Kitty「これから毎日、みんなに宿題を出すことにします。」
= Kore kara mainichi, minna ni shukudai wo dasu koto ni shimasu.
= I am going to give you homework every day from now on.
「忘れると大変なことになりますよ。」
= Wasureru to taihen na koto ni narimasu yo.
= If you forget, you will be in a big trouble, OK?
Nero「日本語がわかるようになるには、こんな風にゴロゴロしていないで毎日、勉強するようにしてね。」
= Nihongo ga wakaru you ni naru niwa, konna fuu ni gorogoro shite inai de mainichi, benkyou suru you ni shite ne.
= In order to be able to understand Japanese, don’t just lie around being lazy like this every day. Try and study.
Smaug「このレッスン、みんな私が作ったことにしてね。」
= Kono ressun, minna watashi ga tsukutta koto ni shite ne.
= Let’s say I made this entire lesson.
Hi everyone,
First, thank you so much for sending us all the precious pictures. It may take some time but we will try to get to all of them. Please be patient. !CHECKHEART!
Today, we have three lovely guest teachers today, Kitty, Smaug, Nero Sensei.
We will study the difference between:
* ことにする ( = koto ni suru) to decide (not) to ~ (focusing on one’s decision) / to pretend something happened/didn’t happen
* ことになる ( = koto ni naru) to end up ~ing (focusing on the consequences/results)
* ようになる ( = you ni naru) it will be ~ / to become ~ (focusing on some change)
* ようにする ( = you ni suru) to try to ~ (focusing on one’s effort)
Let’s look at these one by one
★ことにする ( = koto ni suru): when you decide something / to pretend
⭐️ How to form:
verb (dictionary form) + ことにする ( = koto ni suru)
1) to decide (not) to do something (focusing on one’s decision)
Ex. 少し太ったから毎朝、ジョギングをすることにした。
= Sukoshi futotta kara maiasa, jogingu suru koto ni shita.
= Since I put some weight, I decided to jog every morning.
Ex. 明日から毎日、漢字を１００ずつ覚えることにした。
= Ashita kara mainichi, kanji wo hyaku zutsu oboeru koto ni shita.
= I decided to learn 100 kanji per day starting tomorrow.
Ex. 結局、日本には行かないことにした。
= Kekkyoku, nihon niwa ikanai koto ni shita.
= I decided not to go to Japan after all.
Ex.「カレシ元気？」
= Kareshi genki ?
= How’s your boyfriend?
「うん….もう会わないことにしたんだ…。」
= Un…mou awanai koto ni shitanda….
= Yeah…we decided not to see each other anymore, you know.
Ex. 今日から毎日、マギー先生のサイトにくることにしました。
= Kyou kara mainichi, Maggie Sensei no saito ni kuru koto ni shimashita.
= I decided to visit Maggie Sensei’s site every day starting today.
Ex. お金がないから新しいiPadは今は買わないことにしました。
= Okane ga nai kara atarashii iPad wa ima wa kawanai koto ni shimashita.
= Since I don’t have money, I decided not to buy a new iPad now.
Ex. やっぱり私も一緒に東京に行くことにした。
= Yappari watashi mo isshoni toukyou ni iku koto ni shita.
= I changed my mind. I will go to Tokyo with you.
2) to pretend that something happened/didn’t happen, someone did/didn’t do something
:l: How to form the sentences:
verb (present progressive/past tense) + ことにする ( = koto ni suru)
Ex. 聞かなかったことにするよ。
= Kikanakatta koto ni suru yo.
= I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear that.
Ex. マギーが猫とデートしているのをみかけたが、何も見なかったことにしよう。
= Maggie ga neko to deeto shiteiru no wo mikaketa ga, nani mo minakatta koto ni sshiyou.
= I happened to see Maggie was dating a cat but I’ll just pretend I didn’t see anything.
From Maggie:
うん、何も見なかったことにして。 :)
= Un, nanimo minakatta koto ni shite.
= Right. Let’s say you didn’t see anything.
Ex. この話はなかったことにしてください。
= Kono hanashi wa nakatta koto ni shite kudasai.
= Please just forget about it. (Let’s pretend it didn’t happen)
🔸 verb (present tense) + ことにしている ( = koto ni shiteiru) to have a policy to/not to do something / to make a habit of doing something/to make a rule of doing something)
Let’s compare the following sentences:
Ex. 毎週、金曜日はジムに行くことにしている。
= Maishuu, kin’youbi wa jimu ni iku koto ni shiteiru.
