Learning Japanese can be a rewarding experience, but understanding its grammatical structures can often pose a challenge for learners. One such structure is the use of adjectives combined with the verb なる (to become). This construction is essential for conveying changes in state or condition. In this article, we will delve deeply into the adjective + になる structure in Japanese grammar, offering examples, explanations, and tips to help you master this concept.
Introduction to になる
In Japanese, なる is a verb that translates to “to become” in English. When combined with adjectives, it is used to express a change in state or condition. For example, if you want to say “to become happy” or “to become cold,” you would use the になる construction with the appropriate adjectives. Understanding how to form and use this structure correctly is crucial for expressing various changes and transformations in Japanese.
Types of Adjectives
Before diving into the specifics of the になる construction, it’s essential to understand the two main types of adjectives in Japanese: い-adjectives and な-adjectives.
い-Adjectives
い-adjectives are adjectives that end in the syllable い. Some common examples include:
– 高い (たかい, takai) – high, tall
– 安い (やすい, yasui) – cheap
– 早い (はやい, hayai) – early, fast
– 寒い (さむい, samui) – cold
When using になる with い-adjectives, the い is replaced with く before attaching なる. For example:
– 高くなる (たかくなる, takaku naru) – to become high/tall
– 安くなる (やすくなる, yasuku naru) – to become cheap
– 早くなる (はやくなる, hayaku naru) – to become early/fast
– 寒くなる (さむくなる, samuku naru) – to become cold
な-Adjectives
な-adjectives are adjectives that require the particle な when modifying a noun. Some common examples include:
– 静か (しずか, shizuka) – quiet
– 便利 (べんり, benri) – convenient
– 有名 (ゆうめい, yuumei) – famous
– 元気 (げんき, genki) – healthy, energetic
When using になる with な-adjectives, you simply add になる to the adjective. For example:
– 静かになる (しずかになる, shizuka ni naru) – to become quiet
– 便利になる (べんりになる, benri ni naru) – to become convenient
– 有名になる (ゆうめいになる, yuumei ni naru) – to become famous
– 元気になる (げんきになる, genki ni naru) – to become healthy/energetic
Using になる in Sentences
Now that we have a basic understanding of how to form the になる construction with both い-adjectives and な-adjectives, let’s explore how to use this structure in sentences.
Examples with い-Adjectives
Here are some examples of sentences using the になる construction with い-adjectives:
1. 冬になると寒くなります。
(ふゆになるとさむくなります, Fuyu ni naru to samuku narimasu.)
– When it becomes winter, it gets cold.
2. 彼は最近忙しくなった。
(かれはさいきんいそがしくなった, Kare wa saikin isogashiku natta.)
– He has become busy recently.
3. 彼女はもっと優しくなった。
(かのじょはもっとやさしくなった, Kanojo wa motto yasashiku natta.)
– She has become kinder.
Examples with な-Adjectives
Here are some examples of sentences using the になる construction with な-adjectives:
1. この街は便利になりました。
(このまちはべんりになりました, Kono machi wa benri ni narimashita.)
– This town has become convenient.
2. 彼は有名になりたい。
(かれはゆうめいになりたい, Kare wa yuumei ni naritai.)
– He wants to become famous.
3. 部屋が静かになった。
(へやがしずかになった, Heya ga shizuka ni natta.)
– The room has become quiet.
Expressing Gradual Change
The になる construction is also useful for expressing gradual changes. You can combine になる with adverbs to convey the sense of a gradual transformation. Some common adverbs used in this context include だんだん (dandan, gradually) and 少しずつ (sukoshizutsu, little by little).
Examples of Gradual Change
Here are some examples of sentences expressing gradual change using the になる construction:
1. だんだん暖かくなってきました。
(だんだんあたたかくなってきました, Dandan atatakaku natte kimashita.)
– It has gradually become warmer.
2. 少しずつ上手になっている。
(すこしずつじょうずになっている, Sukoshizutsu jouzu ni natte iru.)
– He is gradually becoming better (at something).
3. 彼女はだんだん元気になってきた。
(かのじょはだんだんげんきになってきた, Kanojo wa dandan genki ni natte kita.)
– She has gradually become energetic.
Negative Form of になる
To express the negative form of になる, you can use ならない (naranai, does not become) for the plain form or ならなかった (naranakatta, did not become) for the past form. The construction follows the same pattern for both い-adjectives and な-adjectives.
Examples of Negative Form
Here are some examples of sentences using the negative form of になる:
1. 彼の態度は良くならない。
(かれのたいどはよくならない, Kare no taido wa yoku naranai.)
– His attitude does not get better.
2. 天気は暖かくならなかった。
(てんきはあたたかくならなかった, Tenki wa atatakaku naranakatta.)
– The weather did not become warm.
3. その問題は簡単にならなかった。
(そのもんだいはかんたんにならなかった, Sono mondai wa kantan ni naranakatta.)
– That problem did not become easy.
Common Mistakes and Pitfalls
As with any language learning, there are common mistakes that learners might encounter when using the になる construction. Let’s address some of these pitfalls to help you avoid them.
Confusing い-Adjectives and な-Adjectives
One common mistake is confusing い-adjectives with な-adjectives, leading to incorrect constructions. Remember that for い-adjectives, you need to replace the い with く before adding なる. For な-adjectives, simply add になる.
Incorrect: 高いになる (Takai ni naru)
Correct: 高くなる (Takaku naru)
Incorrect: 便利くなる (Benriku naru)
Correct: 便利になる (Benri ni naru)
Using になる with Nouns
Learners might also confuse the use of になる with nouns. While になる is used with adjectives to express changes in state, the construction for nouns is different. For nouns, you would use になる directly without any modifications.
For example:
– 社長になる (しゃちょうになる, shachou ni naru) – to become a company president
– 先生になる (せんせいになる, sensei ni naru) – to become a teacher
Practice Makes Perfect
To master the use of adjective + になる in Japanese, consistent practice is essential. Here are some exercises and activities you can do to reinforce your understanding:
Exercise 1: Sentence Formation
Create sentences using the になる construction with the following adjectives. Translate your sentences into English.
1. 忙しい (いそがしい, isogashii) – busy
2. 静か (しずか, shizuka) – quiet
3. 高い (たかい, takai) – high/tall
4. 元気 (げんき, genki) – healthy/energetic
Exercise 2: Negative Form
Convert the following sentences into their negative forms.
1. 彼は有名になった。
(かれはゆうめいになった, Kare wa yuumei ni natta.)
– He became famous.
2. 天気が涼しくなった。
(てんきがすずしくなった, Tenki ga suzushiku natta.)
– The weather became cool.
3. その仕事は簡単になった。
(そのしごとはかんたんになった, Sono shigoto wa kantan ni natta.)
– That job became easy.
Exercise 3: Gradual Change
Write sentences expressing gradual change using the adverbs だんだん or 少しずつ and the になる construction with the following adjectives:
1. 楽しい (たのしい, tanoshii) – fun
2. 便利 (べんり, benri) – convenient
3. 速い (はやい, hayai) – fast
Conclusion
Understanding and using the adjective + になる construction in Japanese is crucial for expressing changes in state or condition. By mastering this structure, you’ll be able to convey a wide range of transformations and developments in your conversations. Remember to practice consistently and pay attention to the differences between い-adjectives and な-adjectives to avoid common pitfalls. With dedication and practice, you’ll find yourself becoming more proficient in Japanese and able to express complex ideas with ease.
Happy learning!
