こと

Converting a verb into a noun

JLPT N4
Pattern

Verb (plain form) + こと

How it works

こと turns a verb into a noun: “doing ~”. It is used in fixed patterns like ことができる and ことがある, and for abstract statements: しゅみは本を読むことです (my hobby is reading).

Examples

  • わたしの しゅみは 写真を とる ことです。My hobby is taking photos.
  • 外国語を 話す ことは むずかしい。Speaking a foreign language is hard.

Related grammar

Further reading

Bunpro N4 · Lesson 3

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