Japanese -ing as Subject: Saying 'Swimming Is Good Exercise' with koto and no
Learn to turn Japanese verbs into noun-like subjects with koto and no, so you can say things like 'Swimming is good exercise' naturally in elementary Japanese.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In English, an -ing form can be the subject of a sentence: 'Swimming is good exercise.' Japanese has no -ing ending. Instead, it turns a verb into a noun-like phrase by adding koto or no after the plain form. This lesson focuses only on that subject position: the verb phrase comes first, then wa, then a comment. You will learn the core pattern, when koto is safer, when no sounds natural, and how to avoid the common mistake of putting a verb in the polite masu form before koto.
By the end, you can…
- turn a Japanese verb into a subject using koto or no.
- say simple opinions like 'Swimming is good exercise' in Japanese.
- choose koto or no appropriately in basic sentences.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
水泳はいい運動です。
Swimming is good exercise.
Suiei wa ii undō desu.
Here suiei is a noun, so no koto is needed. Use this as a simple model sentence.
泳ぐことはいい運動です。
Swimming is good exercise.
Oyogu koto wa ii undō desu.
Oyogu is the plain dictionary form. Koto turns 'to swim' into a noun-like subject.
泳ぐのは楽しいです。
Swimming is fun.
Oyogu no wa tanoshii desu.
No also makes a subject. It often sounds more conversational than koto.
毎日日本語を勉強することは大切です。
Studying Japanese every day is important.
Mainichi nihongo o benkyō suru koto wa taisetsu desu.
The whole phrase 'studying Japanese every day' is the subject, marked by wa.
早く寝るのは体にいいです。
Going to bed early is good for your health.
Hayaku neru no wa karada ni ii desu.
No is common in everyday speech when the comment is a simple evaluation.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The basic pattern is: plain verb + koto/no + wa + comment. For example, 泳ぐ (oyogu, swim) becomes 泳ぐこと (oyogu koto) or 泳ぐの (oyogu no). Then add は (wa) to mark it as the topic-subject: 泳ぐことはいい運動です (Oyogu koto wa ii undō desu). The verb must stay in the plain form before koto or no. Do not use 泳ぎます (oyogimasu) before koto. If the action is a noun already, such as 水泳 (suiei, swimming), you can use it directly: 水泳はいい運動です (Suiei wa ii undō desu).
When to use it
Use koto or no when you want to talk about an action as a concept, not as something happening now. Koto is safe in formal writing, explanations, and many general statements: 毎日勉強することは大切です (Mainichi benkyō suru koto wa taisetsu desu). No is common in casual speech with adjectives like 楽しい (tanoshii, fun) or 難しい (muzukashii, difficult): 日本語を話すのは楽しいです (Nihongo o hanasu no wa tanoshii desu). In very formal sentences, no can sound too casual, so koto is often the better choice.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
毎朝走るのは体にいいですか。
Is running every morning good for your health?Maiasa hashiru no wa karada ni ii desu ka.はい、走ることは体にいいです。でも、無理はだめです。
Yes, running is good for your health. But overdoing it is not good.Hai, hashiru koto wa karada ni ii desu. Demo, muri wa dame desu.そうですか。泳ぐのもいいですか。
I see. Is swimming good too?Sō desu ka. Oyogu no mo ii desu ka.はい、泳ぐこともいい運動です。
Yes, swimming is also good exercise.Hai, oyogu koto mo ii undō desu.A little context goes a long way
Japanese often prefers a noun like 水泳 (suiei) when one exists, especially in formal writing. Koto is generally safer in polite or written Japanese, while no is common in casual conversation. In very formal contexts, no can sound too light, so choose koto when you want a careful tone.
One thing to watch for
泳ぎますことはいい運動です。 (Oyogimasu koto wa ii undō desu.)
Try this instead: Use the plain form before koto: 泳ぐことはいい運動です。 (Oyogu koto wa ii undō desu.) The masu form 泳ぎます cannot directly connect to koto.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Turn 泳ぐ (oyogu) into a subject phrase meaning 'Swimming is fun.'
Show a sample answer
泳ぐのは楽しいです。 (Oyogu no wa tanoshii desu.)
No turns the plain verb oyogu into a subject. 泳ぐことは楽しいです is also correct and slightly more formal.
2Which is correct before koto: 食べます (tabemasu) or 食べる (taberu)?
Show a sample answer
食べる (taberu)
Koto follows the plain form, so 食べることは大切です is correct. 食べますことは大切です is not used.
3Say 'Studying Japanese every day is important' using koto.
Show a sample answer
毎日日本語を勉強することは大切です。 (Mainichi nihongo o benkyō suru koto wa taisetsu desu.)
The whole phrase mainichi nihongo o benkyō suru becomes the subject with koto wa. No wa is also possible in casual speech.
To make an -ing idea the subject in Japanese, use plain verb + koto or no + wa. Choose koto for a careful tone and no for casual conversation.
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