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Formation: V-dictionary + ことだ; V-ない + ことだ; polite: ことです

This pattern gives direct advice about what is best in a particular situation, often after a condition such as 〜たければ or 〜なら. The speaker sounds like they are talking from experience to someone in a lower or equal position. Using it to a superior sounds rude, and it is not used about one's own actions. It appears in conversation, advice columns and self-help writing. Compare 〜ものだ: that expresses a general social norm ('this is what people should do'), while ことだ is personal advice for the listener's situation. 〜ことはない is the opposite: it says there is no need to do something. Separately, an adjective + ことだ can express the speaker's feeling about a situation, as in ありがたいことだ (how fortunate).

Variants: ことです、ことだね、ないことだ

Examples

• 合格したければ、毎日こつこつ勉強することだ。
  If you want to pass, the best thing is to study steadily every day.
• 風邪をひいたら、無理をしないことです。
  When you catch a cold, the main thing is not to overdo it.
• 迷っているなら、まず専門家に相談することだね。
  If you're unsure, the best thing is to talk to an expert first.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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