Written instructions: 〜こと
Verb (dictionary／ない) + こと。
Verb (dictionary / ない) + こと。: a written, impersonal instruction or rule, on notices, regulations and internal memos. In speech, you'd use てください.
In short
At the end of a sentence, 〜こと turns a verb into an instruction or rule: “(you must) do X”, “do not do X”. You see it on notices, regulations, school boards and internal company memos. The tone is impersonal: it isn't addressed to anyone in particular; it simply states the rule.
- 提出期限を必ず守ること。ていしゅつきげんをかならずまもること。Submission deadlines must be strictly observed.
- ここでタバコを吸わないこと。ここでたばこをすわないこと。No smoking here.
- 使ったものは、元の場所に戻すこと。つかったものは、もとのばしょにもどすこと。Return items to their place after use.
- 授業中は、スマホの電源を切っておくこと。じゅぎょうちゅうは、すまほのでんげんをきっておくこと。Keep phones switched off during class.
The basics
You know こと as a nominaliser (“the act of”). At the end of a written sentence, with no verb after it, it becomes an instruction: “do X” in the sense of a rule, a bit like English notices (“No smoking”, “Keep this door closed”, “Do not…”).
This impersonal tone is its strength: nobody is giving anybody an order; the rule is doing the talking. You find it on signs, in house rules, exam instructions, notes pinned to the board or stuck on the office fridge.
No smoking here.
- noun
- verb
- grammatical form
- 会議室を使ったあとは、電気を消すこと。かいぎしつをつかったあとは、でんきをけすこと。Turn off the lights after using the meeting room.
- 答えはボールペンで書くこと。こたえはぼーるぺんでかくこと。Write answers in ballpoint pen.
How to form it
Put the verb in the dictionary form for an obligation, in the ない-form for a prohibition, then こと and a full stop. No です, no だ: the sentence stops there. In a list of rules, each line often ends in こと.
| Instruction | Construction | Example |
|---|---|---|
| obligation | Verb (dictionary) + こと | 期限を守ること。 |
| prohibition | Verb-ない + こと | 走らないこと。 |
| state to maintain | Verb-ておく + こと | 電源を切っておくこと。 |
- 廊下を走らないこと。ろうかをはしらないこと。No running in the corridors.
- 休む場合は、前日までに連絡すること。やすむばあいは、ぜんじつまでにれんらくすること。If absent, notify us by the day before at the latest.
こと, てください, なさい, ように
てください is a polite request addressed to someone. なさい is a direct order, from a parent or teacher to a child. ように (N3) reports or softens an instruction (遅れないように言われた, 遅れないように). こと, by contrast, is written and impersonal: it's the language of regulations.
| Form | Who speaks to whom | Register |
|---|---|---|
| 〜てください | someone to the person they're addressing | polite, spoken and written |
| 〜なさい | parent or teacher to a child | direct order, spoken |
| 〜ように | reported or softened instruction | neutral |
| 〜こと | the rules, to everyone | written, impersonal |
- 早く寝なさい。はやくねなさい。Go to bed! (parent to child)
- 明日は八時までに集まること。あしたははちじまでにあつまること。Assemble tomorrow by eight o'clock. (instruction written on the board)
Don't confuse it with ことだ
ことだ (N3) gives personal advice: “the best thing is to…” (合格したければ、毎日勉強することだ). こと on its own, without だ, states a rule. The difference is tiny in writing, but the tone changes completely: an elder's advice versus a regulation.
- やせたいなら、まず夜遅く食べないことだ。やせたいなら、まずよるおそくたべないことだ。If you want to lose weight, the first thing is not to eat late at night. (advice)
- 夜十時以降は、台所を使わないこと。よるじゅうじいこうは、だいどころをつかわないこと。Do not use the kitchen after 10 p.m. (regulation)
Common mistakes
- Using it in speech, face to face: “明日来ること。” said to a colleague sounds very curt, as if you were reciting a regulation at them.
- Adding です: “守ることです” changes the meaning (you're explaining or advising); the instruction stops at こと.
- Mixing up こと (written rule) and ことだ (advice, N3).
7 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N2 point is on the Higashiyama Line (The working world) of the Nagoya lines.