How to Say “Doing Something” in Japanese | Using Verb + の to Nominalize

level1 (N5)

Video

Let’s watch this short video for a quick overview.

How to Say “Doing Something” in Japanese | Using Verb + の to Nominalize
Source: gokigen japanese official YouTube Channel

Introduction

In English, we can turn verbs into nouns by adding “-ing”:

  • I like reading.
  • Cooking is fun.
  • Swimming is hard.

In Japanese, you can do the same thing using:

Verb (short form) + の
= “doing something / to do something”

This grammar lets you say things like “I like listening to music” or “Studying Japanese is hard.” Let’s learn how to turn verbs into noun-like phrases using の！

1. Basic Structure

Grammar Pattern: V（short form）＋ の

EnglishJapanese
I like listening to music.音楽おんがくを聞きくのが好すきです。
She is good at cooking.彼女かのじょは料理りょうりするのが上手じょうずです。
Studying Japanese is difficult.日本語にほんごを勉強べんきょうするのは大変たいへんです。

This pattern turns a verb phrase into a noun phrase, so you can use it as the subject or object in a sentence.

2. How to Nominalize a Verb

Step 1: Conjugate the verb in its short form (either present or past tense).
Step 2: Add the particle の after the verb.

VerbNominalized
勉強べんきょうする (to study)勉強するの = studying
泳およぐ (to swim)泳ぐの = swimming
料理りょうりする (to cook)料理するの = cooking
泣なく (to cry)泣くの = crying

3. Example Sentences

I like 〜 / I don’t like 〜

ゲームをするのが好すきです。
I like playing games.

勉強べんきょうするのが好すきじゃないです。
I don’t like studying.

Good at 〜 / Bad at 〜

兄あには料理りょうりをするのが上手じょうずです。
My brother is good at cooking.

アリスさんは はしを使つかうのが下手へたです。
Alice is bad at using chopsticks.

Other patterns

漢字かんじを書かくのは難むずかしいです。
Writing kanji is hard.

本ほんを読よむのは楽たのしいです。
Reading books is fun.

最近太さいきんふとったので、運動うんどうするのが大変たいへんです。
I’ve gained weight recently, so exercising is tough.

4. Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Wrong✅ Correct
勉強べんきょうしますのが好すきです。勉強するのが好きです。
I like studying.
歌うたうが好すきです。歌うのが好きです。
I like singing.
泳およぐを嫌きらいです。泳ぐのが嫌いです。
I dislike swimming.

💡 Use the short form, and don’t forget the particle の!

5. Practice Time!

Change the following into の-phrases:

EnglishJapanese
I like drinking sake.お酒さけを飲のむのが好すきです。
Mom is good at playing with children.お母かあさんは子こどもと遊あそぶのが上手じょうずです。
I forgot to bring my homework.宿題しゅくだいを持もってくるのを忘わすれました。
Hana loves singing karaoke.ハナさんはカラオケで歌うたうのが大好だいすきです。
Ken dislikes walking.ケンさんは歩あるくのが嫌きらいです。

6. FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Q
Can I use this with negative or past tense verbs?
A

Yes!

  • 図書館としょかんでは、うるさくしないのが大切たいせつです。
    It is important not to be loud in the library.
  • 高校三年生こうこうさんねんせいの冬ふゆ、たくさん勉強べんきょうしたのをおぼえています。
    I remember studying a lot during the winter of my senior year of high school.
Q
What’s the difference between の and こと?
A

Both nominalize verbs, but:

  • の is more common in daily conversation.
  • こと is more formal or written.

Example:

  • 日本語を話すのが好きです。✅
  • 日本語を話すことが好きです。✅（more formal）
Q
Can I use の-phrases as the subject?
A

Yes! Example: 朝ごはんを食べるのは大切です。= Eating breakfast is important.

Q
Can I use particles other than が (ga) or は (wa) after the V+の phrase?
A

Absolutely! Since V+の turns the verb phrase into a noun phrase, it can take various particles depending on its grammatical function:

  • も (mo): Means “also”. Ex: 「本を読むのも好きです」(Hon o yomu no mo suki desu – I also like reading books).
  • を (o): Marks it as a direct object. Ex: 「映画を見るのを楽しみにしている」(Eiga o miru no o tanoshimi ni shite iru – I’m looking forward to watching the movie). Ex: 「宿題をするのを忘れた」(Shukudai o suru no o wasureta – I forgot to do my homework / forgot doing homework).
  • に (ni): Can mark purpose or time. Ex: 「買い物に行くのに時間がかかる」(Kaimono ni iku no ni jikan ga kakaru – It takes time for going shopping).
Q
Is there a difference in meaning between 「本を読むのが好き」 and simply 「本が好き」?
A

Yes, there’s a difference in focus:

  • 「本を読むのが好き」 (Hon o yomu no ga suki) means “I like the act of reading books.” Using V+の specifically emphasizes the action or doing of the verb. If you like the activity, use V+の. If you like the thing itself, use the noun directly.
  • 「本が好き」 (Hon ga suki) means “I like books” (the noun, the general concept).

7. Conclusion

Now you can turn verb phrases into noun phrases using:

✅ Short-form verbs + の
✅ Say what you like, dislike, are good at, or forgot!
✅ Use it as subject or object in a sentence

🎯 Try this:
Make 3 sentences using V + のが好きです / 上手です / 大変です.

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