N5 · Unit 5
Lesson 18Become larger, smaller, or more convenient
Express a natural change in an adjective or noun state and a deliberate change caused by someone.
What you learn
Express a natural change in an adjective or noun state and a deliberate change caused by someone.
Learning points
- Change with i-adjectives
- Change with na-adjectives and nouns
- Deliberate selection or change
Why this lesson comes now
This lesson connects what you can already say to a new way of expressing it. Hear the key sentences, understand the structure, then use it in a real situation.
Your next step
Listen to the key sentences, understand the pattern, finish the examples and vocabulary, then continue to the next lesson.
Open the interactive lessonCore pattern
い形容詞く なります / な形容詞に なります / 名詞に なります ・ い形容詞く します / な形容詞に しますBeginner explanation
Use 〜なります for a natural change: replace the final い of an i-adjective with く, and use に after a na-adjective or noun. Use 〜します when someone deliberately changes something into a state.
Understand these sentences first
- 空が 暗く なりました。sora ga kuraku narimashita
The sky became dark.
- 町が にぎやかに なりました。machi ga nigiyaka ni narimashita
The town became lively.
- 来年 会社員に なります。rainen kaishain ni narimasu
I will become an office worker next year.
- この ボタンで 音を 小さく します。kono botan de oto o chiisaku shimasu
I use this button to make the sound quieter.
Core vocabulary
- 大きいおおきいlarge
- 小さいちいさいsmall
- 暗いくらいdark
- 明るいあかるいbright
- 静かしずかquiet
- にぎやかにぎやかlively
- 会社員かいしゃいんoffice worker
- 音おとsound
Grammar, one point at a time
Change final い to く + なります for becoming
i-adjective く なりますUse this when the subject's quality changes, often with だんだん, もう, or まだ. Use なりました for a completed past change.
Examples
- だんだん 暖かく なります。It will gradually become warmer.
- 携帯電話は 小さく なりました。Mobile phones became smaller.
- 値段が 安く なりました。The price became lower.
Change final い to く + します for making something
object を i-adjective く しますWhen an agent deliberately changes an object, mark the object with を. Volume, temperature, length, price, and other qualities can be adjusted in context.
Examples
- テレビの 音を 大きく します。I turn up the television volume.
- ジュースを 冷たく します。I chill the juice.
- 荷物を 軽く します。I make the luggage lighter.
Na-adjective or noun + になります marks a new state or identity
na-adjective／N に なりますDo not add な after a na-adjective; a noun also connects directly with に. This can express becoming well, taking an occupation, reaching an age, or reaching a time.
Examples
- 元気に なりました。I became well.
- 息子は 医者に なりました。My son became a doctor.
- 7歳に なりました。She turned seven.
Na-adjective or noun + にします marks deliberate change or choice
object を na-adjective に します／N に しますUse にします for deliberate changes such as cleaning a room or designating a space non-smoking. In ordering or shopping, カレーにします means choosing curry, with the choice relation understood.
Examples
- 部屋を きれいに します。I make the room clean.
- 会議室を 禁煙に します。We make the meeting room non-smoking.
- コーヒーに します。I will have coffee.
Adjective + ほうがいいです compares qualities and recommends one
i-adjective ほうが いいです／na-adjective な ほうが いいですAn i-adjective directly precedes ほう, while a na-adjective takes な. It can state a preference or general advice. For medical, legal, or safety matters, a language pattern does not replace professional judgement.
Examples
- 旅行の 荷物は 軽い ほうが いいです。Lighter luggage is better for travel.
- 公園は 静かな ほうが いいです。A quieter park is better.
Intransitive verbs describe a change; transitive verbs describe causing it
N が intransitive／person が N を transitiveAn intransitive subject takes が and focuses on the event or result. A transitive object takes を and focuses on an agent's action. Many verbs form pairs that must be learned individually. なります commonly marks a change, while します commonly marks causing one.
Examples
- 窓が 開きました。The window opened.
- 窓を 開けました。I opened the window.
- セールが 始まります。The sale begins.
- 店が セールを 始めます。The shop starts the sale.
Expressions and situations
声 is commonly a voice; 音 is commonly a sound
Use 人の声 or 鳥の声 and テレビの音 or 雨の音. The boundary follows how the speaker conceptualizes the source rather than an absolute acoustic rule.
- テレビの 音を 小さく してください。Please turn down the television.
- 子供の 声が 聞こえます。I can hear a child's voice.
まとめて means handling multiple items together
Use まとめて買う, まとめて送る, or まとめて払う. It does not automatically mean cheaper; check the shop's conditions.
- 必要な 物を まとめて 買います。I buy the necessary items together.
3割引 means 30% off, leaving 70% to pay
Japanese 何割引 states the portion removed. 半額 is half price. Chinese pay 70% corresponds to Japanese 3割引, not 7割引. Percent is パーセント.
- 定価の 3割引です。It is 30% off the list price.
- この 商品は 半額です。This item is half price.
似合います means suit or look good on
With a person as topic, say 人は物が似合う. With an item as topic, say 物は人に似合う. Be respectful when commenting on appearance and avoid treating colour or style as absolute value.
- 赤い セーターが よく 似合います。The red sweater suits you well.
- この シャツは わたしに 似合いません。This shirt does not suit me.
間もなく is more formal; もうすぐ is conversational
Announcements, staff speech, and writing commonly use 間もなく, while friends commonly say もうすぐ. Both mean soon.
- 間もなく セールが 始まります。The sale will begin shortly.
- もうすぐ 6時に なります。It will soon be six.
さらに is more formal; もっと is conversational for more
A store announcement may say さらに安くします, while conversation may say もっと安くなります. Whether the price is genuinely lower depends on the facts and displayed price.
- 午後は さらに 安く なります。It will become even cheaper in the afternoon.
さあ prompts the next step or start
Use さあ、行きましょう or さあ、始めますよ. It is conversational; formal instructions should state the action and conditions clearly.
定価, 半額, and タイムサービス describe different price information
定価 is a reference or list price, 半額 is half price, and タイムサービス is a time-limited promotion. Check the stated period, eligible items, membership conditions, and point rules.
- タイムサービスは 何時までですか。What time does the timed sale end?
What you should be able to do
- Change i-adjectives into both くなります and くします.
- Change na-adjectives and nouns into になります and にします.
- Choose object を or changing-subject が based on whether someone causes the change.
- Practise intransitive and transitive pairs such as 開く／開ける and 始まる／始める.
- Calculate the paid share for 1割引, 3割引, and 半額.
- Complete an original sale-shopping task: compare colours, confirm discount conditions, choose an item, and verify the final price.
Culture and real use
Sales, price comparisons, and points: read the conditions before choosing
Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency says that quality and price labels are important for consumer choice, and the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations prohibits claims that make products seem substantially better or terms substantially more advantageous than they are. For 定価, 通常価格, 期間限定, タイムサービス, 何割引, or ポイント還元, check the comparison price, period, eligible items, membership conditions, taxes, and point restrictions. The Agency has specific principles for dual-price displays, so a prominent original price and discount number do not by themselves prove a bargain; compare the final amount with your needs.
- これは 何割引ですか。What percentage discount is this?
- 会員だけですか。Is this for members only?
- 税込みの 値段を 教えてください。Please tell me the tax-inclusive price.