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JLPT N4 · Sentence patterns

ということ (to iu koto)

～ということ — the fact that ～, the idea of ～

In short · Turns a whole sentence into a noun phrase: “the fact that ～ / the matter of ～”. It attaches to the plain form of a sentence. It is used with verbs like 知る, 分かる and 言う, and as the subject of a comment.
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Pattern

  • 普通形 ＋ ということ plain form + ということ (noun and な-adjective: 休みだということ)

What it does

It packs a statement into one thing you can talk about. 彼が来ない (he isn't coming) becomes 彼が来ないということ (the fact that he isn't coming), which can take を, は or が.

Compared with the plain の / こと

Verb + こと also makes a noun phrase, but ～ということ stresses the content of what was said, heard or known. It is natural after 知る, 分かる and 聞く, and as a topic: ～ということは、～.

Examples

  • 彼（かれ）が来（こ）ないということは、もう知（し）っています。

    Kare ga konai to iu koto wa, mō shitte imasu.

    I already know that he isn't coming.

  • 毎日（まいにち）運動（うんどう）するということは、なかなか難（むずか）しい。

    Mainichi undō suru to iu koto wa, nakanaka muzukashii.

    The fact of exercising every day is quite difficult.

  • 店（みせ）が休（やす）みだということを、私（わたし）は知（し）らなかった。

    Mise ga yasumi da to iu koto o, watashi wa shiranakatta.

    I didn't know the fact that the shop was closed.

Common mistakes

  • Nouns and な-adjectives take だ before と: 休みだということ, not 休みということ (the latter is possible in speech but だ is the textbook form).
  • Do not confuse it with ～という (called ～): the word after という decides the meaning.

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