Verbs into nouns

[breez]

Does the following make any sense?

「本を読むのとテレビを見るのと、どっちのほうがたの しいですか。」

"Which is more fun, reading books or watching television?"

Earlier in the textbook was said that adding の to the present short form of a verb expresses the idea of "doing x", but it was in a different context (verbのが 好き/きらい/上手/下手 です). For some inexplicable reason the above sentence feels wrong/awkward.

 

[umbaba]

Does the following make any sense?
「本を読むのとテレビを見るのと、どっちのほうがたのしいですか。」
"Which is more fun, reading books or watching television?"

Very natural Japanese!
and you could also say
「本を読むのとテレビを見るのと、どっちがたのしいですか」 too.

 

[moofs]

It's the Japanese equivalent of the English gerund.
In English: verb + ing = noun. (ie. driving, eating, playing, etc.)
In Japanese: verb + の or こと = noun. (ie. 運転すること、食べること、遊ぶこと、等等)
Works the exact same way.

I like swimming.
泳ぐのが好きです。 (I think 水泳が好きです。 is probably more common?)

音楽を聴くのが面白いです。
Listening to music is interesting.

 

[breez]

Thanks both of you!

Which type is more common, の or こと?

 

[undrentide]

Thanks both of you!
Which type is more common, の or こと?

Both are commonly used, but の is rather colloquial compared with こと.

 

[umbaba]

Yes, both の and こと are used fairly equal.
In writing or formal situation on business, we tend to use こと more to make sure what we are focusing on.
の sounds a little casual, but こと is never considered too square in speaking between friends. I use both very often.

 

[Elizabeth]

Very natural Japanese!
and you could also say
「本を読むのとテレビを見るのと、どっちがたのしいですか」 too.

In place of 見るのと、other possibilities are 「見るの（で）は」、「見るのと（で）は」 and maybe various additional ones as well. Those were just the first that came to mind.