Ask-a-Teacher Question

<< more questions for course 3

Question to Teacher: What is the difference is between KAWARU and NARU?
Course 3 Lesson 12: Atsuko's Letter (New Verbs)

uchiha_sasuke

Post Date: 2005-09-27 10:47:38

save to notebook

saved questions

member since
2005 Aug 15

Questions: 14
Comments: 44

Hi. Can you tell me what the difference is between 'kawaru' and 'naru'? It seems i could use them in the same sentences.

mizu ga kouri ni natta.
mizu ga kouri ni kawatta.

Please let me know if i'm wrong. Thanks!

Was this question helpful to you?

JFZ Teacher (Kanako)

Post Date: 2005-09-27 10:55:17

member since
2003 Mar 03

Questions: 10
Comments: 1302

1) みすがこおりになった。(MIZU GA KOORI NI NATTA) = The water became/turned into ice.

2) みずがこおりにかわった。(MIZU GAK KOORI NI KAWATTA) = The water turned into ice.

なる (NARU) means to become or to turn into and かわる (KAWARU) means to change or to turn into and the above two sentences mean the same.

But there are cases that you can not use them both.

A: (noun) になる is used when you talk about change of weather/someone's conditions, etc.

1) わたしはきょう、はたちになりました。(WATASHI WA KYOU HATACHI NI NARIMASHITA) = I became 20 years old today.

2) あめになりましたね。(AME NI NARIMASHITANE) = It started raining./It became rain.

3) びょうきになりました。(BYOUKI NI NARIMASHITA) = I got sick.

As for the second sentence, you could use かわる instead, however, people use なる more often.

B: かわる cau be used alone.

1) たなかさん! かわりましたね。(TANAKA SAN. KAWARIMASHITANE) = Mr. Tanaka! You have changed./You look different.

2) ここがきょねんきたレストランですか。かわりましたね。(KOKO GA KYONEN KITA RESUTORAN DESUKA. KAWARIMASHITANE) = Is this the restaurant we came last year? It has changed.

なる always needs a noun or an adjective before it.

Hope it helps!

Kanako @ YesJapan Teacher

uchiha_sasuke

Post Date: 2005-09-30 10:38:38

member since
2005 Aug 15

Questions: 14
Comments: 44

!
Indeed, it helped. Thanks alot!