こと（Ｎ4/Ｎ3）

 

1 Meaning: verb nominalizer. It allows you to use verbs as nouns.

2.   Meaning: (must) do.

 

Meaning:	How to use			Examples	English
1.verb nominalizer	Verb Short form	+	こと	ほんをよむことがすきです。	I like to read books.
				わたしはりょうりをつくることがへたです。	I am bad at cooking food.
2.(must) do.				おおごえをださないこと。	Don't speak with a loud voice.
				やすむときは、かならずがっこうにれんらくすること。	You must contact the school when you want to take a day off

 More detail

The relative pronoun /what and  conjunction/that are used to express "こと" that represent "things/moving"

"こと"is not used only expression 【things 】as nouns, but  also as

1.      【that】as conjunction  

2.      【What】 as relative pronoun  

3.      to + Noun usage of infinitive in the form of a verb

4.      Verb-ing with gerund

 

that represent "things/ action (state) 

 

relative pronoun /what and infinitive

私(わたし)が毎朝(まいあさ)していることは、花(はな)に水(みず)をあげることです。

What I do every morning is to water the flowers.

 

conjunction/that

On the other hand, the conjunction that is used to express "thing" that means "the action (state) itself"

I can't believe that he quit college 私わたしは彼かれが大学だいがくを辞めたやめたことが信じられないしんじられない

 

Verb- gerund and noun 

勉強(べんきょう)することは私(わたし)の一番(いちばん)好き(すき)なこと

Studying is my favorite thing.

Exercises

Translate the following

1.      There are many things that we think about.

2.      I love playing games.

3.      No eating dessert before dinner.

Answer

1.      わたしにはかんがえることがたくさんある。

2.      わたしはゲームをすることがだいすきです。

3.      ばんごはんのまえにデザートをたべないこと。

 

こと Expressions(N4)

こと Expressions(N4/N3)

ことがある Meaning: to have done something before.

ことができるMeaning: can; able to; not able to.

ことにするMeaning: to decide

ことになるMeaning: It has been decided that..; it turns out that.

ことになっている Meaning: to be expected to; to be scheduled to; it has been decided as a rule that.