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So [Sawa in another
thread](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/5876/how-do-you-say-you-
have-gotten-better-at-x/5880#comment14949_5880) says that こと cannot be used in
the example below. Even though it performs the same function as の (as far as I
can see).

> 料理が(前より(もっと)) {上手だ/上手い/上手になった/上手くなった}
>
> **料理するのが** (前より(もっと)) {上手だ/上手い/上手になった/上手くなった}
>
> ***料理することが** (前より(もっと)) {上手だ/上手い/上手になった/上手くなった}

So what is the difference between the two that one can be used but not the
other?
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2012-06-19T00:18:29.540
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2012-06-22T08:07:11.077
2017-04-13T12:43:44.397
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grammar
So what is the difference between の and　こと in this sentence?
The difference is difficult and the linked question gives a decent
explanation, but here is my two cents:

When you use `料理するのが`, it immediately feels like there is a direct actor
involved. If you look at all the examples sentences in the link, when you use
`の`, it puts a focus on the fact that somebody is performing the action.

However, when you use `料理することが`, the focus is no longer on the actor involved,
but the _action itself_. If I would translate the third sentence into English,
it sounds to me like the following:

> The act of cooking has become better.

I realize that the above sentence is unnatural English, but my point is that
the difference between `の` and `こと` is whether the focus is on the actor or
the action itself.

However, my above explanation _might_ not fit every pattern, so I would take
this as general advice. For example,

> サッカーを見ることが好きです。

In the above sentence I am using `こと` even though the act of "watching" has a
direct actor involved. I believe the reason why `こと` sounds better here is
because the act of liking is focused on the `サッカーを見ること` which is the focus of
the sentence.
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2012-06-21T23:33:59.680
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2012-06-21T23:42:55.050
2012-06-21T23:42:55.050
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It's a very rough and shallow answer, but:

  * こと is a concept/an idea.
  * の is a tangible thing.

You can be good only at doing the tangible thing. It's meaningless to be good
at an idea.

Just remember that with "上手だ", it's "の" that works for the reasons I
mentioned. With other "verbs," more complex explanations may be required, and
have partially already been discussed here.
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2012-06-22T08:07:11.077
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