～たものだ
Used to
Structure
Explanation
As covered in the ものだ lesson, pairing the noun 物, meaning 'thing', with the auxiliary verb だ asserts something as a general truth or 'the way things are'. By applying this pattern to verbs in their past-tense form, ものだ expresses a fond recollection of a past habit, similar to saying 'I used to...' in English. The literal sense is closer to 'doing (A) was just how it was back then'.
- 学生の頃は、よく図書館で本を読んだものだ。I used to often read books in the library when I was a student.
- 昔はよく兄と公園でキャッチボールをしたものだ。A long time ago, I often used to play catch with my big brother in the park.
- 大学時代は、よく友達と夜中まで話したものだ。During my college days, I would often talk with my friends until late at night.
Because ものだ is used to strongly affirm something, this grammar structure often implies that the speaker is looking back on (A) with nostalgia, sentimentality, or deep reflection. As a result, it sounds unnatural when describing past events that are mundane, ordinary, or lack any special emotional significance for the speaker.
- 子供の頃は、毎朝ご飯を食べたものだ。When I was a child, I used to eat breakfast every morning. (Unnatural, as this is a very ordinary routine)
- 昔は、祖母がよくケーキを焼いてくれたものだ。Back in the day, my grandmother would often bake cakes for me. (Natural, as this is a fond memory)
For simply stating past experiences or facts without any particular emotional weight, たことがある is the more appropriate choice.
- その映画は、一度見たことがあると思う。I think I've seen that movie once. (Unimportant)
- 京都に住んでいた時、金閣寺に何回か行ったことがある。When I lived in Kyoto, I went to Kinkaku-ji a few times. (Potentially important, but stated as a simple fact)
Examples
学生の頃は、放課後によく友達とおしゃべりをしたものだ。
When I was a student, I used to chat with my friends a lot after school.
祖母の家へ行くと、いつも手作りのお菓子を食べさせてもらったものだ。
Whenever I went to my grandmother's house, she used to let me eat her homemade sweets.
小さい頃、アニメのキャラクターの切手を集めたものだ。
When I was little, I used to collect stamps of anime characters.
このあたりは昔、静かな畑だったが、よく兄と虫を捕りに行ったものだ。
This area used to be a quiet field, and my older brother and I often used to go catch insects there.
母は私が風邪をひくと、いつも温かいおかゆを作ってくれたものだ。
My mother always used to make me warm rice porridge whenever I caught a cold.
秋になると、近所の公園で友達と落ち葉を集めて遊んだものだ。
When autumn came, I used to gather fallen leaves and play with my friends in the neighborhood park.
部活動をしていた頃は、毎日暗くなるまで練習したものだ。
Back when I was in a school club, I used to practice every day until it got dark.
昔は電話をかけるのに、公衆電話を探して走り回ったものだ。
In the past, people used to run around looking for a public phone just to make a call.
駅の前には大きな本屋があって、学校の帰りに毎日のように立ち寄ったものだ。
There used to be a big bookstore in front of the station, and I used to stop by there almost every day on my way home from school.
子供の頃、些細なことで弟とよく喧嘩をしたものだ。
When I was a child, I used to fight with my younger brother over trivial things a lot.
あの頃はまだお金がなくて、誕生日に友達が手作りのケーキを焼いてくれたものだ。
Back then I didn't have any money, so for my birthday my friend used to bake a homemade cake for me.
昔、この川はもっときれいで、夏にはよく魚を釣ったものだ。
A long time ago, this river was much cleaner, and I often used to fish here in the summer.