の

About

The の particle can be used to turn an adjective or verb into a noun, a process known as nominalization. In order to nominalize a verb or adjective, it must be in its plain, or casual form, and な-adjectives must have な attached.

There are some scenarios in which の may not be used as a nominalizer: の cannot be used if the action that follows a nominalized verb deals with communication or internal thoughts/desires (e.g. 伝つたえる; 希望きぼうする); の cannot be used to nominalize a verb or adjective at the end of a sentence; the nominalizing の cannot be directly followed by だ, です or である, as this changes の's function to the "explanatory の".

Summary

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  の is a nominalizer that can turn an adjective or verb into a noun.

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  In order to be nominalized, a verb or noun must be in its casual or plain form.

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  の may not be used to nominalize verbs that deal with communication or internal thoughts/desires.

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  の may not be used as a nominalizer at the end of a sentence, or directly preceding だ, です or である.