〜ことになる — It has been decided that…; it has turned out that… | JLPT N4 grammar

Meaning

Shows a decision or rule that comes from arrangements, schedules, or circumstances rather than only the speaker’s will.

Formation

Dictionary form or ない + ことになる: 始まることになりました
Presents a decision as the outcome of arrangements or circumstances without stressing personal choice (the speaker may have taken part); ことになりました announces it, ことになっている states an established rule

When to use it

Core use: It has been decided that…; it has turned out that…

Examples

20 sentences

来週らいしゅうから日本語にほんごの授業じゅぎょうは九時くじから始まるはじまることになりました
It has been decided that Japanese class will start at nine from next week.
会議かいぎは明日あしたの午後ごごに行うおこなうことになりました
It has been decided to hold the meeting tomorrow afternoon.
私わたしは来月らいげつ大阪おおさかへ出張しゅっちょうすることになりました
It has been decided that I will go on a business trip to Osaka next month.
この図書館としょかんでは中なかで食べたべないことになっています
In this library, it is the rule not to eat inside.
駅前えきまえの店みせは来月らいげつから七時しちじに閉まるしまることになりました
It has been decided that the shop by the station will close at seven from next month.
みんなで相談そうだんした結果けっか、夏休みなつやすみは山やまの宿やどに泊まるとまることになりました
After discussing it together, it was decided that we would stay at a mountain inn during summer vacation.
来月らいげつから別べつの部署ぶしょで働くはたらくことになりました
It has been decided that I will work in another department starting next month.
試験しけんでは辞書じしょを使わつかわないことになっています
The rule is that dictionaries are not to be used during the exam.

12 more examples

新しいあたらしい図書館としょかんは春はるに開くひらくことになりました
It has been decided that the new library will open in spring.
来週らいしゅうの会議かいぎには社長しゃちょうも出るでることになりました
It has been decided that the company president will also attend next week's meeting.
父ちちの仕事しごとで、来年らいねんアメリカに引っ越すひっこすことになりました
Because of my father's job, we are going to move to America next year.
雨あめのため、運動会うんどうかいは来週らいしゅうの日曜日にちようびに行うおこなうことになりました
Because of the rain, it has been decided to hold the sports day next Sunday.
このアパートでは、ごみは月曜日げつようびと木曜日もくようびに出すだすことになっています
In this apartment building, rubbish is to be put out on Mondays and Thursdays.
田中たなかさんが休みやすみなので、私わたしが会議かいぎに出るでることになりました
Mr. Tanaka is off, so it has been decided that I will attend the meeting.
来年らいねんの四月しがつから、この学校がっこうで教えるおしえることになりました
It has been decided that I will teach at this school from next April.
この教室きょうしつでは、日本語にほんごだけで話すはなすことになっています
In this classroom, the rule is to speak only Japanese.
けがをしたので、しばらく入院するにゅういんすることになりました
I got injured, so I will have to stay in hospital for a while.
新しいあたらしい駅えきで案内あんないをすることになりました
It has been decided that I will provide information at the new station.
姉あねは来年らいねんの春はるに結婚するけっこんすることになりました
My older sister is getting married next spring.
今度こんどの旅行りょこうでは、私わたしが車くるまを運転するうんてんすることになりました
It has been decided that I will drive on the coming trip.

Important notes

ことになっている states an established arrangement or rule.

Common mistakes

This wording does not prove the speaker had no part in the decision; it presents the result of arrangements.

Check yourself

Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.

Sentence 1: 新しいあたらしい図書館としょかんは春はるに開くひらくことになりました It has been decided that the new library will open in spring.I intend to buy a new computer next week.I plan to study at the library tomorrow afternoon.
Sentence 2: 来年らいねんの四月しがつから、この学校がっこうで教えるおしえることになりました I intend to study abroad in Japan next year.It has been decided that I will teach at this school from next April.I am due to graduate from university next spring.
Sentence 3: 今度こんどの旅行りょこうでは、私わたしが車くるまを運転するうんてんすることになりました It has been decided that I will drive on the coming trip.I intend to look at the travel photos.The bus was scheduled to leave at three, but it was a little late.

Similar grammar

Hear it in podcasts

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