JLPT N2 Grammar – Difference between “〜ものがある” and “〜ものだ”
Table of Contents
1. Difference between “〜ものがある” and “〜ものだ”
2. 〜ものがある
3. 〜ものだ
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Similer Articles
7. Comment
Q: Can you explain the difference between “〜ものがある” and “〜ものだ”?
A: “〜ものがある” is an expression used when the speaker feels a special value or impression about something and wants to emphasize its features.
On the other hand, “〜ものだ” has three uses: recollection, sentiment, and advice. Let’s look at some example sentences to understand the differences.
〜ものがある (JLPT N2)
[Meaning]
It conveys a strong impression of “very much so” or “having a certain feeling”
[Rule]
[V] Verb dictionary form + ものがある
[A] い adjective + ものがある
[Na] な adjective + ものがある
[Examples]
子供の上達の速さには、驚くべきものがあります。
There is something truly remarkable about how quickly children improve.
ずっとあった建物が取り壊されるのは、寂しいものがありますね。
It’s rather sad to see a building that has been there for so long being torn down.
彼が言うことには不自然なものがあるように思います。
I feel there’s something unnatural about what he says.
It’s an expression used when the speaker feels a special value or impression about something and wants to emphasize it. It can express both positive and negative nuances.
[Examples]
彼の歌には心に響くものがあるね。(Positive)
His song has something that really touches the heart.
⇒ “Touches the heart” here means it holds a special value or impression for the speaker.
夫は自分で頑張るのはいいけれど、私に相談してくれないのは寂しいものがあります。(Negative)
It’s good that my husband is doing his best on his own, but there’s something sad about him not consulting me.
⇒ This emphasizes the speaker’s feeling of sadness about not being consulted.
〜ものだ (JLPT N2)
[Meaning ①]
Recollection / “I used to do that a lot”
[Rule]
[V] Verb past form + ものだ
[Examples]
昔はここでよく遊んだものです。
I used to play here a lot when I was young.
学生のときは、よくこの図書館に通ったものだ。
I used to come to this library often when I was a student.
[Meaning ②]
Sentiment / Truly, really – “it really is…”
[Rule]
[V] Verb plain form + ものだ
[A] い adjective + ものだ
[Na] な adjective + ものだ
[Examples]
よくこんな小さいピースのパズルを作ったものだ。
It’s amazing how I used to make such tiny-piece puzzles.
時間が過ぎるのは早いものだ。
Time really does pass quickly.
自然は本当に美しいものだ。
Nature is truly beautiful.
[Meaning ③]
Advice / “It’s only natural to do …”
[Rule]
[V] Verb dictionary form / negative form + ものだ
[Examples]
人には親切にするものですよ。
You should always be kind to others.
約束は守るものだ。
It’s only natural to keep your promises.
“ものだ” has three meanings: “recollection,” “sentiment,” and “advice.”
“Recollection” is an expression used when the speaker remembers something from the past and conveys a nostalgic feeling. It’s not used for one-time events, but rather for things that happened repeatedly, often in the form “よく〜ものだ.”
[Examples]
学生のころはよく旅行したものです。
I used to travel a lot when I was a student.
子どものとき、この広場で遊んだものだ。
When I was a child, I used to play in this square.
“Sentiment” is an expression the speaker uses to show special feelings of surprise or admiration for something. It’s always used positively, not negatively.
[Examples]
祖母は病気や手術を繰り返したが、よく90歳まで生きたものだ。
My grandmother went through illness and multiple surgeries, but she still managed to live to the age of 90.
⇒ The speaker expresses surprise at how she overcame difficulties and lived such a long life.
え、最後に会ったのはもう10年前ですか。時間が経つのは早いものですね。
What? It’s already been 10 years since we last met? Time really does fly by, doesn’t it?
“Advice” is used to express that something is considered a matter of course or a social norm from a moral or common-sense perspective.
[Examples]
人の話は最後まで聞くものだ。
You should always listen to people until the end.
⇒ It means that listening to others until the end is a matter of courtesy.
最近の若い人は言葉遣いがひどいですね。目上の人には敬語を使うものですよ。
Young people these days have terrible language, don’t they? You should use polite language with your elders.
Let’s Compare
Now, let’s think about the difference between “〜ものがある” and the “sentiment” use of “〜ものだ.”
In the following cases, which one would be more appropriate?
[Examples]
① この作品には感動するものがある。
② この作品には感動するものだ。
The correct answer is ①.
“〜ものがある” is used when the speaker wants to express a particular feature or impression they felt. In this sentence, the focus is on the features of the “work,” so ① is appropriate.
When using “〜ものだ” to express “sentiment,” it would be more like “この作品は何度見ても、（話し手にとって）感動するものだ,” (This work is something that moves me no matter how many times I see it) where the focus is on the speaker’s deeply felt impression.
Now, let’s see the following case:
[Examples]
① 若いころ、この映画を見てよく泣いたものがある。
② 若いころ、この映画を見てよく泣いたものだ。
The correct answer is ②.
“〜ものだ” is used to recall things that were done often in the past and to convey a sense of nostalgia.
In this sentence, the speaker is recalling how they often cried while watching this movie, so ② is appropriate.
Summary
[〜ものがある]
- It’s an expression that emphasizes the special value or impression the speaker feels about something.
- It can carry both positive and negative nuances.
[〜ものだ ]
- It has three meanings: “recollection,” “sentiment,” and “advice.”
[Difference between “〜ものがある” and the “sentiment” or “recollection” uses of “〜ものだ”]
- “ものがある” expresses the “thing and its features” as felt by the speaker.
- The “sentiment” use of “ものだ” shows how the speaker is strongly moved by something.
- The “recollection” use of “ものだ” is an expression that conveys nostalgia when the speaker remembers what they used to do in the past.
Similer Articles
- JLPT N2 Grammar – The difference between “〜あげく” and “〜末に”
- JLPT N2・N5 Grammar – The difference between “〜ながら” and “〜つつ”
- JLPT N2・N4 Grammar – The difference between ”〜にくい”, ”〜づらい” and “〜がたい”
- JLPT N2・N3 Grammar – The difference between “〜あげく” “〜末に” and “〜結果”
- JLPT N2 Grammar – The difference between “〜に相違ない” and “〜に他ならない”
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