Structure
Verb + ことに
[い]Adjective + ことに
[な]Adjective + な + ことに
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Standard
About ことに
When 事 'thing' is combined with the case-marking particle に following a statement, it highlights that something is of a 'great extent'. Common translations include 'particularly', 'especially', or 'to my (A)'. This grammar pattern almost always describes some kind of feeling or emotion.
ことに is regularly seen after verbs, い or な-Adjectives.
In most situations, '(A) ことに (B)' can be translated quite literally as 'to a particularly (A) extent, (B)'.
Fun Fact
A very common expression 幸いなことに uses this particular grammar structure as a set phrase, and is often translated simply as 'fortunately', or 'luckily'.
Fun Fact
ことに may sometimes be seen before descriptions rather than following them. In these cases, it comes from the kanji 殊, and is being used adverbially in the same way as 特に to mean 'particularly' or 'especially'.
Antonyms
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Examples
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幸せな事に、来年結婚します。
I am extremely happy about getting married next year.
不思議な事に、最近物事がすべてうまくいく。
By some extreme oddity, lately everything seems to be going well.
嬉しい事に、みんなが協力してくれるようになりました。
I am extremely happy that everyone started to cooperate with me.
嬉しい事に日本語能力試験に合格しました。
I am especially happy about passing the JLPT.
驚いた事に、六ヶ月で赤ちゃんが初めて歩いた。
To our extreme surprise, the six month old baby took its first steps.
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