Unit 5 - Section 4: Equal Comparison

Practice Quiz

Change and Becoming (～になる / ～にする)

Learn to express change and transformation in Japanese. These patterns are fundamental for describing how things change and how to make changes.

になる (Become)

Pattern: [State] + になる

Natural change / becoming

With na-adjectives:
彼は医者になりました。
[Kare wa isha ni narimashita]
Translation: He became a doctor.
With nouns:
季節きせつが秋あきになった。
[Kisetsu ga aki ni natta]
Translation: The season became autumn.
With i-adjectives (drop い, add く + なる):
天気てんきが良よくなりました。
[Tenki ga yoku narimashita]
Translation: The weather got better.

にする (Make / Decide)

Pattern: [State] + にする

Intentional change / making a decision

Making a choice:
夕食ゆうしょくは何なににしますか。
[Yuushoku wa nani ni shimasu ka]
Translation: What will you have for dinner? / What will you make dinner?
Making a decision:
大学だいがくは東京とうきょうにしました。
[Daigaku wa Tokyo ni shimashita]
Translation: I decided on Tokyo for university.
Causing change:
音量おんりょうを大おおきくしてください。
[Onryou wo ookiku shite kudasai]
Translation: Please make the volume louder.

になる vs にする

になる にする
Natural change Intentional change
暖かくなった
(It became warm)		 暖かくした
(I made it warm)
医者になった
(I became a doctor)		 医者にした
(I made [someone] a doctor)
Subject experiences change Agent causes change

Example Sentences

時間じかんが経たつにつれて、有名ゆうめいになりました。
[Jikan ga tatsu ni tsure te, yuumei ni narimashita]
Translation: As time passed, he became famous.
部屋へやを綺き麗にしてください。
[Heya wo kirei ni shite kudasai]
Translation: Please make the room clean.
新あたらしい仕事しごとに慣なれれるにつれて、楽しくなりました。
[Atarashii shigoto ni nareru ni tsure te, tanoshiku narimashita]
Translation: As I got used to the new job, it became fun.

Study Tips

Master Change Expressions:
  • Key distinction: になる = natural, にする = intentional
  • With i-adjectives: Drop い, add く + なる/にする
  • Common uses: Describing career changes, decisions, and natural transformations
  • Practice both: Know when to use each based on agency
  • Life situations: Use these when discussing personal growth and changes
Course Navigation
Study Tips
  • Read each example carefully
  • Practice pronunciation aloud
  • Create your own sentences to reinforce memory
  • Finish the section quiz