JLPT N3 grammar

〜ことだmeaning and usage

Meaning

  1. A is necessary/good (offering advice/suggestion)
  2. How A. (states a somewhat strong feeling)

This point is also listed at N2 · N1.

How to form it

  • verb (dictionary form)/verb (nai-form)ことだ
  • い-adjectiveことだ
  • な-adjective (stem)なことだ

How it is used

1) After a verb: advice, 'the thing to do is A'; not used to superiors, and more assertive than 「〜ほうがいい」. 2) After an adjective: a feeling, 'how A it is'.

Examples

  1. 海外に住む間は両親に時々連絡することだ。

    You should get in contact with your parents sometimes while you're living overseas.

  2. 日本語が上手になりたいなら、毎日話すことだ。

    If you want to get good at Japanese, the thing to do is speak it every day.

  3. 家族がみんな元気なのは、ありがたいことだ。

    It's something to be thankful for that everyone in my family is well.