こと Nominalizer / ことがある / のは〜だ

JLPT N4 Japanese self-study　·　~12 min　·　Turn verbs into nouns / Sometimes / What ~ is ~

'Learning languages is fun.' 'I sometimes miss the train.' 'The problem is the cost.' Three related patterns all using こと or の to turn actions into things you can talk about.

What you'll learn

• 辞書形 + こと: nominalize a verb (general fact/concept)
• 〜ことがある: sometimes ~ / there are times when ~
• 〜たことがある: have done before | 〜のは〜だ: What ~ is ~ (cleft)

How to study “こと Nominalizer / ことがある / のは〜だ”

“こと Nominalizer / ことがある / のは〜だ” (Turn verbs into nouns / Sometimes / What ~ is ~) is a JLPT N4 chapter of our free Japanese self-study course, about 12 min. You learn by doing — flashcard drills and fill-in-the-blank quizzes graded on the spot — completely free, with no sign-up and no ad wall. Once it clicks, read the matching in-depth explainer over in Grammar.