「〜ようになる」: Expressing Changes in Ability or Habit

Explanation

Grammar: Verb Dictionary Form/Verb Negative Form + ようになる

Meaning and Usage

「〜ようになる」 is used to express that someone has become able to do something through effort or over time. This grammar emphasizes a change from one state to another, particularly from "not being able" to "being able."

Grammar Patterns

Grammar Point	Connection	Explanation
Verb Dictionary Form + ようになる	Verb Dictionary Form	Expresses a change from not being able to do something to being able to do it.
Verb Negative Form + ようになる	Verb Negative Form	Expresses a change from doing something to not doing it.

Basic Usage

• Used to express changes in ability or habits through effort or over time.

Examples

• 息子むすこは一人ひとりで靴くつが履はけるようになりました。
• Musuko wa hitori de kutsu ga hakeru you ni narimashita.
• My son has become able to put on his shoes by himself.
  

• 彼かれは日本語にほんごを話はなせるようになった。
• Kare wa nihongo o hanaseru you ni natta.
• He has become able to speak Japanese.
  

Deep Dive

「〜ようになる」 can be combined with different verb forms to express various changes:

Verb Dictionary Form + ようになる

• 彼かれは毎朝まいあさ早はやく起おきるようになりました。
• Kare wa maiasa hayaku okiru you ni narimashita.
• He has become able to wake up early every morning.
  

Verb Negative Form + ようになる

• 彼女かのじょは甘あまいものを食たべないようになりました。
• Kanojo wa amai mono o tabenai you ni narimashita.
• She has stopped eating sweets.
  

Comparison and Differences

「〜ようになる」 vs. 「〜ようにする」

• 「〜ようにする」: Emphasizes making an effort to achieve a certain goal.
• 健康けんこうのために、毎日まいにち運動うんどうするようにしています。
• Kenkou no tame ni, mainichi undou suru you ni shiteimasu.
• For the sake of my health, I make an effort to exercise every day.
  

• 「〜ようになる」: Emphasizes the result, not necessarily the effort.
• 健康けんこうになって、毎日まいにち運動うんどうするようになりました。
• Kenkou ni natte, mainichi undou suru you ni narimashita.
• I became healthy, so I started exercising every day.
  

Real-Life Scenarios

• Changes in Ability:
• 最近さいきん、テレビてれびを見みないようになりました。
• Saikin, terebi o minai you ni narimashita.
• Lately, I’ve stopped watching TV.
  

• Environmental Changes:
• 冬ふゆになると、早はやく暗くらくなるようになります。
• Fuyu ni naru to, hayaku kuraku naru you ni narimasu.
• When winter comes, it gets dark earlier.
  

Summary

「〜ようになる」 is used to express changes in ability or habits, emphasizing a transition from one state to another. Understanding its usage and how it differs from similar grammar points will help you use this structure more accurately in Japanese.