At N2 there are two high-frequency patterns specifically for adding emotional color: ものだ for nostalgic memories, and ほど for emphasizing extreme degree.
ものだ: Reminiscing About the Past
「〜たものだ」is used for recalling past events with a sense of "back in those days…" or "I used to…":
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 子供の頃、よくここで鬼ごっこで遊んでいたものだ。 | When I was a kid, I used to play tag here a lot. |
| 昔はよくこの公園で走り回ったものだ。 | I used to run around in this park all the time. |
| 学生の頃、毎日遅くまで勉強したものだ。 | Back in my student days, I'd study late every night. |
Connection: Verb た-form + ものだ
Key Points
- Often paired with 昔は, 子供の頃, よく and other nostalgia markers
- Carries a warm, sentimental feeling — not a cold statement of fact
- Difference from 〜ていた: ものだ adds a layer of wistfulness/nostalgia
Other Uses of ものだ (Know the Difference)
| Use | Connection | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nostalgia | Vた + ものだ | Used to… (back then) | 遊んだものだ |
| General truth | V dictionary + ものだ | That's just how it is | 人は間違うものだ |
| Exclamation | な/い-adj + ものだ | How…! | 大きくなったものだ |
This article focuses on the nostalgia use, which is the most tested on the exam.
ほど: Degree Emphasis (To Such an Extent That…)
「ほど」expresses extreme degree, usually followed by an exaggerated metaphor or description:
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 口から手が出るほど欲しい。 | I want it so badly my hands are reaching out of my mouth. (Desperately want it.) |
| 涙が出るほど嬉しかった。 | I was so happy I could cry. |
| 死ぬほど疲れた。 | I'm dead tired. (Tired enough to die.) |
Connection: Verb dictionary form + ほど; Noun + ほど
Advanced Uses of ほど
① The More… The More…
「〜ば〜ほど」expresses that degree and result are proportional:
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 考えれば考えるほど、分からなくなる。 | The more I think about it, the less I understand. |
| 練習すればするほど、上手になる。 | The more you practice, the better you get. |
② Negative Comparison (Not as… as)
「〜ほど〜ない」means doesn't reach that level:
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 仕事ができない上司ほど、自分がすごいと思っている。 | The more incompetent a boss is, the more they think they're great. |
| 東京ほど物価が高い都市はない。 | There's no city with prices as high as Tokyo. |
ものだ vs ほど Comparison
| ものだ (Nostalgia) | ほど (Degree) | |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Memory + emotion | Degree + exaggeration |
| Common pairs | 昔は, 子供の頃 | 死ぬほど, 〜ば〜ほど |
| Feeling | Warm nostalgia | Emphasis/hyperbole |
Summary
- 「〜たものだ」= Nostalgic recall (I used to… back then)
- 「ほど」= Degree emphasis (to such an extent that)
- 「〜ば〜ほど」= The more… the more…
- 「〜ほど〜ない」= Not as… as…
Self-Check
1. Translate: 「子供の頃、よく川で泳いだものだ。」
Show Answer
"When I was a kid, I used to swim in the river a lot." Vた + ものだ = nostalgic recollection.
2. Complete the sentence using ほど: お腹が空いて、____.
Show Answer
Example: お腹が空いて、死ぬほどだ。 (I'm starving to death.) Or: お腹が空いて、倒れるほどだ。 (So hungry I could collapse.) Place an exaggerated verb before ほど to emphasize the degree.
3. What does 「考えれば考えるほど分からない」 mean?
Show Answer
"The more I think about it, the less I understand." 〜ば〜ほど = the more… the more…, expressing proportional degree and result.