ことにする (JLPT N3)

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)

mrnoone

English translation:
to decide on
have decided to

Structure:
Verb + ことにする
Verb[ ない ] + ことにする

Explanation:
[one is resolved in their decision to do something]

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NickavGnaro
According to MaggieSensei, when we have Verb[た] + ことにする, it means to pretend rather than to decide. For example:

このレッスン、みんな私が作ったことにしてね。

means “let’s say I made this lesson” or “let’s pretend I made this lesson.” I wasn’t able to find this nuance of “pretend that” anywhere. If this nuance is not exposed anywhere else on the site, I would recommend either splitting ことにする into two grammar points or adding a note that when preceded by present progressive or past tense, it means to pretend to.
mrnoone
Hey

We have it on our to do list already

It will be eventually added

Thanks for pointing that out!
Cheers!
FredKore
What’s the difference between these two? One is present tense, one is past tense. What’s the nuance? Why are both translated as “have decided”?

この商品、無料で配ることにします。
I have decided to hand out this product for free.

毎日、数分文法を勉強することにした。
I have decided to study grammar for a few minutes every day.
Pushindawood
@FredKore Hi!
TL;DR
ことにします - I have decided that this is what I will do.
ことにしました - I have decided to…

この商品、無料で配ることにします。 is closer to “I have decided that this is what I will do,” while 毎日、数分文法を勉強することにした。is simply “I have decided to do this.” Verb[る] + ことにする places more emphasis on the future, while ことにした is better interpreted as having made a decision.

While the two are generally interchangeable, ことにした sounds more definitive as it is in the past and is “set in stone,” while ことにする may not be as confident of a decision.

Cheers!
Johnathan-Weir
This link has a good explaination of the differences in tense.

https://www.italki.com/question/223651
Pushindawood
@Johnathan-Weir

Thanks for the share! I have added the link to Readings. Cheers!
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
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
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?