ yoma nakatta no |
読まなかったこと・読まなかったの |
Not having read |
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2. plain form of I-adjective + nominalizer |
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ookii koto /ookii no |
大きいこと・大きいの |
Being big |
|
ookikunai koto/ ookikunai no |
大きくないこと・大きいの |
Not being big |
|
ookikju katta koto/ ookiku katta no |
大きかったこと・大きかったの |
Having been big |
|
ookiku nakatta koto /ookiku nakatta no |
大きくなかったこと・大きくなかったの |
Not having been big |
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3. plain form of na-adjective + nominalizer |
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kirei na koto /kirei na no |
きれいなこと・きれいなの |
Being pretty |
|
kirei dewa nai koto/ kirei dewa nai no |
きれいではないこと・きれいではないの （きれいじゃないこと・きれいじゃないの） |
Not being pretty |
|
kirei datta koto /kirei datta no |
きれいだったこと・きれいだったの |
Having been pretty |
|
kirei
dewa nakatta
koto / (kirei
ja nakatta
koto) / |
きれいではなかったこと・
（きれいじゃなかったこと・ |
Not having been pretty |
Sample sentences:
Q:日本語を話すのと書くのと、どちらの方が好きですか。Which one do you like, speaking or Writing Japanese?
A:どちらも好きですが、書くことの（or 書くのの）方がかんたんです。 I like both but writing is easier.
(Note:のの in the 書くのの is often omitted especially in conversation. Consider
that it becomes a relative clause.)
Q:今日、家で食事をするのと外食するのと、どちらの方がいいですか。Which one is good today, eating at home or eating out?
A：家で作るのはめんどうですから、外食しませんか。Since making at home is cumbersome. would you like to eat out?