JLPT N3 Shinkanzen Grammar Lesson 19: Sentence and Text Connections

Sentence and Text Connections

JLPT N3
Shinkanzen N3 • 5 key grammar patterns
Point 1L19_G1

1. Basic Concept

Sentence Pattern
～する (Do)
Emphasizes the speaker's (or subject's) intentional, conscious action.
～なる (Become)
Emphasizes the change or result of something occurring naturally (without mentioning the agent).

The core difference between する (to do) and なる (to become).
する: Emphasizes the intentional, conscious action of the speaker (or subject).
なる: Emphasizes the change or result of an event happening naturally (without mentioning the agent).

Example Sentences (2)
私わたしは部屋へやをきれいにした。
I cleaned the room. (Intentional action of "I" - Suru)
部屋へやはきれいになった。
The room became clean. (Focuses on the result - Naru)
Point 2L19_G2

2. State Change

Sentence Pattern
～にする / ～くする
Changes a state or situation into another state (usually with a subject performing the action).
～になる / ～くなる
Used when a state or situation changes by itself into another state (without mentioning the person/thing causing it).

Distinguishing between intentional and natural state changes.
にする/くする: Changing a state or situation into another state (Usually there is a subject performing this action).
になる/くなる: Used when a state or situation changes by itself, developing into another state (No mention of the person/thing causing the effect).

Example Sentences (4)
私わたしは大おおきいケーキを半分はんぶんにした。
I cut the big cake in half. (Suru)
電気でんきを消けして、部屋へやを暗くらくしてください。
Please turn off the lights and make the room dark. (Suru)
大おおきいケーキが半分はんぶんになっていた。
The big cake had been cut in half. (Naru)
電気でんきを消けしたので、部屋へやが暗くらくなった。
Because the lights were turned off, the room became dark. (Naru)
Point 3L19_G3

3. Making a Decision

Sentence Pattern
～にする / ～ことにする
Decide (expresses the speaker's volition and voluntary choice).
～になる / ～ことになる
Be decided / scheduled (a decision determined by an external or objective factor).

Distinguishing between personal intentional decisions and objective decisions.
にする/ことにする: Decide to (Carries the volition and voluntary choice of the speaker).
になる/ことになる: It has been decided / scheduled (A decision made by another force or objectively).

Example Sentences (4)
旅行りょこうの出発日しゅっぱつびは8月がつ30日にちにしよう。
Let's decide the departure date for the trip as August 30th! (Suru)
もうたばこは吸すわないことにした。
I have decided not to smoke anymore. (Suru)
旅行りょこうの出発日しゅっぱつびは8月がつ30日にちになった。
The departure date for the trip has been set for August 30th. (Naru)
今年ことしは社員旅行しゃいんりょこうは行おこなわないことになった。
It has been decided that there will be no company trip this year. (Naru)
Point 4L19_G4

4. Maintenance, Habits

Sentence Pattern
～にしている / ～ことにしている
Maintains actions or habits decided by oneself and carried out intentionally (speaker's volition).
～になっている / ～ことになっている
Maintains things based on established rules or common customs that must be followed.

Distinguishing between personal habits and general rules.
にしている/ことにしている: Maintaining things or habits that you decided yourself, and planned to execute (Includes the speaker's volition).
になっている/ことになっている: Maintaining things that are already regulated, general customs, things that you must follow.

Example Sentences (4)
昼食ちゅうしょくはいつもパンにしています。
I always choose to have bread for lunch. (Suru)
寝ねる前まえに日記にっきを書かくことにしている。
I make it a rule to write in my diary before going to bed. (Self-made habit - Suru)
毎年まいとし、花見はなみの会場かいじょうは桜公園さくらこうえんになっています。
Every year, the venue for cherry blossom viewing is (customarily) set at Sakura Park. (Naru)
この会社かいしゃでは制服せいふくを着きることになっている。
In this company, it is a rule that everyone must wear a uniform. (Naru)
Point 5L19_G5

5. Purpose vs Becoming

Sentence Pattern
～ようにする
Performs an action or change for a certain purpose (intentional).
～ようになる
Become... (a natural change in ability or state).
～ようになっている
Designed / made to... (often used for how machines or mechanisms work).

Distinguishing between purposeful actions and natural changes / mechanisms.
ようにする: Performing an action or change for a certain purpose (Intentional).
ようになる: To become... (A natural change in ability or state).
ようになっている: Designed / built to... (Often used for machine mechanisms).

Example Sentences (5)
机つくえの位置いちを変かえて、仕事中しごとちゅうでも外そとの景色けしきが見みえるようにしよう。
I will change the position of the desk so that I can see the outside scenery even while working. (Suru)
大事だいじな物ものはいつも棚たなの上うえに置おいて、子供こどもに触さわらないようにしている。
I always put important things on the shelf so that the children cannot touch them. (Suru)
机つくえの位置いちを変かえたので、仕事中しごとちゅうでも外そとの景色けしきが見みえるようになった。
Because I changed the position of the desk, I am now able to see the outside scenery even while working. (Naru)
この家いえは屋根やねにも窓まどがあって、太陽たいようの光ひかりが上うえからも入はいるようになっている。
This house also has windows on the roof, so that sunlight can enter from above. (Naru)
トイレに入はいると、電気でんきが自動じどうでつくようになっている。
When you enter the toilet, the light is designed to turn on automatically. (Naru)
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