Understanding 〜ことになる

If you’re learning Japanese, you’ve likely come across the phrase 〜ことになる (koto ni naru). This grammatical structure is incredibly versatile and is used in various contexts to express outcomes, decisions, or natural conclusions. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, mastering 〜ことになる will significantly enhance your Japanese communication skills.

In this blog post, we’ll break down everything you need to know about 〜ことになる, including its formation, usage, and examples. Let’s dive in!

What Does 〜ことになる Mean?

The phrase 〜ことになる is used to indicate that something has been decided, arranged, or naturally resulted in a certain outcome. It often implies that the decision or outcome is beyond the speaker’s control or is a result of external circumstances. Think of it as expressing “it has been decided that…” or “it turns out that…” in English.

For example:

• 日本に留学することになりました。
  (Nihon ni ryuugaku suru koto ni narimashita.)
  It has been decided that I will study abroad in Japan.

This sentence suggests that the decision to study abroad was made, possibly by someone else or due to circumstances, rather than the speaker actively choosing it.

Formation of 〜ことになる

The formation of 〜ことになる depends on the type of word it follows: verbs, nouns, or adjectives. Here’s how it works:

1. With Verbs

• Verb (dictionary form) + ことになる
  Example:
  • 行く (iku) → 行くことになる (iku koto ni naru)
  • 食べる (taberu) → 食べることになる (taberu koto ni naru)

2. With Nouns

• Noun + になる
  Example:
  • 先生 (sensei) → 先生になる (sensei ni naru)
  • 休み (yasumi) → 休みになる (yasumi ni naru)

3. With Adjectives

• い-Adjective (remove い) + くなる
  Example:
  • 高い (takai) → 高くなる (takaku naru)
  • 楽しい (tanoshii) → 楽しくなる (tanoshiku naru)
• な-Adjective + になる
  Example:
  • 静か (shizuka) → 静かになる (shizuka ni naru)
  • 元気 (genki) → 元気になる (genki ni naru)

Usage of 〜ことになる

〜ことになる is used in various situations to express decisions, outcomes, or natural conclusions. Here are some common scenarios:

1. Decisions Made by Others
   • When someone else makes a decision that affects you.
     Example: 来月転勤することになりました。
     (Raigetsu tenkin suru koto ni narimashita.)
     It has been decided that I will be transferred next month.
2. Natural Outcomes
   • When something happens as a natural result.
     Example: 雨が降ったので、試合は中止することになりました。
     (Ame ga futta node, shiai wa chuushi suru koto ni narimashita.)
     Because it rained, the match has been canceled.
3. Future Plans
   • When talking about future plans or arrangements.
     Example: 来週の会議は延期することになりました。
     (Raishuu no kaigi wa enki suru koto ni narimashita.)
     It has been decided that next week’s meeting will be postponed.
4. Unavoidable Situations
   • When something is unavoidable or inevitable.
     Example: 彼は仕事を辞めることになりました。
     (Kare wa shigoto o yameru koto ni narimashita.)
     He ended up quitting his job.

List of Verbs, Nouns, and Adjectives with 〜ことになる

Here’s a table with examples of verbs, nouns, and adjectives in their 〜ことになる form:

More Example Sentences

Here are 10 more examples of 〜ことになる in action:

1. 来週から新しいプロジェクトを始めることになりました。
   (Raishuu kara atarashii purojekuto o hajimeru koto ni narimashita.)
   It has been decided that I will start a new project next week.
2. 彼女は来月結婚することになりました。
   (Kanojo wa raigetsu kekkon suru koto ni narimashita.)
   It has been decided that she will get married next month.
3. この本は来年映画化することになりました。
   (Kono hon wa rainen eiga-ka suru koto ni narimashita.)
   It has been decided that this book will be adapted into a movie next year.
4. 来週のパーティーは中止することになりました。
   (Raishuu no paatii wa chuushi suru koto ni narimashita.)
   It has been decided that next week’s party will be canceled.
5. 彼は来年アメリカに引っ越すことになりました。
   (Kare wa rainen Amerika ni hikkosu koto ni narimashita.)
   It has been decided that he will move to America next year.
6. この商品は値上げすることになりました。
   (Kono shouhin wa neage suru koto ni narimashita.)
   It has been decided that this product will increase in price.
7. 来月から新しい制度が始まることになりました。
   (Raigetsu kara atarashii seido ga hajimaru koto ni narimashita.)
   It has been decided that a new system will start next month.
8. 彼は来週退院することになりました。
   (Kare wa raishuu taiin suru koto ni narimashita.)
   It has been decided that he will be discharged from the hospital next week.
9. この問題は解決することになりました。
   (Kono mondai wa kaiketsu suru koto ni narimashita.)
   It has been decided that this problem will be resolved.
10. 彼女は来年留学することになりました。
    (Kanojo wa rainen ryuugaku suru koto ni narimashita.)
    It has been decided that she will study abroad next year.

Things to Keep in Mind

1. Politeness Level: 〜ことになる is neutral in tone. For formal situations, use 〜ことになります (koto ni narimasu) or 〜ことになりました (koto ni narimashita).
2. Subject Implication: The subject of the sentence is often omitted in Japanese, so pay attention to context to understand who or what is being discussed.
3. Natural Outcomes: 〜ことになる often implies that the outcome is natural or unavoidable, rather than a personal choice.
4. Verb Tense: The verb before 〜ことになる is usually in the dictionary form, but the tense of the sentence depends on the context.

Fill in the Blanks

Test your understanding of 〜ことになる with these fill-in-the-blank questions:

1. 来月、新しい仕事を______ことになりました。
   (Raigetsu, atarashii shigoto o ______ koto ni narimashita.)
   It has been decided that I will start a new job next month.
2. 彼は来年、大学を______ことになりました。
   (Kare wa rainen, daigaku o ______ koto ni narimashita.)
   It has been decided that he will graduate from university next year.
3. このイベントは______ことになりました。
   (Kono ibento wa ______ koto ni narimashita.)
   It has been decided that this event will be canceled.
4. 来週から、新しいルールが______ことになりました。
   (Raishuu kara, atarashii ruuru ga ______ koto ni narimashita.)
   It has been decided that a new rule will start next week.
5. 彼女は来月、______ことになりました。
   (Kanojo wa raigetsu, ______ koto ni narimashita.)
   It has been decided that she will get married next month.
6. この商品は______ことになりました。
   (Kono shouhin wa ______ koto ni narimashita.)
   It has been decided that this product will increase in price.
7. 彼は来年、______ことになりました。
   (Kare wa rainen, ______ koto ni narimashita.)
   It has been decided that he will move to America next year.
8. この問題は______ことになりました。
   (Kono mondai wa ______ koto ni narimashita.)
   It has been decided that this problem will be resolved.
9. 来週の会議は______ことになりました。
   (Raishuu no kaigi wa ______ koto ni narimashita.)
   It has been decided that next week’s meeting will be postponed.
10. 彼は手術後、______ことになりました。
    (Kare wa shujutsu-go, ______ koto ni narimashita.)
    It has been decided that he will recover after the surgery.

Answers:

1. 始める (hajimeru)
2. 卒業する (sotsugyou suru)
3. 中止する (chuushi suru)
4. 始まる (hajimaru)
5. 結婚する (kekkon suru)
6. 値上げする (neage suru)
7. アメリカに引っ越す (Amerika ni hikkosu)
8. 解決する (kaiketsu suru)
9. 延期する (enki suru)
10. 元気になる (genki ni naru)

Conclusion

Mastering 〜ことになる is a key step in becoming fluent in Japanese. This structure is essential for expressing decisions, outcomes, and natural conclusions in a variety of contexts. By understanding its formation and usage, you’ll be able to communicate more effectively and naturally in Japanese. Keep practicing with the examples and exercises provided, and soon you’ll be using 〜ことになる like a pro!

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