JLPT N3 grammar
ようになる — Meaning & Examples
Expresses change/becoming. [dictionary or potential form] + ようになる. 話せるようになった = became able to speak. Use for progress and natural changes.
ようになる — "Came to / Now Can"
ようになる expresses a change that has occurred. You couldn't do something before, but now you can. Or you didn't do something before, but now you do.
Pattern: [dictionary form OR potential form] + ようになる
Common pattern: potential form + ようになる = "now can"
日本語が話せるようになりました。
= I've become able to speak Japanese. / I can now speak Japanese.
漢字が読めるようになりました。
= I can now read kanji.
寿司が食べられるようになりました。
= I've come to be able to eat sushi. (used to be picky!)
With habit verbs:
最近、よく運動するようになりました。
= Recently, I've started exercising more.
夜早く寝るようになった。
= I've come to sleep early at night.
Negative version: 〜なくなる
肉を食べなくなりました。
= I stopped eating meat. (gradual change)
コーヒーを飲まなくなった。
= I no longer drink coffee.
Why so useful? This is THE way to talk about progress and changes in your life. Every Japanese learner uses this constantly when describing how their Japanese is improving!
Practice questions
Try these 3 questions on ようになる. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. "I've become able to speak Japanese" uses?
- 話せるようにする (hanaseru you ni suru)
- 話すばかり (hanasu bakari)
- 話すつもり (hanasu tsumori)
- 話せるようになる (hanaseru you ni naru)
Show answer
Answer: 話せるようになる (hanaseru you ni naru)
話せるようになる = became able to speak. potential form + ようになる expresses a change/progress.
2. "I'm trying to exercise every day" uses?
- 毎日運動するようになる (mainichi undou suru you ni naru)
- 毎日運動するばかり (mainichi undou suru bakari)
- 毎日運動するようにする (mainichi undou suru you ni suru)
- 毎日運動するつもり (mainichi undou suru tsumori)
Show answer
Answer: 毎日運動するようにする (mainichi undou suru you ni suru)
ようにする = making an effort. 運動するようにしている = I'm trying to exercise as a habit.
3. Difference between ようになる and ようにする?
- They mean the same
- One is formal, other casual
- ようになる = effort, ようにする = change
- ようになる = change happened, ようにする = effort
Show answer
Answer: ようになる = change happened, ようにする = effort
ようになる = change/progress (often beyond your control). ようにする = active effort/intention. The key difference is INTENTION.
Practise ようになる in the free app
This point is part of the “Changes and Habits — ようになる・ようにする” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N3 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N3 grammar points
From the same lesson: Changes and Habits — ようになる・ようにする
Frequently asked questions
What does ようになる mean?
Expresses change/becoming. [dictionary or potential form] + ようになる. 話せるようになった = became able to speak. Use for progress and natural changes.
Is ようになる on the JLPT N3 test?
ようになる is taught in the JLPT N3 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Changes and Habits — ようになる・ようにする”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise ようになる?
Open the “Changes and Habits — ようになる・ようにする” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N3 mock exams, with no ads.