Learn N3 Grammar – Week 2 Day 3

Learn N3 Grammar – Week 2 Day 3
A roundup of the most commonly used N3 grammar.
Below is the most commonly used N3 grammar for anyone taking the JLPT

How to turn verbs and adjectives into nouns.

I. Method 1: ~さ (~sa)
You have probably heard 嬉しさ (ureshisa), 暑さ (atsusa), 重さ (omosa), まじめさ (majimesa)….
Turning an adjective into the ~さ (~sa) form is quite simple.
For an "i" adjective drop the "i", for a "na" adjective drop the "na", then add "さ – sa" and you have a noun.
The adjective いい (ii – good; nice; right) becomes よさ (yosa).
Note that this method is used to indicate a quality or sensation and its degree.

Examples
1. 大きさは違うが、君と同じかばんを持って い るよ。(=どのぐらい大きいか)
Ookisa wa chigau ga, kimi to onaji kaban wo motte iru yo. (=dono gurai ookii ka)
The size is different, but I have the same bag as you.

2. 子供に命の大切さを教えなければならない。(=命がどの ぐらい大切か)
Kodomo ni inochi no taisetsu-sa wo oshie nakereba naranai. (=inochi ga dono gurai taisetsu ka)
We must teach children the importance of life

II. Method 2: ~み (~mi)
Like method 1, this is a way to turn "i" and "na" adjectives into nouns.
For an "i" adjective drop the "i", for a "na" adjective drop the "na", then add "み – mi".
Note that this method indicates a quality representing the state something has become.
For example 悲しみ (kanashimi – sorrow), 弱み (yowami – weakness), 痛み (itami – pain), 真剣み (shinkenmi – seriousness)
So expressions like 大きみ (ookimi), うれしみ (ureshimi), 暑み (atsumi), まじめみ (majimemi) do not exist in Japanese.

Examples
1. 戦争が終わった今でも、この国の苦しみはまだ続いている。(=苦しい状態)
Sensou ga owatta ima demo, kono kuni no kurushimi wa mada tsuduite iru. (=kurushii joutai)
Even now that the war is over, the hardship in this country is still going on.

2. 田中さんの強みは、二つの言語が話せるということ で す。(=強い点)
Tanaka-san no tsuyomi wa futatsu no gengo ga hanaseru to iu koto desu.
Mr Tanaka’s strength is that he can speak two languages.

III. Method 3: ~こと (~koto)
This one is very common and familiar to you, is it not?
Simply put the verb, adjective or noun into the plain form and add "koto".
Note that in the simple present a "na" adjective keeps its "na", and a noun becomes "N de aru" or "N no".
In this structure "N no koto" or "N de aru koto" means "about N ~"

Examples
1. 来週のテストのことで、質問があります。(=テストについて )
Raishuu no tesuto no koto de, shitsumon ga arimasu. (=Tesuto ni tsuite)
I have a question about next week’s test.

2. 田中さんが入院したことを知っていますか？(=入院したという 事実)
Tanaka-san ga nyuuin shita koto wo shitte imasu ka?
Did you know Mr Tanaka had to go into hospital?

IV. Method 4: ~の (~no)
This seems to be the most common way.
Simply add "no" after the plain form of a verb, adjective or noun to nominalise it.
Note that in the simple present a "na" adjective keeps its "na", and a noun adds "na".

Examples:
1. 田中さんに電話するのをすっかり忘れていました。(=電話す ること)
Tanaka-san ni denwa suru-no wo sukkari wasurete imashita. (=denwa suru koto)
I forgot to call Mr Tanaka.

2. 日曜日に混んだところへ行くのは、あまり好きじゃない。(=行くこと )
Nichiyoubi ni konda tokoro e iku-no wa amari suki janai.
I do not much like going somewhere crowded on a Sunday.