の・
Add の or こと to a clause to treat an action, event, state, or fact like a noun. The resulting unit can become the topic, subject, object, or another part of a larger sentence.
How the clause fits into a sentence
The clause before の or こと stays intact. After it becomes noun-like, a particle marks its role in the larger sentence. For example, an object marker inside the clause remains there even if the whole clause is followed by another object marker.
The inner clause stays intact
私は友達が来るのを入口で待っています。
I am waiting at the entrance for my friend to come.
AnalyzeThe subject marker inside the clause remains unchanged, and the following object marker marks the entire event as what is being waited for.
Choosing between the two forms
Swipe sideways to compare every column.
| Form | Typical viewpoint | Common environments |
|---|---|---|
| の | A concrete or immediate event, especially something seen, heard, awaited, helped, stopped, or witnessed | Before expressions such as 見える and 聞こえる |
| こと | An action or fact treated as abstract content, a decision, promise, rule, or general activity | With verbs such as decide or promise, and in definitions ending in だ・です |
These are useful tendencies, but the two forms are not freely interchangeable.
Concrete and directly experienced events
の is the natural choice when the larger sentence presents a whole scene as something perceived or an immediate event as something awaited.
Decisions, definitions, and stated content
こと is the natural choice when an action is treated as the content of a decision or as the definition of a goal, hobby, or similar idea.
委員会は来年から会費を上げることを決めました。
The committee decided to raise the membership fee starting next year.
AnalyzeThe planned action is treated as the content of the decision, so こと is used.
私の趣味は知らない町を歩くことです。
My hobby is walking around unfamiliar towns.
AnalyzeIn this definition, こと is the standard choice before です.
The clause can be in the past
約束したことを忘れないでください。
Please do not forget what you promised.
AnalyzeThe past form appears inside the noun-like unit; no extra ending is needed before こと.
More examples
窓から雪が降るのが見えます。
Snow can be seen falling through the window.
Analyze犬が庭に入るのを止めました。
I stopped the dog from entering the garden.
Analyze母は私が料理するのを手伝ってくれました。
My mother helped me cook.
Analyze会社は在宅勤務を続けることを決めました。
The company decided to continue remote work.
Analyze健康のために毎日歩くことは大切です。
Walking every day is important for your health.
Analyze人前で話すことに慣れました。
I became accustomed to speaking in front of people.
Analyze昨日聞いたことをノートに書きました。
I wrote down what I heard yesterday in my notebook.
Analyze