Advice, attitude and denial

～ものだ

it is natural that; one should; (past) used to ...

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How to form it

  • Verb (dictionary form) + ものだ
  • Verb (た-form) + ものだ (nostalgia)
  • い-adjective + ものだ
  • な-adjective + なものだ

Register: Neutral; spoken and written

Explanation

Expresses general truth, common sense or advice. With past forms it also expresses fond memories.

Three uses: general truth ('children resemble their parents'), nostalgia ('I used to...') and strong feeling ('how wonderful!').

Examples

  1. 子どもは親に似るものだ。

    こどもはおやににるものだ。

    Children tend to resemble their parents.

  2. 学生時代はよく夜遅くまで遊んだものだ。

    がくせいじだいはよくよるおそくまであそんだものだ。

    In my student days, I often used to play until late at night.

  3. 年上の人には敬語を使うものだ。

    としうえのひとにはけいごをつかうものだ。

    One is supposed to use honorific language to people older than you.

Compare with

  • ～ことだ: ことだ gives specific advice; ものだ states a general truth or norm.

Common mistakes

  • Using ものだ for a one-time event. It describes habits, general rules or feelings.