Do you know how to change verbs or adjectives into nouns?

The rule is easy.

I have been teaching Japanese to beginners for three years, so when you finish reading this article, you will understand what nominalizer is and how to change verbs and adjectives into nouns.

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what is nominalizer?

Nominalizer means the process of producing a noun from another word.

In English grammar, we may produce a noun by using a suffix.

For example, act >>actor, translate >> translator, employ >> employment, employer, employee.

The other way to make noun is by using gerunds. (The form of -ing)

For example, eat >> eating, drink >> drinking, run >> running.

Let’s see Japanese nominalizer.

Verb ＋ の or こと

You can use こと or particle of の to change a verb into a noun.

For example, たべるの, のむの, はしるの, たべること, のむこと, or はしること.

Like this example, の or こと connect with a verb and we can use them as a noun.

It makes a relative clause.

＊A clause mean a group of words that includes a subject and verb.

In this case, ほんをよむのは or ほんをよむことは(Reading a book) are subjects of this sentence.

Please read this article to know “verb ＋ の” or “verbこと” more.

What’s the difference between こと and の?

Adjective nominalizer

I will teach you two ways to change adjectives to nouns.

Use さ or み

イadjい＋さ or み

ナadj ＋ さ or み

If you don’t know the difference between イadjectives and ナadjectives, please read this article.

Learning Japanese grammar-adjectives conjugation

We use さ to change adjectives into nouns.

Words such as width, speed, length, weight and height are often used when we talk about things like size or speed.

When we use adjectives about feelings such as sadness, happiness or pain, we use さ or み.

This is a Japanese proverb.

あつい (hot) and さむい (cold) are adjectives, so they can’t be a subject.

We need to change them into nouns, which is あつさ and さむさ.

The difference between さ and み

When the adjectives are about feeling, they usually can be changed to nouns using さ or み.

Adjectiveさ usually expresses general feeling.

For example,

This feeling is general rather than personal feeling.

Therefore, たのしさ is better than たのしみ.

On the other hand, adjectiveみ usually expresses a personal feeling.

Let’s see another example.

This feeling is personal and the feeling would change depending on the person.

Adjective ＋ の

We can use の as a noun in a sentence that modifies the relevant noun.

Let’s think about one example.

Someone asks you if you would like hot coffee or ice coffee.

The answer is obviously about the coffee, so you don’t have to say coffee again.

あついの can be thought as a noun.

Let’s see another example.

There are many umbrellas and someone asked you which umbrella is yours.

When you answer the red umbrella is yours, obviously you mention about the umbrella.

Thus, you don’t have to say かさ again.

あかいの can be thought as a noun.

conclusion

You can use こと or particle of の to change a verb to a noun.

イadjい＋さ or み

ナadj ＋ さ or み

We can use の as a noun in a sentence that modifies the relevant noun.

Excercise

１．CNタワーの（たかいです→　）は、553メートルです。

２．Q. どれが　あなたの　かばんですか。

　　A. その　（おおきいです→　）です。

３．どうぶつを　（みます→　）は　たのしい。

４．あなたの　（やさしいです→　）がうれしいです。

５．さくぶんを　（かきます→　）は　すきじゃありません。

Answer

１．CNタワーの（たかいです→たかさ）は、553メートルです。

２．Q. どれが　あなたの　かばんですか。

　　A. その　（おおきいです→おおきいの）です。

３．どうぶつを　（みます→みるの or みること）は　たのしい。

４．あなたの　（やさしいです→やさしさ）がうれしいです。

５．さくぶんを　（かきます→かくのは or かくこと）は　すきじゃありません。

If you would like to practice conjugation in conversation, please let me know.

I teach Japanese in person or online.

You will have chances to use Japanese in my class.

↓Please feel free to contact me.

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We offer online classes and in person classes

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The post Learning japanese grammar -nominalizer- first appeared on Youと日本語.

In this article, I am going to teach you when you can use Vところだ and how to use it.

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When to use ところだ

ところだ is used like in these three situation.

I am going to explain about these in detail.

dictionary form＋ところだ

Dictionary form ＋ ところだ

V＋ところだ means someone is going to do something now.

If you say “ごはんをたべるところです”, it means it’s right before you start eating.

Let’s see other examples

Vている ＋ ところだ

Vている ＋ ところだ

Vている means someone is doing something right now.

If you say “ごはんをたべているところです”, it means you are eating right now.

What’s the difference between ています and ているところです?

ています is status and ているところです is more feeling expression.

You may feel sorry when you use ているところです。

Let’s see an example.

You feel sorry because you refused your friend’s invitation.

Therefore, you said べんきょうしているところです instead of べんきょうしています.

タ form ＋ ところです

タ form ＋ ところです

What is タ form? Please read this article.

Let’s learn Japanese plain form.

たところです means someone has just finished something.

If you say “ごはんをたべたところです”, it means you have just finished eating.

Let’s see other example.

Casual form

You can say Vとこ instead of Vところです。

Let’s see examples.

Conclusion

Dictionary form ＋ ところだ

Vところだ means someone is going to do something now.

If you say “ごはんをたべるところです”, it means it’s right before you start eating.

Vている ＋ ところだ

Vている means someone is doing something right now.

If you say “ごはんをたべているところです”, it means you are eating right now.

タ form ＋ ところです

たところです means someone has just finished something.

If you say “ごはんをたべたところです”, it means you have just finished eating.

Exercise

１

Q. チケットの　よやくは　もう　しましたか。

A. はい、いま（します→　）ところです。

2

Q. いつ　いえに　つきますか。

A. いま、バスを（おります→　）ところです。もうすぐつきます。

3

Q. しゅくだい　おわりましたか。

いま（します→　）ところです。もうすぐおわります。

4

Q, このノートつかってもいいですか。

A. すみません。いまから（つかいます→　）ところです。

5

Q. いえに　つきましたか。

A. はい、いま（つきます→　）ところです。

Answer

１

Q. チケットの　よやくは　もう　しましたか。

A. はい、いま（します→した）ところです。

2

Q. いつ　いえに　つきますか。

A. いま、バスを（おります→おりた）ところです。もうすぐつきます。

3

Q. しゅくだい　おわりましたか。

いま（します→している）ところです。もうすぐおわります。

4

Q, このノートをつかってもいいですか。

A. すみません。いまから（つかいます→つかう）ところです。

5

Q. いえに　つきましたか。

A. はい、いま（つきます→ついた）ところです。

If you would like to practice conjugation in conversation, please let me know.

I teach Japanese in person or online.

You will have chances to use Japanese in my class.

↓Please feel free contact me.

Contact form

↓You can also learn Japanese on my Instagram.

Youtonihongo Instagram

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The post Learn Japanese grammar- what is Vところだ?- first appeared on Youと日本語.