Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 3: 8/22

事(こと)にするTo decide on, Have decided to

Structure

Verb［る］+ ことにする
Verb［ない］+ ことにする

Details

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About ことにする

In a similar way to how にする means to 'decide on' something, ことにする means to decide on a situation, or course of action. This grammar point is a combination of 事(こと) 'thing' in its role as a nominalizer (a word that creates a noun-phrase), and にする 'to make it (A)'. Literally this grammar structure can be translated as 'to do (A)', or 'to make it (A)'.

ことにする may be used with verb-phrases that are either in the affirmative, or negative (using ない) forms. As こと itself is a noun, the verb (or auxiliary verb) that comes before it will need to be in its attributive form.

にする is a strong expression, which tends to make the speaker sound like they are fairly resolute in their decision.

Caution

The する in にする itself may also be seen using ない, to mean that someone has decided 'against' doing something. Due to this, careful attention will need to be paid to the overall structure of the sentence.

  • これからは肉(にく)を食(た)べることにする。
    I have decided to eat meat from now on.
  • これからは肉(にく)を食(た)べることにしない？
    Let's decide to eat meat from now on.
  • これからは肉(にく)を食(た)べないことにする。
    I have decided to not eat meat from now on.
  • これからは肉(にく)を食(た)べないことにしない。
    I have decided to not not eat meat from now on.

Examples

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    今日(きょう)はエイプリルフールだからウソしか言(い)わない事(こと)にする。

    Since today is April Fool's, I've decided to only tell lies.

    あの場所(ばしょ)で、記念(きねん)写真(しゃしん)を撮(と)る事(こと)にします。

    We've decided to take the commemorative photo at that place.

    九(く)時(じ)に終(お)わるか分(わ)からなかったが、早(はや)めに帰(かえ)る事(こと)にしました。

    I didn't know if it would finish at nine but, I decided to go home in advance.

    これ以上(いじょう)言(い)わない事(こと)にします。もし何(なに)か言(い)ったら彼女(かのじょ)を怒(おこ)らせるでしょう。

    I have decided not to say anything else. If I say something, it would piss her off.

    この商品(しょうひん)、無料(むりょう)で配(くば)る事(こと)にします。

    I have decided to hand out this product for free.

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ことにする – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (9 in total)

  • Chrispy

    Chrispy

    Any update when this grammar point will be added? It should be N2/N1 (according to the Try N2 book or JLPT Sensei).

  • clover1

    clover1

    I’ve run into some sources which say (example) that ことにしている means “do something as a regular practice,” while ことにする or ことにした is “decide(d) to do.”

    I’m curious about how the difference in tenses play out in this example:

  • Meatdog

    Meatdog

    The difference between 事ことにする and 事ことになる?

    Looking at the examples, is it true that 事ことにする would be used for someone specific, like me,they,her,she,them for example? And ことになる would be used for some indirect unmentioned person or thing that did the deciding?

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