Mastering Agency, Change, Time, and Others' Feelings in Japanese (9JA0)
Welcome to this core grammar guide for Pearson Edexcel A Level Japanese (9JA0). In this chapter, we explore some of the most critical structural tools you will need for Paper 2 (Translation into Japanese) and Paper 1 (Writing). These patterns allow you to express personal volition versus natural change, talk about habits and decisions, pinpoint exact moments in time, and accurately describe the emotions of other people.
Don't worry if these distinctions feel subtle at first. By breaking each pattern down into simple formulas, meanings, and practical examples, you will be able to use them with confidence in your exams.
---1. The Core Foundation: する (suru) versus なる (naru) with に (ni)
At the heart of Japanese grammar lies a fundamental distinction between human agency (decisions you make) and natural change (things that happen or states reached).
Noun + にする (Decision / Choice)
Use Noun + にする when a person actively makes a choice or a decision from various options.
Formula: [Noun] + にする
Example: から揚げにする。
Karaage ni suru.
(I’ll have / I choose the fried chicken.)
Noun / Adjective + になる (Change of State)
Use Noun / Adjective + になる when a change takes place naturally, or a new state is reached without focusing on a specific person's active choice.
Formula: [Noun / な-adjective stem] + になる
Example: 先生になる。
Sensei ni naru.
(To become a teacher.)
Key Takeaway: Think of にする as "I choose X" (active human will) and になる as "It becomes X" (a resulting state or natural transformation).
---2. Decisions and Arrangements: ことにする vs ことになる
When you want to turn full actions (verbs) into decisions, you add こと (nominaliser) before にする or になる.
A. ことにする (koto ni suru) — "I have decided to..."
This pattern indicates a conscious, personal decision made by the speaker.
Formula: Verb [Dictionary Form / ない Form] + ことにする
Example: 毎日、日本語を勉強することにした。
Mainichi, Nihongo o benkyou suru koto ni shita.
(I decided to study Japanese every day.)
Extension (ことにしている): Using the continuous form expresses a self-imposed rule or personal habit.
Example: 毎朝走ることにしている。
Maiasa hashiru koto ni shite iru.
(I make it a personal rule to run every morning.)
B. ことになる (koto ni naru) — "It has been decided that..."
This pattern indicates that an arrangement or decision has been made by an external party, organisation, or outside circumstance beyond the speaker's direct personal control.
Formula: Verb [Dictionary Form / ない Form] + ことになる
Example: 来年、日本へ留学することになりました。
Rainen, Nihon e ryuugaku suru koto ni narimashita.
(It has been arranged / decided that I will study abroad in Japan next year.)
Extension (ことになっている): Indicates an established rule, policy, schedule, or social custom.
Example: 教室で食べてはいけないことになっている。
Kyoushitsu de tabete wa ikenai koto ni natte iru.
(It is a rule that you must not eat in the classroom.)
Key Takeaway: Use ことにする for your own choices and personal habits. Use ことになる for rules, schedules, and external decisions made by schools, bosses, or society.
---3. Habits and Abilities: ようになる vs ようにする
While こと focuses on specific decisions or facts, よう focuses on the manner, state, or gradual process of doing something.
A. ようになる (you ni naru) — Change in Ability or State
This expresses a gradual change in state or ability over time ("to reach the point where..." or "to come to..."). It is very frequently paired with potential form verbs.
Formula: Verb [Dictionary Form / Potential Form / ない Form] + ようになる
Example: 漢字が読めるようになった。
Kanji ga yomeru you ni natta.
(I reached the point where I can read kanji / I became able to read kanji.)
Example (Negative change): 肉を食べなくなった。
Niku o tabenaku natta.
(I reached the point where I no longer eat meat.)
B. ようにする (you ni suru) — Making an Effort / Creating a Habit
This expresses a conscious, ongoing effort to do (or not do) something to establish a habit or ensure a result.
Formula: Verb [Dictionary Form / ない Form] + ようにする
Example: 野菜を食べるようにする。
Yasai o taberu you ni suru.
(To make an effort to eat vegetables.)
Example (Polite request / advice): 早く寝るようにしてください。
Hayaku neru you ni shite kudasai.
(Please make sure / try your best to go to bed early.)
Key Takeaway: ようになる = change in ability/state (often with potential verbs). ようにする = making an intentional effort or habit.
