JLPT N2 Grammar –  The two uses of “〜ことだ”

Table of Contents

1. The two uses of “〜ことだ”
2. ①Expressing Emotion
3. ② Advice / Commands
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Similer Articles
7. Comment

Q: When is “〜ことだ” used?

A: “〜ことだ” has two main uses:
① Expressing emotion — emphasizing surprise or deep feeling.
② Giving advice or warnings — used to offer suggestions or cautions to someone.

①Expressing Emotion (JLPT N2)

[Meaning]
An expression to emphasize the speaker’s surprise or deep emotion

[Rules]
[A] い adjective + ことだ
[Na] な adjective + ことだ

[Commonly used expressions]
ありがたい(grateful)・うれしい(happy)・めでたい(fortunate)・喜よろこばしい(delightful)・素晴すばらしい(wonderful)・残念ざんねん(regrettable)・情なさけない(shameful)・ひどい(terrible), etc.

[Examples]
全然ぜんぜん知しらない私わたしを助たすけてくれるなんて、ありがたいことです。
It is truly fortunate that someone helps me even though they don’t know me at all.

世界せかい中じゅうの人ひとが協力きょうりょくし合あえるなんて、すばらしいことだ。
It is wonderful that people all over the world can cooperate with each other.

N1に合格ごうかくするのは大変たいへんなことだ。
Passing N1 is a very difficult thing.

“〜ことだ” is used when the speaker strongly expresses surprise or deep emotion about a fact or event. Its meaning is close to “truly ～” or “absolutely ～.” It can be used for both positive and negative feelings.

[Examples: Positive]
このプロジェクトの立ち上た　あげには多おおくの人ひとに助たすけてもらった。本当ほんとうにありがたいことだよ。
I received help from many people when starting this project. It is truly something to be grateful for.
⇒ This expresses heartfelt gratitude toward many people.

子こどものユニークな発想はっそうは大人おとなには思おもいつかない。おもしろいことだ。
A child’s unique ideas are things that adults could never come up with. It is really interesting.

[Examples: Negative]
人ひとの努力どりょくを笑わらうとは、ひどいことだ。
To laugh at someone’s effort is a terrible thing.

もう10年ねんも会あっていないとは、信しんじられないことだ。
Not having seen each other for ten years is unbelievable.

② Advice / Commands (JLPT N2)

[Meaning]
Used by someone in a higher position to give advice or a suggestion to someone in a lower position

[Rules]
[V] Verb dictionary form / ない form + ことだ

[Examples]
風邪かぜをひいたら、薬くすりを飲のんで早はやく寝ねることだ。
If you catch a cold, take some medicine and go to bed early.

人ひとの悪口わるぐちは言いわないことだ。
Do not speak ill of others.

単語たんごをたくさん覚おぼえるには、何なん度ども同おなじ言葉ことばを使つかうことだ。
To memorize many words, use the same words repeatedly.

“〜ことだ” is used when a superior gives advice or warnings to a subordinate. Its meaning is close to “should do” or “should not do,” and it carries a tone similar to a command. Therefore, it is natural to use with juniors or children, but it should not be used toward superiors.

[Examples]
人ひとの話はなしは最後さいごまで聞きくことだ。
Listen to people’s stories until the end.
⇒ This is advice meaning “You should listen to people’s stories until the end.”

仕事しごとを早はやく覚おぼえたいなら、先輩せんぱいのやり方かたをよく見みることだ。
If you want to learn your job quickly, watch carefully how your seniors do things.

ダイエット中ちゅうなら、夜よる遅おそく食たべないことだ。
If you are on a diet, don’t eat late at night.

もっと上うえのレベルを目指めざしたいなら、努力どりょくを怠おこたらないことだ。
If you want to aim for a higher level, do not neglect your efforts.

Let’s Compare

Which usage does each of the following sentences show: “expressing emotion” or “giving advice/warning”?

[Example]

① いい話はなしには裏うらがあるから、すぐに信しんじないことだ。

② こんな素晴すばらしい自然しぜんが残のこっているなんて、信しんじられないことだ。

Answer: ① is “giving advice/warning,” and ② is “expressing emotion.”

In ①, the judgment that “good stories often have something hidden” leads the speaker to advise the listener not to believe them easily.
In ②, the speaker expresses surprise and admiration toward the fact that beautiful nature still remains.

Also, note the difference in verbs. “Believe” expresses an intentional act and is used in the advice/warning sentence, while “cannot believe” expresses a naturally arising feeling and is appropriate in the sentence of expressing emotion.

Summary

Two uses of “〜ことだ”

[① Expressing Emotion]

• Used when the speaker strongly expresses surprise or deep emotion about a fact or event.
• It often combines with words of emotion and conveys the nuance of “truly ～” or “absolutely ～.”
• It can express both positive and negative feelings.

[② Advice / Commands]

• Used when a superior speaks to a subordinate, giving advice or admonition based on personal judgment. It carries the nuance of “should do / should not do.”
• Since it sounds somewhat authoritative, it is naturally used with juniors or children, but not with superiors.

Similer Articles

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