= I make a habit of going to the gym every Friday.
Note: talking about one’s habits/rules.
Ex. 毎週、金曜日はジムに行くようにしている。
= Maishuu, kin’you bi wa jimu ni iku you ni shiteiru.
= I try to go to the gym every Friday.
Note: talking about one’s intention/efforts. (*I will explain more later.)
So verb (volitional) + ことにしている ( = koto ni shiteiru) is used when you make a habit of doing something.
Ex. たくさん食べた次の日はダイエットをすることにしている。
= Takusan tabeta tsugi no hi wa daietto wo surukoto ni shiteiru.
= I make a habit of going on a diet the day after I eat a lot.
★ことになる ( = koto ni naru) : to end up ~ing/ to tell the fact which has been decided, you don’t control the situation but things happen. (focusing on the consequences/results)
1) to tell the fact which has been decided, when you tell what you are going to do/what is going to happen after you decide.
It may be easier to compare the sentences with ことにする ( = koto ni suru) to see the difference.
Ex. A-1)来月、結婚することにしました。
= Raigetsu, kekkon surukoto ni shimashita.
= I decided to get married next month.
Note: The speaker decided to get married
Ex. A-2) 来月、結婚することになりました。
= Raigetsu, kekkon suru koto ni narimashita.
=(It has been decided that) I am going to get married next month.
Note: The speaker is just stating the fact that he/she is going to get married.
Ex. B-1)日本には行かないことにしました。
= Nihon niwa ikanai koto ni shimashita.
= I decided not to go to Japan.
Note: The speaker decided not to go to Japan
Ex. B-2) 日本には行かないことになりました。
= Nihon niwa ikanai koto ni narimashita.
= (It has been decided that) I am not going to Japan./I ended up not going to Japan.
Note: The reason why the speaker is not going to Japan is not necessarily the speaker’s decision. Maybe something happened. We can’t tell the reason from this sentence.
Ex.９月から北海道に引っ越すことになった。
= Kugatsu kara hokkaidou ni hikkousu koto ni natta.
= (It has been decided that)I’m going to move to Hokkaido from September.
Note: The most commonly used translation could be
“I’m going to/It is going to be ~ “
but you don’t use ことになる ( = koto ni naru) for something minor for the speakers.
It has to be something that it requires some sort of decision in the process.
For example you don’t say:
△今から朝食を食べることになりました。
= Ima kara choushoku wo taberu koto ni narimashita.
= I am going to eat breakfast now.
→You just say
今から、朝食を食べます。
= Ima kara choushoku wo tabemasu.
2) to end up ~ing (talking about the possible consequences) / it will lead to certain consequences/ It means ~
Ex. このままほっておくと大変なことになるよ。
= Kono mama hotte okuto taihenna koto ni naru yo.
= If you leave it like this, it will cause a big problem.
Ex. 彼の曖昧な態度が彼女を傷つけることにならないか心配だ。
= Kare no aimai na taido ga kanojo wo kizutsukeru koto ni naranai ka shinpai da.
= I am worried that his wishy-washy attitude may end up hurting her.
Ex. 欲しいものを買い物かごにいれても購入ボタンを押さなければ、正式な注文をしたことにならない。
= Hoshii mono wo kaimono kago ni iretemo kounyuu botan wo osanakereba, seishikina chuumon wo shita koto ni naranai.
= Even if you put what you want in a shopping cart, it doesn’t mean you actually purchased it unless you press the “purchase” button.
★ことになっている ( = koto ni natte iru) to be supposed to be ~, to be made for
⭐️How to form:
verb (dictionary form) / noun + ことになっている ( = koto ni natte iru)
Ex. 荷物は午前中に届くことになっている。
= Nimotsu wa gozenchuu ni todoku koto ni natte iru.
= The packages should be delivered in the morning.
Ex. お店に直接行くことになっています。
= Omise ni chokusetsu ikukoto ni natte imasu.
= We are supposed to go to the restaurant (store, bar) directly.
Ex.「明日、暇？」
= Ashita hima?
= Are you free tomorrow?
「ごめん。明日は、実家に行くことになっているんだ。」
= Gomen, ashita wa, jikka ni iku koto ni natte irun da.
= Sorry. I am supposed to go to my parents’ house tomorrow.
