Transformation

こと: verb as noun

This allows to transform a verb into a noun (verb nominalizer). V+こと ⇒ 食べること. The verbs are never conjugated.

Example

音おん楽がくを聞くことが好きです。 I like to listen to music (listening to music is something I like).

~さ: adjective as noun

い-Adj い

な-Adj

+ さ

This allows to transform an adjective into a noun (adjective nominalizer). Used to talk about the degree of the adjective. Generally objective.

Example

やさしい。 Kind.

やさしさ。 Kindness.

~み: adjective as noun

い-Adj い

な-Adj

+ み

This allows to transform an adjective into a noun (adjective nominalizer). Similar to さ, but it is used in specific contexts. Rather than a degree, it talks about a quality. Generally subjective. Can be used with less adjectives than さ.

Example

甘い。 Sweet.

甘さ。 Amount of sweetness.

甘味。 Quality of sweetness.

ということ: phrase as noun

This allows to transform a phrase into a noun.

V (casual)

い-Adj

な-Adj + だ

N + だ

+ ということ

Example

毎日サッカーをするということは大たい変へんです。 It is hard to play soccer every day.

のは・のが: sentence as noun

V

い-Adj

な-Adj + な

N + だ

+ のは・のが

Transforms a sentence into a noun. Also means “the reason for A is B”, “doing A is B”.

Example

勉強べんきょうするのはつまらないです。 Studying is boring.

このレストランで一いち番ばん人にん気きがあるのは寿司すしです。 The most popular dish in the restaurant is sushi.

くする: い-adjective as adverb

Replacing the い in a い-Adj by くする transforms it into an adverb. 大きい (big) ⇒ 大きくする (make big).

Example

エアコンを点つけると空くう気きが寒さむくなる。 When turning on the AC, the air becomes cold.

にする: な-adjective as adverb

Appending にする to a な-Adj transforms it into an adverb. 静しずかな (quiet) ⇒ 静かにする (make quiet).

Example

部屋へやをきれいにしてください。 Please clean the room (make the room cleaner).

がる・がっている: adjective as verb

See がる・がっている.

的: noun as な-Adj / Adverb

This allows to change a noun into:

• ~的てき な for a な-Adj
• ~的てき に for an Adverb

Example

感情かんじょう。 Emotion.

感かん情じょう的。 Emotional.

彼女のスピーチはとても感かん情じょう的だった。 Her speech was very emotional.