Generic Nouns

Vocabulary

ことthing (abstract)

ものthing (physical)

ところplace, point in time

食(た)べるた・べるru-verbto eat

おいしいi-adjdelicious

始(はじ)めるはじ・めるru-verbto begin

終(お)わるお・わるu-verbto end

好(す)きす・きna-adjlike

大切(たいせつ)たい・せつna-adjimportant

運動(うんどう)うん・どうexercise

Special nouns that serve grammatical purposes rather than representing physical objects.

Used to turn verbs into nouns for abstract concepts.

食(た)べることEating (the act of)

日本語(にほんご)を話(はな)すことができる。I can speak Japanese.

運動(うんどう)することは大切(たいせつ)だ。Exercising is important.

Used for tangible objects or general things.

おいしいものSomething delicious

何(なに)か食(た)べるものがある？Is there something to eat?

古(ふる)いものを捨(す)てた。I threw away old things.

Originally means “place”, but often refers to a point in time.

食(た)べるところです。I'm about to eat.

食(た)べているところです。I am in the middle of eating.

食(た)べたところです。I have just finished eating.