So what is the difference between の and　こと in this sentence?


So [Sawa in another
thread](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/5876/how-do-you-say-you-
have-gotten-better-at-x/5880#comment14949_5880) says that こと cannot be used in
the example below. Even though it performs the same function as の (as far as I
can see).

> 料理が(前より(もっと)) {上手だ/上手い/上手になった/上手くなった}
>
> **料理するのが** (前より(もっと)) {上手だ/上手い/上手になった/上手くなった}
>
> ***料理することが** (前より(もっと)) {上手だ/上手い/上手になった/上手くなった}

So what is the difference between the two that one can be used but not the
other?




The difference is difficult and the linked question gives a decent
explanation, but here is my two cents:

When you use `料理するのが`, it immediately feels like there is a direct actor
involved. If you look at all the examples sentences in the link, when you use
`の`, it puts a focus on the fact that somebody is performing the action.

However, when you use `料理することが`, the focus is no longer on the actor involved,
but the _action itself_. If I would translate the third sentence into English,
it sounds to me like the following:

> The act of cooking has become better.

I realize that the above sentence is unnatural English, but my point is that
the difference between `の` and `こと` is whether the focus is on the actor or
the action itself.

However, my above explanation _might_ not fit every pattern, so I would take
this as general advice. For example,

> サッカーを見ることが好きです。

In the above sentence I am using `こと` even though the act of "watching" has a
direct actor involved. I believe the reason why `こと` sounds better here is
because the act of liking is focused on the `サッカーを見ること` which is the focus of
the sentence.




The difference is difficult and the linked question gives a decent
explanation, but here is my two cents:

When you use `料理するのが`, it immediately feels like there is a direct actor
involved. If you look at all the examples sentences in the link, when you use
`の`, it puts a focus on the fact that somebody is performing the action.

However, when you use `料理することが`, the focus is no longer on the actor involved,
but the _action itself_. If I would translate the third sentence into English,
it sounds to me like the following:

> The act of cooking has become better.

I realize that the above sentence is unnatural English, but my point is that
the difference between `の` and `こと` is whether the focus is on the actor or
the action itself.

However, my above explanation _might_ not fit every pattern, so I would take
this as general advice. For example,

> サッカーを見ることが好きです。

In the above sentence I am using `こと` even though the act of "watching" has a
direct actor involved. I believe the reason why `こと` sounds better here is
because the act of liking is focused on the `サッカーを見ること` which is the focus of
the sentence.

