Loading ...Learn How to Change Japanese Verb Into a Noun Using “koto”
The “koto” こと can be difficult to understand in the beginning, you probably need to keep listening and using it to understand it. It is use for normalizing things. In order words, to change a verb into a noun. So when do we change a verb into a noun using koto こと? Let’s find out.
Look at this sentence.
わたし が いった こと を しんじますか？ - Do you believe what I said?
Words to learn
しんじる、信じる - to believe
いう、言う - to say
Explanation
As you can see from the sentence that a こと is included after the past tense verb of いう. Which is いった. いった ＋ こと is actually a noun as a whole. That is why the を particle can be added after it. If you are not sure what I mean by saying why the を can be added after it. You should refer back to using the を particle in this post. And this post too. Therefore, いった こと を しんじる would literally mean “To believe things said”.
More examples
かのじょ の こと を よく しっています - I know her very well.
Words to learn
かのじょ、彼女 - She, her
よく - much, very, quite
しってる、知っている - to know (note: The negative verb for this is しらない、知らない, no other exception, a special verb)
Explanation
The sentence example above is of a little different meaning. A translation to understand this would be, “I know things of her well”. In this case, matters, or her character of a person. Although かのじょ is a noun, but to add こと behind it, you will need to add の first. Just part of the rules. For verbs, adding a の particle is not needed.
One more example
かれ が ちゅうごく に いった こと を しっている？
Words to learn
かれ、彼 - He, him
ちゅうごく、中国 - China
Can you understand the above sentence meaning? There is one verb in the sentence that might have confused you. Some of you viewers might think that いった means “said” but don’t forget いった has the other meaning for “gone”.
So the meaning for the sentence above is “Did you know that he went to China?” or literally, “Did you know about the matter that he went to China?”
Japanese can be really confusing right? Enjoy learning Japanese!
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すごい！ Perhaps you can enlighten me on 自動詞 と 他動詞？ I’d love to hear from you on what you have to teach for these two confusing stuff~ ^_^
Hi Rachelle
Thank for the comments.
Here is a quick explanation of 自動詞 and 他動詞.
自動詞 (jidoushi)
This is use when you did not do anything , no action involve with any certain objects, but the object was acted upon by something or someone else. E.g
ドア が 閉まりました - The door was close.
You didn’t do anything, therefore door was closed. The が particle must be use together with the verb, しまる、閉まる.
他動詞 (tadoushi)
This is use only when you are acting upon the object. Action is involve with you. E.g ドア を 閉めます. - I will close the door.
しめる which also means to close, but its a different kind of verb, that is why its call 他動詞,
To make easier to understand, 他動詞 literally translates to “I act on it by myself-action verbs”. を particle must be use after an object
And 自動詞 would mean “I didn’t do it auto-action verbs” が particle must be use. after an object.
Oooh.
So how does one know whether a verb is jidoushi or tadoushi just by looking at it (beside from looking at wo and ga)? Like how to know the tadoushi of shimaru is shimeru and other verbs?
Any tips? Or is it base on memory work?
If the latter, please suggest a good source to study~!
Thanks so much!
Jidoushi verbs are like: おわる、しまる , where the あ sounds comes in. わ and ま
As for tadoushi: おえる、しめる where the え sounds comes in.
There are other jidoushi verbs like: ぬれる - to get wet
E.g 雨なので ふく が ぬれる - The clothes are wet because of the rain (This is jidoushi, auto action verbs)
And other tadoushi verbs like: 濡らす - to soak it, to wet it.
E.g ふく を 濡らします - I will wet my clothes
There is probably a proper explanation to finding out which verbs are 自動詞、and which verbs are 他動詞. I can’t figure that out yet, but once I do, i will post it on the main page.
For now, just try to remember them.