〜ということ: Turning a Sentence Into a Noun (Meaning + Examples)
Wrapping a sentence into a noun
Use 〜ということ when you need to refer to an entire statement as if it were a single noun — as something you know, heard, or are pointing out.
やったんが引っ越すということを聞きましたか。
やったんが ひっこすということを ききましたか。
Have you heard that Yattan is moving?
ということ turns 「やったんが引っ越す」into the object of 聞く.
明日は休みだということを知っていますか。
あしたは やすみだということを しっていますか。
Do you know that tomorrow is a day off?
Na-adjective/noun sentences need だ before ということ.
つまり、諦めるということですね。
つまり、あきらめるということですね。
In other words, that means giving up, right?
つまり…ということ is a common way to restate or conclude.
What it attaches to
〜ということ follows the plain form of a verb, い-adjective, or な-adjective/noun + だ.
| Attaches to | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb (plain) | 動詞辞書形／た形 + ということ | 来ないということ (the matter of not coming) |
| い-adjective (plain) | 形容詞 + ということ | 忙しいということ (the fact of being busy) |
| な-adjective／noun | 〜だ + ということ | 休みだということ (the fact that it's a day off) |
彼は来ないということを、モチから聞いた。
かれは こないということを、モチから きいた。
I heard from Mochi that he isn't coming.
来ない stays in plain form before ということ.
Don't confuse with just 〜こと
Plain 〜こと alone also nominalizes, but 〜ということ adds a reported or restated nuance — it often signals "this is the point / this is what it means," especially after つまり or when summarizing someone else's words. Bare こと is more neutral and is used for simple facts, hobbies, or abilities (泳ぐことが好き).
The short version
- 〜ということ = "the fact/matter that…" — nominalizes a whole sentence.
- Attaches to: plain-form verbs/adjectives, and な-adjectives/nouns + だ.
- Nuance/register: often used with 知る/聞く, or after つまり to restate or conclude.
- Don't confuse with: bare 〜こと, which nominalizes more neutrally without the "restating" feel.
Practice it
Choose ということ when a full sentence needs to become the object of 知る/聞く, or is being restated.
＿＿＿に入れるのに最もよいものを選びなさい。
Choose the grammar pattern that best completes the sentence.
明日は休みだ＿＿＿知っていますか。
Where 〜ということ fits
Shaky on this? Get these solid first
- 〜と思う · N5 — 〜と思う lets you say what you think: [plain form] + と思う. Learn the quotative と, why the clause stays plain, the 〜ようと思う 'I'm thinking of doing' use, and 〜と思っている.
More N4 grammar to explore
Keep going with related patterns at the same level:
- 〜ようにする — 〜ようにする means making a conscious effort to do (or not do) something — 'try to / make sure to.' Learn the formation, the negative, the ている habit form, and how it differs from ようになる.
- 〜ようになる — 〜ようになる attaches to a verb's dictionary or potential form to mean 'come to / reach the point where' — describing a gradual change of state, habit, or ability that developed over time.
- Causative Form — The Japanese causative (使役形, 〜させる) means make OR let someone do something. Learn how to form it, when it's coercion vs. permission, the を/に particle rule, and 〜させてください.
- Passive Form — The Japanese passive (受身形): 食べる→食べられる, 書く→書かれる. Learn the formation, the に particle for the doer, and the 'suffering passive' that shows the subject was negatively affected.
- Causative-Passive — The causative-passive 〜させられる says you were made or forced to do something you didn't want to. Learn the formation, the される contraction, and the put-upon nuance.
- 〜ために — 〜ために expresses purpose ('in order to') and benefit ('for the sake of'): dictionary verb + ために, or noun + のために. Learn the formation, the cause use, and how it differs from ように.