When you use verbs as nouns in English, you attach “to” or “-ing” with verbs. 

ことis similar to that rule.

When you attach "こと"with verbs , the verbs can be like nouns .

e.g.

みる+こと

 私の趣味はテレビをみることです。

My hobby is watching TV.

Yup, I think Yukikoさん is right. It is the equivalent of making an English "gerund" (i.e. converting a verb into a noun) in order to describe a particular concept or idea. I think one Japanese speaker told me that こと is often used to describe a particular concept rather than personal feelings toward something. Here is an example.

こと：日本語で日本語を読むができる事は重要です。In hiragana (にほんごでにほんごをよむができることはじゅうようです。)

However, you can also use こと to explain that someone is able to do something.

こと：私は日本語を読む事ができます。In hiragana (わたしはにほんごをよむことができます)

To express a personal opinion though I used が...

が：本を読むが楽しいです。In hiragana (ほんをよむがたのしいです。)

Hopefully, that helps you, Williamさん. I am a native English speaker though, not Japanese, so correct me if I am wrong haha.