---4. Pinpointing Time and Aspect: The Uses of ところ (tokoro)
While ところ (所) literally means "place," in A Level grammar it is used aspectually to describe a precise point in time relative to an action, or to describe an abstract aspect/place.
A. Temporal Aspect (Aspectual Tokoro)
The meaning changes completely depending on the verb tense before ところ:
1. Verb [Dictionary Form] + ところ (About to do)
The action is on the very verge of happening (has not started yet).
Example: 今から出かけるところです。
Ima kara dekakeru tokoro desu.
(I am just about to head out now.)
2. Verb [〜ている Form] + ところ (In the middle of doing)
The action is actively in progress right at this moment.
Example: 今、宿題をしているところです。
Ima, shukudai o shite iru tokoro desu.
(I am right in the middle of doing my homework.)
3. Verb [〜た Form] + ところ (Just finished doing)
The action was completed just moments ago.
Example: ちょうど昼ご飯を食べたところです。
Choudo hirugohan o tabeta tokoro desu.
(I have just this moment finished eating lunch.)
B. Abstract Noun Usage
ところ can also mean an abstract "feature," "aspect," or "kind of place."
Example: 〜のようなところ (...no you na tokoro — "places/aspects like...").
Example: 彼のいいところは優しいところだ。
Kare no ii tokoro wa yasashii tokoro da.
(His good point/aspect is that he is kind.)
Key Takeaway: Match the tense to the timeline: Dictionary + ところ = about to start; ている + ところ = mid-action; た + ところ = just finished.
---5. Expressing Others' Feelings: がる for Third Person
In Japanese culture and grammar, you cannot directly state the internal, private feelings or desires of someone else (the third person), because you cannot read their mind. You can only describe their outward, observable behavior.
The Rule
Standard psychological adjectives like ほしい (hoshii - to want), こわい (kowai - scared), or the desire auxiliary 〜たい (~tai - want to do) can only be used directly for first person (I / We).
When describing a third person, you must attach 〜がる to mean "shows signs of feeling..." or "acts like...".
How to Conjugate
Drop the final 〜い or 〜な and attach がる:
1. Desiring an object (ほしい → ほしがる):
Incorrect: 兄は車がほしいです。 ✗
Correct: 兄は車をほしがっている。 ✔
Ani wa kuruma o hoshigatte iru. (My older brother wants / is showing signs of wanting a car.)
Note: The particle often shifts from が to を when using ほしがる.
2. Desiring an action (〜たい → 〜たがる):
Formula: Verb stem + たがる
Example: 弟は日本に行きたがっている。
Otouto wa Nihon ni ikitagatte iru.
(My younger brother wants / shows signs of wanting to go to Japan.)
Example: 食べたがる (Tabeta-garu — [The third person] wants to eat).
3. Emotions / Sensations (Adjective stem + がる):
こわい (scary/afraid) → こわがる (to act afraid)
恥ずかしい (shy/embarrassed) → 恥ずかしがる (to act shy/embarrassed)
寒がり (sensitive to cold) / 寒がる (to show signs of feeling cold)
Conjugation Trap to Watch Out For!
がる is a Group 1 (u-verb)! It conjugates just like regular u-verbs (e.g., gatte iru, garanai, gatta, garimasu). In most descriptive contexts, it is used in the continuous form: 〜がっている.
Key Takeaway: Never use plain ~tai or hoshii for third parties in your A Level writing. Always attach 〜たがる or 〜ほしがる to describe their visible desires.
---Summary Checklist for Exam Day
1. Choice vs Change:
• Noun + にする = Speaker chooses.
• Noun + になる = Natural change / resulting state.
2. Decisions:
• Verb + ことにする = Personal decision / ことにしている = personal habit.
• Verb + ことになる = External arrangement / ことになっている = rule or regulation.
3. Habits & Abilities:
• Verb + ようになる = Gradual change / reached the ability to do.
• Verb + ようにする = Conscious effort to do / make a habit.
4. Precise Timing (ところ):
• Dictionary + ところ = About to do.
• ている + ところ = Right in the middle of doing.
• た + ところ = Just this second finished doing.
5. Third-Party Desires:
• Third person + 〜たがる / 〜ほしがる / 〜がる (Group 1 u-verb).