〜たものだ~ta mono da

How it works

1. 

   Look at the picture: this was a frequent childhood pastime. Now the speaker looks back on those days with nostalgia.

2. 

   Add 「ものだ」 after a verb’s た-form. For a polite recollection, use 「ものです」.

3. 

   In conversation, 「ものだ」 often becomes 「もんだ」. It still expresses recollection, but sounds more casual.

4. 

   「よく遊んだものです」 recalls playing many times. Don’t use it for playing just once yesterday.

5. 

   In the grandfather example, 「使ったもんだ」 recalls the past; 「よく話します」 says he often talks about it now.

Example sentences

• 子どもこどもkodomoのnoころkoroは、わ、wa、近所きんじょkinjoのno友だちともだちtomodachiとto外そとsotoでdeよくyoku

In a conversation

Check yourself

1. Level 1 · Recognise

   Which sentence is correct?

   A昔は、くだけた表現や略語ばかり使っていて、場面に合う言葉遣いができずに注意されたものだ。B昔は、くだけた表現や略語ばかり使っていて、場面に合う言葉遣いができずに注意されたことがある。C昔は、くだけた表現や略語ばかり使っていて、場面に合う言葉遣いができずに注意されたらしい。D昔は、くだけた表現や略語ばかり使っていて、場面に合う言葉遣いができずに注意された。

2. Level 1 · Recognise

   Listen and choose the meaning

   AMy grandfather often says, "People used to use things very carefully in the past."BMy grandfather often says, "In the past, our family often helped with farm work together."CMy grandfather often says, "In the past, people greeted their neighbors every day."DMy grandfather often says, "There were no televisions in the past, so people listened to the radio attentively."

3. Level 2 · Build

   Put the words in order

   When I was a student, I often used youth slang and trendy expressions.

   学生のころは、使ったものだ。でも若者言葉や流行語をよく
   Check

4. Level 3 · Use

   What goes in the blank?

   子どものころは、近所の友だちと外でよく遊んだ____。

   I often played outside with neighborhood friends as a child

   Show answer

More grammar in this theme

• 〜たものだused to; fond recollection

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