Learn Japanese
Lesson 228: Nominalizing verbs using の + ability
We can turn a verb into a noun by adding the nominalizer particle の after the plain form of the verb. We can then use the verb in constructions where we normally would use a noun.
One thing this allows us to do, is to express that we are good at or bad at a certain activity. To say that we're good at something, we simply use a verb in the plain form + のが上手. Similarly, if you don’t like something, you can use plain form + のが下手.
We already knew how to say he is good at Japanese. Now we're also able to say he is good at speaking Japanese.
He is good at Japanese. |
彼は日本語が上手です。 kare ha nihongo ga zyouzu desu. |
He is good at speaking Japanese. |
彼は日本語を話すのが上手です。 kare ha nihongo wo hanasuno ga zyouzu desu. |
(I)'m not very good at eating with chopsticks. |
箸で食べるのが余り上手じゃない。 hasi de taberuno ga amari zyouzu zya nai. |
(I) am bad at playing the guitar. |
ギターを弾くのが下手です。 gitaa wo hikuno ga heta desu. |
Question | Answer |
---|---|
He is good at Japanese. |
彼は日本語が上手です。 kare ha nihongo ga zyouzu desu. |
nominalizer |
の no |
He is good at speaking Japanese. |
彼は日本語を話すのが上手です。 kare ha nihongo wo hanasuno ga zyouzu desu. |
chopsticks |
箸 hasi |
(I)'m not very good at eating with chopsticks. |
箸で食べるのが余り上手じゃない。 hasi de taberuno ga amari zyouzu zya nai. |
to play a string instrumente.g. guitar, piano |
弾く hiku |
guitar |
ギター gitaa |
(I) am bad at playing the guitar. |
ギターを弾くのが下手です。 gitaa wo hikuno ga heta desu. |
to swim |
泳ぐ oyogu |
(I)'m bad at swimming. |
泳ぐのが下手。 oyoguno ga heta. |
(My) girlfriend is good at cooking. |
彼女は料理するのが上手です。 kanozyo ha ryourisuruno ga zyouzu desu. |
what, what kind of |
どんな donna |
announcement; presentation; publication |
発表 happyou |
to announce; to present; to publish |
発表する happyousuru |
I wonder what kind of person is good at presenting? |
発表するのが上手な人、どんな人かな。 happyousuruno ga zyouzuna hito, donna hito kana. |
I want to drink water. I'm not good at drinking alcohol. |
お水飲みたいです。お酒を飲むのが下手です。 omizu nomitai desu. osake wo nomuno ga heta desu. |
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