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

level1 (N5)

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.

Examples:

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.
  • ホームステイをするのが好すきじゃないです。
    = I don’t like doing homestays.

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.
  • 歩あるくのが嫌きらいです。
    = I dislike walking.

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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