Ex. 明日、ニューヨークへ出発することになっています。
= Ashita, nyuuyooku e shuppatsu suru koto ni natteimasu.
= I am supposed to leave for N.Y.C. tomorrow.
Ex. 彼に今日会うことになっていたが、ドタキャン*された。
= Kare ni kyou au koto ni natte ita ga dotakyan sareta.
= I was supposed to see him today but he cancelled on me at the last minute.
Note:*ドタキャン( = dotakyan) very colloquial
★ようにする ( = you ni suru) to try to do something, to make an effort to do something, keep in mind (focusing on one’s efforts)
:purple: How to form:
verb (volitional verb) + ようにする ( = you ni suru) / ようにしている ( = you ni shiteiru)
1) to keep in mind, to try (not) to do something
Ex. 「マギー先生、またスペルが間違っていますよ。」
= Maggie sensei, mata superu ga machigatte imasu yo.
= Maggie Sensei, there is a typo again.
Maggie「これからもっと気をつけるようにします。」
= Korekara motto ki wo tsukeru you ni shimasu.
= I will try to be more careful from now on.
Ex. 彼は最近、忙しそうだからあまり邪魔しないようにしている。
= Kare wa saikin, isogashisou dakara amari jama shinai you ni shiteimasu.
= Since he seems to be busy lately, I try not to bother him so much.
You often see ようにしてください。( = you ni shite kudasai) in a warning sign.
Ex. 線路内に入らないようにしてください。
= Senro nai ni hairanai you ni shite kudasai.
= Please do not go onto the train tracks.
Ex. お釣りのないようにしてください。
= Otsuri no naiyou ni shite kudasai.
(Literal meaning: Please prepare your small change so that we don’t need to give you change)
= Please prepare small change.
When you tell someone to do/not to do something, you often finish the sentence with ように ( = youni)
Ex. 宿題を忘れないように。
= Shukudai wo wasure nai you ni.
= Do not forget your homework. (Try not to forget your homework)
2) (to try) to make it a habit
Ex. 毎日、1万歩は歩くようにしている。
= Mainichi, ichimanpo wa aruku you ni shiteiru.
= I try to walk at least 10,000 steps a day.
Ex. 喫煙席のある喫茶店には行かないようにしている。
= Kitsuen seki no aru kissaten niwa ikanai you ni shiteiru.
= I do my best not to go to cafeterias where there are smoking sections.
Ex. できるだけ脂っぽいものは食べないようにしています。
= Dekirudake aburappoi mono wa tabenai you ni shiteimasu.
= I try to avoid eating greasy food as much as possible.
★ようになる ( = you ni naru)
Note: I explained the usage a bit in my よう ( = you) lesson.
1) to come to be able to do something / will be able to do something (focusing on the change of one’s ability or possibilities)
⭐️ How to form:
verb (potential form) + ようになる ( = you ni naru)
Ex. やっと、自転車に乗れるようになった。
= Yatto, jitensha ni noreru you ni natta.
= I can finally ride a bike.
Ex. 人前で歌えるようになるまで一人カラオケで練習しておくね。
= Hitomae de utaeru you ni naru made hitori karaoke de renshuu shite oku ne.
= Until I can comfortably sing in public, I will practice Karaoke by myself.
Ex. マギー先生のように日本語が話せるようになるには4年はかかる。
= Maggie sensei no you ni nihongo ga hanaseru you ni naru niwa yonen wa kakaru.
= In order to be able to speak Japanese like Maggie Sensei, you will need at least four years.
Ex. うちの子、やっとハイハイできるようになりました。
= Uchino ko, yatto haihai dekiru you ni narimashita.
= My baby has finally started to crawl.
Ex. やっと暑い夏が終わり毎晩よく寝られるようになった。
= Yatto atsui natsu ga owari maiban yoku nerareru you ni natta.
= The long hot summer is finally over and I’ve come to be able to sleep well every night.
2) to describe certain change / to become~ , it has come to the point, to grow. (It implies gradual change. The result could be either positive or negative.)
Ex. 息子は６歳になってもっと手伝うようになった。
= Musuko wa rokusai ni natte motto tetsudau you ni natta.
= My son turned 6 and has come to help me more.
Ex. 最近、揚げ物を食べたると胃がもたれるようになった。
= Saikin, agemono wo taberu to iga motareru you ni natta.
= My stomach feels bloated after eating fried foods.
