のは・のが
Verb nominalizer, The one who..., That which...
Structure
Explanation
In Japanese grammar, のは and のが are used to turn a preceding clause into a noun-like concept. This process is called nominalization. Through nominalization, an entire phrase can function as the subject or object of a sentence, much like a single noun would.
- 毎日ジョギングするのは姉です。My older sister is the one who jogs every day.
- 私は絵を描くのが好きです。I like drawing pictures. (Literally: 'The act of drawing pictures, I like')
From these examples, we see that the phrases 毎日ジョギングするのは and 絵を描くのが are not acting on a single noun, but on the entire action preceding them. The English equivalent is often 'the one who/that...' or 'the act of ~ing'.
You can attach this grammar to verbs in their plain form across all tenses. However, it cannot follow the polite ます or ません forms, as those are typically reserved for the end of a complete sentence or within specific clausal structures.
- 犬は泳ぐのが下手。Dogs are bad at swimming. (The act of)
- このケーキを作ったのは、母だ。My mother is the one who made this cake.
- 公園で本を読んでいるのは、鈴木さんだ。The one who is reading a book in the park is Suzuki-san.
Caution
Remember that の is not interchangeable with こと in fixed phrases such as ことができる or ことがある. Additionally, when の is followed directly by だ, である, or です, it forms the explanatory ～んです / のです pattern, which carries a different meaning.
Examples
このケーキを作ったのは、母です。
My mother is the one who made this cake.
最後にドアを閉めたのは、田中さんでした。
Mr. Tanaka was the one who closed the door last.
次に歌うのは、あなたですよ。
You are the one who will sing next.
この絵を描いたのは、どなたですか。
Who is the one who drew this picture?
毎朝ジョギングをするのは、父です。
My father is the one who jogs every morning.
いつも遅刻するのは、彼だ。
He is the one who is always late.
このプレゼントを選んだのは、妹です。
My younger sister is the one who chose this present.
窓を開けたのは、私だ。
I am the one who opened the window.
毎日運動するのは、体にいいです。
Exercising every day is good for your body.
一人で旅行するのは、楽しいです。
Traveling alone is fun.
早起きするのは、気持ちがいいです。
Waking up early feels good.
夜遅くまでゲームをするのは、危険です。
Playing games until late at night is dangerous.