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it has been decided that
Definition
The grammar pattern ～ことになる expresses a decision made by an outside party or resulting from circumstances beyond the speaker's direct control. It implies that something has been decided or will be decided by someone or something else, and the speaker is simply reporting on this decision. This pattern is often used in situations where the speaker has no control over the outcome or decision.
Structure
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary form | Verb (dictionary form) + ことになる | 来月から、アメリカの支店に開くことになる |
| Nai-form | Verb (nai-form) + ことになる | 法律が変わって、ここでは煙草を吸うことになる |
| Other forms | Other verb forms (e.g. -te form, -masu form) + ことになる | 来週の月曜日は、授業を受けることになる |
Examples
来月から、アメリカの支店に開くことになる
Kagai kara, Amerika no shiten ni hiraku koto ni naru
It has been decided that the branch in America will open next month.
来月から (from next month), アメリカの支店 (branch in America), に (to), 開く (to open), ことになる (it has been decided)
法律が変わって、ここでは煙草を吸うことになる
Hōritsu ga kawatte, koko de wa tabako o suu koto ni naru
Due to the change in the law, it has been decided that smoking is not allowed here.
法律が変わって (due to the change in the law), ここでは (here), 煙草を吸う (to smoke), ことになる (it has been decided)
来週の月曜日は、授業を受けることになる
Kaiyū no getsuyōbi wa, jugyō o ukeru koto ni naru
It has been decided that I will attend classes on Monday next week.
来週の月曜日 (Monday next week), は (is), 授業を受ける (to attend classes), ことになる (it has been decided)
Context
The pattern ～ことになる is used to express a decision made by an outside party or resulting from circumstances beyond the speaker's direct control. It is often used in formal or official contexts. Be careful not to confuse it with ことにする, which expresses a personal choice.
Watch out
～ことにする implies a personal choice, whereas ～ことになる implies a decision made by an outside party.
～ことになる is used to express a decision made by an outside party, not a personal desire.
～ようになる implies a change in ability, whereas ～ことになる implies a decision made by an outside party.
Strategy
In the JLPT N4 exam, you may encounter questions that test your ability to use ～ことになる correctly. Be sure to pay attention to the context and the verb form used in the sentence.
In context
Worked examples drawn from JLPT N4 test-style questions. Each sentence shows ～ことになる used correctly, with a brief note on what the pattern is doing.
来月から、アメリカの支店に転勤することになりました。
Pattern used: 転勤することになりました
Job transfers are usually decisions made by the company, so ことになりました is appropriate.
法律が変わって、ここではタバコを吸えなくなることになりました。
Pattern used: 吸えなくなることになりました
A change in law is an external circumstance requiring the use of ことになりました.
来週の月曜日は、授業が休みになることになっています。
Pattern used: 休みになることになっています
ことになっています is often used for established schedules or rules.
Interactive
来月から、アメリカの支店に______。
Adaptive practice
Our adaptive engine will quiz you on this grammar pattern and track your progress toward mastery.