Ex.テレビで「NARUTO」を見てから日本に興味を持つようになった。
= Terebi de “Naruto” wo mite kara nihon ni kyoumi wo motsu you ni natta.
= I’ve started to be interested in Japan since I saw Naruto on TV.
Note: The negative form:
→Verb negative form ~ ない →なく ( = naku) + なる ( = naru) / (past tense) Verb なく( = naku) +なった ( = natta)
* 手伝わなくなる = tetsudawanaku naru = come not to help →to stop helping
* 興味を持たなくなる = kyoumi wo motanaku naru = come not to have interests (come to lose interests)
Note: Though 〜なくなる ( = nakunaru) is much more common, you might see
〜ないようになる ( = naiyou ni naru form) when you focus on the process of the change.
*******
マギー先生より = Maggie Sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei
ありがとう、 Kitty, Smaug, Nero先生！
= Arigatou, Kitty, Smaug, Nero Sensei!
= Thank you, Kitty, Smaug, Nero Sensei!
私は９月の始めに夏休みを取ることにしました。
= Watashi wa kugatsu no hajime ni natsuyasumi wo toru koto ni shimashita.
= I decided to take a summer vacation at the beginning of September.
その間、みんなはちゃんと毎日このサイトにくるようにしてね。
= Sono aida, minna wa chanto mainichi kono saito ni kuru you ni shitene.
= You have to try to visit this site every day during that time, OK?
******
Could you be my Patron?
I appreciate your support! サポートありがとう！
112 Comments
Maggie Sensei,
Another excellent article!
I was hoping you might be able to help clarify something though.
There seems to be disagreement about using 〜ない with ようになる.
My teacher and the book we are using (みんなの日本語) agree with you that なくなる should be used instead.
However there are quite a few examples online of なにようになる.
My wife (native Japanese) and several online teachers agree ないようになる can be used.
The opinions range from “ないようになる is not used very much” to “they mean the same thing”.
One person said “なくなる emphasizes the consequences of the change but ないようになる emphasizes the process of change”.
My wife thinks ないようになる might be used in a museum exhibit explanation.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this.
Sorry this was so long and thank you in advance!
Hello Niwashi Kun
Good question. I would say なくなる is much more common and it sounds more natural in many cases but you are right. I think I will add that information because some people do say that.
The difference between なくなる and ないようになる depends on the context but I agree with what you read. (consequences of the change and process of change)
Let’s compare the following two sentence.
With past tense
A ) （それ以来）彼は無駄なことをしなくなった。 (focusing on the consequences/results)
B ) （それ以来）彼は無駄なことをしないようになった。 (focusing on the process of how one became. )
Another difference is Vないようになった tends to describe slow change.
Vなくなった is used when the change could happened right after some incidence.
Wow! Thanks for the fast reply!
I appreciate your additional information and examples. I suppose it’s due to the subtlety and uncommonness of the usage of ないようになる that my teacher and book say to just use なくなる.
Note: I noticed a typo in my 1st message and also one in your reply.
Mine: “However there are quite a few examples online of な[に]ようになる.”
Should be “…… examples online of な[い]ようになる.”
Yours: “The difference between なくなる and ないように{する} depends on the context…..”
Should be “The difference between なくなる and ないように{なる} depends on the context….”
I only mention them because I’m concerned they might confuse a future reader. I don’t know how these things work but if possible can you edit the posts?
Thank you again for your reply and all your detailed explanations,
-N
Thank you for spotting the typo. 🙏
I guess a lot of teachers/textbooks avoid teaching ないようになる because it may sound unnatural or less common but you are right. Some readers might get confused when they hear/see it somewhere. I should have mentioned. So thank you for your good question!
Maggie先生,
In your example
日本には行かないことになりました。
= I ended up not going to Japan.
Note: The reason why the speaker is not going to Japan is not necessarily the speaker’s decision. Maybe something happened. We can’t tell the reason from this sentence.
Q: Can I assume that because your note is about the speaker’s future reason why she can’t go that it can be translated as both past and future?
日本には行かないことになりました。
= I ended up not going to Japan.
OR
= (Its been decided/ It ends up) that I won’t go to Japan.
Hi Sarah W
The later translation will be more accurate to interpret this sentence.
→ (Its been decided/ It ends up) that I won’t go to Japan.
Maybe I should add that in the note.
Wow thank you for responding Maggie and thank you for clarification. I’ve been a fan of your help for many years. Thanks for all you have done to explain where the books haven’t!
