JLPT N4
ことになる
It has been decided that ~
Structure
Verb dictionary form ことになる
How it works
This grammar point is used to express that a decision has been made by someone else or an organization, rather than the speaker's own will. It implies that a course of action has been determined due to external circumstances or rules. In English, it is often translated as 'It has been decided that...' or 'It turns out that...'.
Examples
来月から日本へ出張することになりました。
It has been decided that I will go on a business trip to Japan starting next month.
この工場は閉鎖することになりました。
It has been decided that this factory will be closed.
法律が変わって、ここではタバコを吸えないことになりました。
The law changed, so it has been decided that you cannot smoke here.
Common mistakes
Do not confuse 'ことになる' with 'ことにする'. 'ことにする' is used for decisions you make yourself, whereas 'ことになる' is for external decisions.
Tip
Think of 'ことになる' as describing a result or a situation that 'comes to be' regardless of your personal intention.
More JLPT N4 grammar
See ことになる in real Japanese
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