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JLPT N4Grammar Patterns

ことになる— It has been decided / It turns out

Expresses that something has been decided or arranged, typically by external forces or circumstances rather than the speaker's own choice. Also expresses a natural outcome.

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Pro lessonUNIT 30 · GRAMMAR PATTERNS

Structure · 形

[Verb dictionary / plain negative] + ことになる / なった

Examples · 例文

  • 来月から東京に転勤することになりました。

    Raigetsu kara Toukyou ni tenkin suru koto ni narimashita.

    It has been decided that I'll transfer to Tokyo from next month.

    External / company decision → ことになった

  • 会議は来週行われることになった。

    Kaigi wa raishuu okonawareru koto ni natta.

    It was decided that the meeting will be held next week.

    行われる (passive) + ことになった = arranged externally

  • 健康のために毎日歩くことになった。

    Kenkou no tame ni mainichi aruku koto ni natta.

    It came about that I walk every day for my health.

    歩く + ことになった = outcome/arrangement (e.g. doctor's orders)

Usage notes · 注意

  • ことになる (external / natural decision) vs ことにする (personal decision): 転勤することになった (the company decided) vs 転勤することにした (I decided to transfer).
  • ことになっている = it has been arranged / it is the rule: 9時に来ることになっている (I'm supposed to come at 9).

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones ことになる is tested against.

vsことにする

ことにする is YOUR own deliberate decision; ことになる presents the result as decided by circumstances or others, even if you were involved.

vsことになっている

The 〜ている form describes a standing rule/arrangement already in effect ('is supposed to'); ことになった reports the moment/fact of the decision.

More grammar patterns

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