WE CAN EXPRESS IDEAS SUCH AS 'I LIKE READING', RIDING ROLLER COASTERS IS FUN', 'BUYING CLOTHES IS AN EXPENSIVE HOBBY', etc, BY ADDING こと OR の AFTER A PLAIN FORM VERB.
- By adding こと or の after the plain form of the verb, we actually turn the verb into a noun.
('Nominalize' means 'to make something into a noun') - When we do this in English, we add -ing to a verb, as in 'I like reading'. In this case, reading becomes the thing (noun) that I like. In English we call this the gerund form of the verb.
(This is completely different from the -ing ending of 'I am reading' - that's just the verb ending in the present continuous tense - confusing!) - こと means 'fact' or 'thing'. In some cases, verb + こと can translate as 'the fact that ~'.
e.g. ねこがいること - 'the fact that there are cats' - の is simply just a pronoun that can be used instead of こと if you prefer.
- Like much grammar, this is more easily understood by seeing examples that by explanation, so here are some examples:
SIMPLE EXAMPLES
MORE COMPLEX EXAMPLES
カフェにねこがいることに びっくりしました。
みんながびっくりしたのは、ねこがいることと コーヒーがたかいことです。
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