Verb-こと form

Ninja · JLPT Starter Joined: 12 Jan 2011 Posts: 17

Hi,

In my grammar learning so far, I have came across two variations of the Verb-こと form.

Usage 1: Expressing ability to do something

Verb Dictionary form-ことが　できます

Eg. 馬に　乗ることが　できます
Hiragana: うまに　のることが　できます
Translation: I can ride a horse.

Usage 2: Expressing having the experience of doing something

Verb た-form ことが　あります

Eg. 馬に　乗ったことが　あります
Hiragana: うまに　のったことが　あります
Translation: I have experienced riding a horse.

I would like to find out if there are other usages of こと、and to find out if the following sentence is grammatically correct and whether it translates closely:

I am preparing things for the wedding.

結婚するのことを　準備します
Hiragana: けっこんするのことを　じゅんびします

NeWbY · Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 3:38 am Post subject:

I usually read 'こと' as 'this thing'. When following a verb, it doesn't take the 'の' particle, only at adjectives/nouns.
So as to make it grammatically correct, it should be: 結婚することを準備します。 AFAIK.

But I think the construction you used is weird.
結婚の準備をします。 would be better I think ^^

As an example, I think you could say this:
結婚することが上手です。 (I'm good at marrying).

Kai13 · Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 5:54 am Post subject:

Ｊｕｓｔ　ｆｏｌｌｏｗ　ｙｏｕｒ　ｔｅｘｔｂｏｏｋｓ．　Ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｙｏｕ　ｌｌ　ｌｅａｒｎ　ｍｏｒｅ　ｕｓｅｓ　ｏｆ　こと。

Ninja · JLPT Starter Joined: 12 Jan 2011 Posts: 17

Hi Newby,　I agree with you that the original sentence does appear wierd.

Now thinking about it, I think a better sentence would be just 結婚を　準備します

Hiragana: けっこんをじゅんびします

Ninja · JLPT Starter Joined: 12 Jan 2011 Posts: 17

Hi,

Can I check whether the following translation is appropriate?

In English: "He remembered that he has not brought along his passport"

Japanese Translation:　パスポートを　もって　来ないことが　思い出しました。

Romanji: Passport o motte konaikotoga omoidashimashita.

mac · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 5:01 pm Post subject:

Ninja,

I think you are confusing the use of ~about with the nominalization (converting a verb into a noun) use of ~こと

We could say (unnaturally):

結婚のことを準備します。

けっこんのことをじゅんびします。

I'm preparing about the wedding. (This is strange in my opinion.)

But, we can say:

結婚のことで、質問があります。　－＞けっこんのことで、しつもんがあります。

I have a question about the wedding.

The ～のこと　is used for nouns, and has a '~about' meaning.

I think your latest sentence about the passport sounds good to me.　

Ninja · JLPT Starter Joined: 12 Jan 2011 Posts: 17

I've just came across this comprehensive write-up on the various uses of the (verb-こと) expression, very interesting:

http://www.studyjapanese.org/content/view/64/71

I think if we were to apply the grammar structure suggested in the write-up, we should be able to simplify the example sentence to just 結婚のは　質問が　あります。

RGer · JLPT Starter Joined: 16 Dec 2010 Posts: 46

When it comes to Ninjas sentence, are both

を思い出しました
and
が思い出しました

fine?

Ninja · JLPT Starter Joined: 12 Jan 2011 Posts: 17

Hi RGer,

thanks for the correction, using を is right,

パスポートを　持って来ないことを　思い出しました

mac · Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 1:29 am Post subject:

Ninja,

My apologizes, looking back at my sentence:

結婚のことで、質問があります。

Sounds very stiff and formal. And actually this translates to "I have a question about marriage (NOT the wedding)" This sentence would only be used between a groom and a bride and even then it would be too formal and just plain strange.

So, to ask about the wedding, we could say:

結婚式のことで、聞きたいんですけど。

This would be to a friend that was having the wedding.

By the way, I asked a native speaker about 結婚のは　質問が　あります and she said it was a bit strange, maybe you mean the following:

結婚するのは　質問が　あります。　

But, this means I have a question about marrying. (This seems a bit strange)

Anyway, the original sentence I wrote was strange, so maybe that's to blame for this whole mess.

Basically, you can use こと and の interchangeably in a lot of places, but こと is more formal and used for writing whereas の is used for speaking and more casual situations. There are some exceptions to that of course like stated in the article that you linked to.