N4-G-036

Verb (dict. / negative form) + ようになります (Changes in Habit)

Core / Lifestyle & Routine Changes

👀 Layer A: Visual Guide

📝 Quick Summary

This grammar point expresses a change in habit, lifestyle, or routine over time. Using the Dictionary form means you started a new routine, while using the Negative form (Nai-form) means you stopped doing something regularly.

Start a Habit: [Verb Dict Form] + ようになりました
Stop a Habit: [Verb Negative Form] + ようになりました
Example 1: まいにちやさいを たべるようになりました (I started eating vegetables every day).
Example 2: たばこを すわないようになりました (I stopped smoking / I don’t smoke anymore).

🔗 Connected Grammar:

🔍 Layer B: Deepening

💡 Raya’s Hack

The “Nai-form” Lifestyle Upgrade
When you want to say “I stopped doing X” or “I don’t do X anymore”, don’t just say “Yame-mashita” (I quit). Using 〜ないようになりました sounds much more natural because it emphasizes that your daily state or lifestyle has shifted over time.

– よるおそく たべないようになりました (I reached a point where I don’t eat late at night anymore).
– ゲームを しないようになりました (I’ve come to not play video games anymore).

🚧 Joy’s Mistake

Scene: Joy wants to say he learned how to drive a car for the first time.

Joy: 「くるまが うんてんするようになりました。」
(Kuruma ga unten suru you ni narimashita.)

❌ Ability vs. Routine Confusion!

Why?

Using the standard dictionary form (unten suru) implies Joy already knew how to drive, but just recently made a habit of driving. Since getting a driver’s license is gaining a new ability, he must use the Potential form (unten dekiru).

Correct: 「くるまがうんてんできるようになりました。」 (I became able to drive a car.)