I’m happy to hear you have been using this site.
こちらこそ、サイトを長い間使ってくれてありがとう💖
I guess I could say ,
日本に行かなたっかことになりました。To follow more with your original translation “I ended up not going ..” ?
XD lol I got too excited about your reply and forgot to follow up with this the first time.
OK, to be more clear, I will stick to the literal translation.
I ended up not going to Japan
日本に行かないことにしました。
It has been decided that I am not going to Japan
日本に行かないことになりました。
(X 行かなかったこと: You don’t use the past tense before なりました)
Hi!
Could you possibly explain the difference between 「来週のイベントはキャンセルされた」 and「来週のイベントはキャンセルすることになった」?
Thank you <3
Hello Ari,
A) 来週のイベントはキャンセルされた
The next week event was cancelled.
B) 来週のイベントはキャンセルすることになった
The next week event was cancelled after all.(It implies they ended up cancelling the event. )
The translation could be the same, “The next week event was cancelled.” but while A) simply states the fact B) implies that people who were organizing the even was wondering whether they were going to have the even or not and decided not to have the event.
なるほど！ That makes sense! I have one more question.
With する verbs, do both ～することになる and ～になる have the same nuance?
Like would 来週のイベントはキャンセルになった have the same meaning as B above?
If yes, how do you know whether or not you should use ～することになる or ～になる?
The difference is subtle but
キャンセルになった means “The next week event turned out to be cancelled.”
It is just focusing on the result. ことになった implies the process of cancelling the event more.
Hi Maggie, my name’s Maggie. Thank you for your easy-to-understand lessons.
I have a question. I came across the sentence もうすぐ分かるようになるよ. Would it still be natural to also say もうすぐ分かるよ?
Hello Maggie!☺️
1) もうすぐ分かるようになる
You will come to understand soon.
2) もうすぐ分かるよ
You will find it out/figure it out/understand soon.
The nuance difference is while 1) implies there is a process to come to understand something, you use 2) when you find out/figure out/understand ~instantly.
Thank you soo much! I appreciate your reply. May I ask you another question? I don’t really understand ようにならない. Is it possible for you to provide some example sentences?
OK,
ようにならない will not be ~ / will not be able to ~
→人生、思ったようにならない。
= じんせい、おもったようにならない。
= Life doesn’t go as planned.
どれだけ勉強しても英語が話せるようにならない
=どれだけべんきょうしてもえいごがはなせるようにならない。
= No matter how much I studied, I won’t be able to speak English.(My English can’t get any better.)
Hi, could someone explain the difference between ことになるand ことになっている.
I understand that one of the meanings of this grammar structure is that something has been decided, but I don’t understand the nuance between these two structures.
来週の金曜日は東京へ出張へ行くことになっている。
来週の金曜日は東京へ出張へ行くことになります。
I couldn’t tell you the difference between the sentences. Literally – It has been decided that I will be going to Tokyo next Friday for business – perhaps by the person’s superiors.
Hi Angus,
来週の金曜日は東京へ出張へ行くことになっている。 Already decided
I am supposed to go to Tokyo on business next Friday.
来週の金曜日は東京へ出張へ行くことになります。
It hasn’t decided. You are talking about the possibility.
For example, if you don’t finish your work today, you may end up going to Tokyo next Friday.
もし今日、仕事を終わらせることができなければ、来週の金曜日は東京へ出張へ行くことになります。
Hi,
One quick question:
「~ということになる」＝「~ことになる」？
For “It means / It will be”
Do I consider the「という」like more emphatic to distinguish them?
Thanks.
Hi HnK
Right. という emphasizes what comes before more than ことになる
1) 私が行かなければ誰も行かないということになる。
2) 私が行かなければ誰も行かないことになる
Hi,
Thank you for the confirmation.
Have a nice day ^^
Thank you! You have a nice day,too! :)
Sorry, one more thing m(_ _)m
Can I use name with「ことにらる」：
…、この旅行は中止ことになる。
or only with「~ということになる」.
I don’t see name with it on this lesson.
When you use it with a noun
noun + ということになる
中止ということになる （Not 中止ことになる）
Ok,
Thank you very much ^^
No problem! :)
マギー先生、今日は❣️
もう一度のmattiaです。すみませ〜ん😅
I have a quick question in regard to ようにする。
I tried to find a lesson that explains the difference between ようにする (anticipated by the verb in its infinitive form) and ようとする (anticipated by the volitive form).
