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〜ことだ

you should, the best thing is to (advice)

Verb dictionary form / ない-form + ことだ

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ことだ gives direct advice: "the thing to do is…". 日本語が上手になりたければ、毎日話すことだ, "if you want to get better at Japanese, speak it every day".

It's usually said by someone with more experience, like a teacher, a parent or a senior colleague, and often after a condition (たければ, なら, たいなら). With the ない-form, it's "don't": 甘い物を食べないことだ.

It's firmer than ほうがいい and more personal than ものだ: ものだ is what people in general should do, while ことだ is what this listener should do in this situation.

Because it's directive, don't use it to people above you.

Examples

  • 日本語にほんごが上手じょうずになりたければ、毎日話まいにちはなすことだ。

    If you want to get better at Japanese, speak it every day.

  • 風邪かぜを治なおしたいなら、よく寝ねることだ。

    If you want to get over your cold, get plenty of sleep.

  • 痩やせたいなら、甘あまい物ものを食たべないことだ。

    If you want to lose weight, don't eat sweet things.

  • 合格ごうかくしたければ、過去問かこもんをたくさん解とくことだ。

    If you want to pass, work through plenty of past papers.

  • 分わからないことがあったら、すぐ聞きくことです。

    If there's something you don't understand, ask right away.

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