JLPT N4 · Sentence patterns

ようになる (you ni naru)

～ようになる — come to be able to ～, begin to ～

In short · Shows a change from not being able to do something, or not doing it, to being able to or doing it: “come to ～.” It attaches to the dictionary form or potential form of a verb. It is common for skills, habits and gradual changes.

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Pattern

動詞可能形＋ようになる potential form + ようになる: 泳げるようになる (become able to swim)
動詞辞書形＋ようになる dictionary form + ようになる: 食べるようになる (begin to eat)

Ability change

With the potential form, it says an ability was acquired, usually through practice: 泳げるようになりました (I became able to swim). The negative-to-positive change is the point; it does not describe a one-time event.

Habit change

With other verbs, it says a new habit or situation began: 朝ごはんを食べるようになった. The changes are gradual, and the past ようになった is often used to describe how things are now. For the opposite, use ～なくなる.

Examples

毎日（まいにち）練習（れんしゅう）して、泳（およ）げるようになりました。

Mainichi renshū shite, oyogeru yō ni narimashita.

I practiced every day and became able to swim.
練習（れんしゅう）して、自転車（じてんしゃ）に乗（の）れるようになった。

Renshū shite, jitensha ni noreru yō ni natta.

After practicing, I became able to ride a bicycle.
最近（さいきん）、朝（あさ）早（はや）く起（お）きられるようになりました。

Saikin, asa hayaku okirareru yō ni narimashita.

Lately I've become able to wake up early in the morning.

Common mistakes

For nouns and adjectives, use ～になる / ～くなる instead: 上手になる, 大きくなる.
Not for a deliberate decision; that is ～ことにする. ようになる describes a natural change.

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