How do you use "koto"?


My book says that "koto" can convert verbs into nouns. It can also convert
adjectives and adverbial nouns, but what does that mean? It gives examples
like:

> Tori o tsukamaeru koto wa kantan ja nai?
>
> Watashi wa kare ga nihon e itta koto o nd dare date boku ga atama ga warui
> koto ot shitteru

The book says "koto" means "thing", "fact", or "matter".

How exactly do you use "koto"?




> tori wo tsukamaeru  
>  "I catch birds."  
>  "I will catch the bird."

This is a full sentence, as you can see in the English meanings provided.

* * *

> tori wo tsukamaeru koto  
>  "catching birds"

When you add `koto` on the end, it becomes a noun.

Since it is a noun, you can use as part of a larger sentence:

> **tori wo tsukamaeru koto** ha kantan ja nai  
>  " **Catching birds** is not simple."

