〜ようになる: 'Come to / Reach the Point That' (Meaning + Examples)
Describing a change that built up over time
〜ようになる says that a situation, habit, or ability came about gradually — often through practice, growth, or a change in conditions — rather than being true all along.
やったんは毎日練習して、日本語が話せるようになった。
やったんは まいにち れんしゅうして、にほんごが はなせるようになった。
Yattan practiced every day and came to be able to speak Japanese.
話せる (potential) + ようになる = gained the ability over time.
モチは最近、早く起きるようになった。
モチは さいきん、はやく おきるようになった。
Mochi has started getting up early these days.
A new habit, not an ability — plain dictionary form also works.
この町では毎日雨が降るようになった。
このまちでは まいにち あめが ふるようになった。
It has come to rain every day in this town.
Form: what it attaches to
〜ようになる follows a verb in its dictionary form (for habits/situations) or potential form (for abilities). Negating it — 〜なくなる — describes a change in the opposite direction, something that stopped happening.
| Base | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Potential verb | Vれる／できる + ようになる | 泳げるようになる (came to be able to swim) |
| Plain verb | V(dictionary) + ようになる | 雨が降るようになる (it started raining regularly) |
| Negative change | V(nai) + なくなる | 食べなくなる (stopped eating) |
やったんはピーマンが食べられるようになった。
やったんは ピーマンが たべられるようになった。
Yattan came to be able to eat green peppers.
Overcoming a dislike is a classic ようになる context.
Don't confuse with 〜ようにする
〜ようになる describes a change that happens naturally or as a result of effort — the result itself. 〜ようにする describes making an active effort or resolution to bring about that change — "I will try to / make a point of." 早く寝るようにしている ("I make a point of sleeping early") is a habit you're actively maintaining; 早く寝るようになった ("I've come to sleep early") is the outcome, after the fact.
The short version
- 〜ようになる = "come to / reach the point where" — a gradual change in ability, habit, or situation.
- Attaches to: verb potential form (abilities) or dictionary form (habits/situations).
- Nuance/register: neutral, describes change over time; often appears with だんだん, 最近, 練習して.
- Don't confuse with: 〜ようにする (actively trying/making an effort to achieve a change).
Practice it
Choose ようになる where the sentence describes a gradual change in ability or habit.
＿＿＿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.
日本語が話せる＿＿＿。
More N4 grammar to explore
Keep going with related patterns at the same level:
- 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.
- Imperative & Prohibition — The plain imperative (行け, 食べろ, しろ, 来い) gives a blunt command, and dictionary form + な (行くな) forbids one. Learn the formation, the harsh tone, and softer alternatives.
- 〜なさい — 〜なさい gives a firm, polite command: verb ます-stem + なさい (食べなさい, 行きなさい). Used by parents, teachers, and exam instructions. Learn the formation and the casual 〜な.