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

Lesson notes · ≈ JLPT N3 · Intermediate 2

〜たものだ~ta mono da

used to; fond recollection

Use 〜たものだ to look back nostalgically on something you did often in the past, not a single recent action.

How it works

Look at the picture: this was a frequent childhood pastime. Now the speaker looks back on those days with nostalgia.
Add 「ものだ」 after a verb’s た-form. For a polite recollection, use 「ものです」.
In conversation, 「ものだ」 often becomes 「もんだ」. It still expresses recollection, but sounds more casual.
「よく遊んだものです」 recalls playing many times. Don’t use it for playing just once yesterday.
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.

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遊んだものあそんだものasondamonoです。desu。

When I was a child, I used to play outside a lot with my neighborhood friends.

祖父そふsofuは、「わ、wa、昔むかしmukashiはわwa物ものmonoをo大切に使ったもんたいせつにつかったもんtaisetsunitsukattamonだ」だdaとtoよくyoku話します。はなします。hanashimasu。

My grandfather often says, "In the old days, people used to treat things with care."

A
大学生だいがくせいのころは、わ、時間じかんがあればよく地域ちいき活動かつどうを手伝ったもんてつだったもんだね。
A: When we were college students, we used to help with community activities whenever we had time.
B
ええ、私わたしも当時とうじはわ受付うけつけ係かかりとして、お客様おきゃくさまに大きなおおきな声こえで挨拶あいさつをしたものです。
B: Yes, back then I used to greet customers in a loud voice as a receptionist.
A
あのころはわ毎日まいにち忙しかったいそがしかったけれど、とても充実じゅうじつしていたね。
A: We were busy every day back then, but it was very fulfilling.

Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
When I was a student, I often used youth slang and trendy expressions.
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