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N3

Results and Arrangements: ことにする / ことになる Review

About 10 minutes · written and reviewed by Haruki Yamamoto

Section 1 of 3

Speaker decision vs external result

ことにする usually shows a decision made by the speaker or the group they belong to. ことになる usually presents the outcome of a decision, often without naming the decision-maker directly.

  1. Target signal

    今日は電車ではなく、歩いて帰ることにした。

    I decided to walk home instead of taking the train today.

    ことにした shows the speaker’s own decision.

    Vocabulary notes
    ではなく
    not; instead of
    ことに
    into the situation that; in the arrangement that
    歩いてあるいて
    walking

  2. Compare in context

    会議は来週に延期することになった。

    It was decided that the meeting would be postponed until next week.

    ことになった presents the result of a decision without centering the decider.

    Vocabulary notes
    ことに
    into the situation that; in the arrangement that
    こと
    thing; matter; fact
    する
    to do

Section 2 of 3

Habitual and formal extensions

ことにしている adds the nuance of a personal rule or habit. ことになっている describes a formal rule or ongoing arrangement. These forms are easy to confuse, so always ask who controls the decision and whether it is still in effect.

  1. Target signal

    健康のために、毎朝三十分歩くことにしている。

    As a rule, I walk for thirty minutes every morning for my health.

    Personal routine.

    Vocabulary notes
    ために〜ために
    in order to; for the purpose of
    ている〜ている
    to be doing; to be in a resulting state
    ことに
    into the situation that; in the arrangement that

  2. Preview

    申請はオンラインで行うことになっている。

    Applications are to be submitted online.

    Standing rule.

    Vocabulary notes
    ことになっている〜ことになっている
    it has been decided that; it is arranged that
    ている〜ている
    to be doing; to be in a resulting state
    ことに
    into the situation that; in the arrangement that

Section 3 of 3

Reading focus

In longer passages, track the agent of the decision. If a speaker is present, ことにした often belongs to them. In announcements and reports, ことになった or ことになっている often foreground the result or system instead of the decider.

  1. Target signal

    予算の関係で、新しい計画は中止することになった。

    Because of the budget, the new plan was canceled.

    The sentence reports the outcome, not who decided it.

    Vocabulary notes
    ことに
    into the situation that; in the arrangement that
    新しいあたらしい
    new
    こと
    thing; matter; fact

  2. Preview

    私はしばらくSNSを見ないことにした。

    I decided not to look at social media for a while.

    A personal choice is framed from the speaker’s side.

    Vocabulary notes
    しばらく
    for a little while
    SNSエスエヌエス
    social media
    ことに
    into the situation that; in the arrangement that

Reading in context

Read for meaning before checking the answer

Before you read

Read once for the situation. Then notice how Results and Arrangements: ことにする / ことになる Review changes the meaning before you check the translation.

今日は電車ではなく、歩いて帰ることにした。 会議は来週に延期することになった。 健康のために、毎朝三十分歩くことにしている。 申請はオンラインで行うことになっている。 予算の関係で、新しい計画は中止することになった。 私はしばらくSNSを見ないことにした。

Show English translation

I decided to walk home instead of taking the train today. It was decided that the meeting would be postponed until next week. As a rule, I walk for thirty minutes every morning for my health. Applications are to be submitted online. Because of the budget, the new plan was canceled. I decided not to look at social media for a while.

Contextual questions

Answer from the passage before you reveal each explanation.

  1. What is the first reading job for this passage?

    • Identify the situation and how Results and Arrangements: ことにする / ことになる Review changes it.
    • Translate every word before using context.
    • Ignore the ending because only vocabulary matters.
    • Choose an answer before reading the full passage.
    Check the answer

    Identify the situation and how Results and Arrangements: ことにする / ことになる Review changes it.

    The goal is to use the situation first, then confirm the role of Results and Arrangements: ことにする / ことになる Review in context.

Guided practice

Apply the lesson in a few different ways

Work through each prompt, then check the explanation before moving on.

Activity 1 of 4Choose the best context

Which sentence shows the speaker's own decision?

Activity 2 of 4Fill the blank

Complete the chunk that carries the lesson meaning (Results and Arrangements: ことにする / ことになる Review).

今日は電車＿＿＿、歩いて帰ることにした。

Activity 3 of 4Put it in order

Put these related examples back into the order used in the lesson.

  1. 1会議は来週に延期することになった。
  2. 2健康のために、毎朝三十分歩くことにしている。
  3. 3今日は電車ではなく、歩いて帰ることにした。
Activity 4 of 4Infer from the passage

What should guide your interpretation of Results and Arrangements: ことにする / ことになる Review in the mini-reading?

Mastery check 1/4

Which sentence shows the speaker's own decision?