Marking a Change Over Time
ようになる describes reaching a state you were not in before. It is なる applied to actions instead of adjectives.
- 日本語が話せるようになりました。(I've become able to speak Japanese.)
The change is gradual and usually hard-won — which is why it is such a satisfying sentence to be able to say.
Three Shapes
| Before ようになる | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Potential form | 話せるようになる — become able to |
| Dictionary form | 食べるようになる — start doing (a new habit) |
| ない form | 食べないようになる — stop doing |
The potential is by far the most common.
The Negative: なくなる
For "stopped doing," なくなる is more natural than ないようになる:
- 食べなくなりました。(I stopped eating it.)
- 話せなくなりました。(I lost the ability to speak it.)
Both are correct; なくなる is what people say.
ようになる vs ようにする
One happens, the other you drive:
| Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 早く起きるようになった | I've come to wake up early (it happened) |
| 早く起きるようにしている | I make a point of waking early (I'm trying) |
なる is change; する is effort. Same distinction as 安くなる vs 安くする on the なる page.
Often Paired with やっと
- やっと泳げるようになりました。(I've finally learned to swim.)