For instance, I know that
肉だけじゃなくて、野菜も食べるようにしています。
Means: I’ll try to eat vegetables too and not only meat.
でも。。。
There is this construct in Japanese: 〜ようとする that I thought it means “try to…”
So, I’m a little bit confused.
E.g.: ドアを開けようとしていました。
The sentence above is “I tried to open the door” right?
So what is the difference between the two?
V+ようとする
V (volitive form)+(よ)うにする
If there’s a lesson about it would you mind address me to it? And sorry if I couldn’t see it.
いつも通りありがとうございました！
Mattia
Oooooooops I found it :p
Sorry once again.
🙇🏻
Matt
Good! If you still have any doubts, let me know.
Hey Maggie! I have a question for you, I don’t really know if this is the right lesson to write this to you, but I could definitely use some help :)
I came across this sentence recently and it’s giving me some headache.
残りの人生は実に楽しくすごしており、夢想だにしなかったほど恵まれたものとなった。
Can you please try to help me with this grammar conundrum?
Thank youuuuu
Hello Mattia,
OK, let’s make this sentence into two sentences.
A: 残りの人生は実に楽しくすごしている。= I’m really enjoying the rest of the life (or my life).
＋そして = and
B: 夢想だにしなかったほど恵まれたものとなった。 (literal translation) It turned out to be so rich to the extent that I didn’t even imagine.
Now in order to put the sentence A and B together into one sentence, you have to change the main verb “いる” in the sentence A.
One way to do is to use te-form 〜すごしていて夢想だにしなかったほど恵まれたものとなった。
Another more literal way to connect them is to use the masu stem.
But you don’t make masu-stem from います. X 〜すごして「い」夢想だにしなかったほど恵まれたものとなった。(wrong)
This is irregular one.
いる changes to the formal version おる→おり
Oh! Thank you so very much. It was mainly that “だに” + “ほど” that were giving me problems.
本当にありがとうございます^_^
🙇🏻
Ah, OK
I didn’t mention but だに means “even”. It is a literal expression.
Hello Magie 先生. To get the meaning “we will pretend as if”, is the verb preceding ことにするalways negative past? And you said it can be present/past i beleieve. Is that the case, or can it only be a plain past form that precedes ことにする? Because all the examples sentences were in a negative past form.
Hello Chiozo
Good question.
Sorry it was confusing.
What I meant was “present progressive.” and not simple present tense (I will fix the context.) and you can use both affirmative and negative form.
毎日勉強していることにしよう。(present progressive form)
X Not simple present form 勉強することにしよう that means “I decided to study every day.”
with past affirmative form
お皿を洗ったことにして。
Let’s just pretend that I washed the dishes.
Ok. 説明してくださってありがとうございます. I think I get it now. So 毎日勉強していることにしよう means “Lets pretend I study everyday”? ね?
Yes, that’s right.
Hi Maggie-sensei!
I’m not sure if this is the right section, but can you explain the difference between ～ようとする and ～ようとしてする？
I found the latter phrase while reading, and I can’t really discern the difference.
Here’s an example sentence I had found: 今よりもちょっと穏やかに生きようとしてする.
Would there be a significant change in meaning if it were replaced with ~ようとする instead?
Any clarification would be appreciated.
Hello Jeremy,
～ようとする and ～ようとしてする
Before I answer it’s not ～ようとする and ～ようとしている?
今よりもちょっと穏やかに生きようとしてする →You don’t say ようとしてする
It should be 生きようとしている
Hi Maggie-sensei!
Thank you for the reply. And yes, I thought it was a mistake at first, but after some research, it seems that ~ようとしてする is not an uncommon expression.
I can provide another example (from a J-J dictionary) if it helps with clarification.
愛想笑い：＜名＞ 相手に気に入られようとしてする、つくりわらい
Ahh I got it.
It simply modifies a noun 作り笑い
When you modify a noun
verb + noun
Let’s me rephrase it.
相手に気に入られようとして作り笑いをする
When you describe what 作り笑い is
the verb in this sentence is する
so 相手に気に入られようとして”する”+作り笑い
If you change the sentence for example
Jeremyに食べてもらおうとしておにぎりを作る。
→Describes おにぎり 🍙 a rice ball
Jeremyに食べてもらおうとして作るおにぎり
So going back to your original question
今よりもちょっと穏やかに生きようとしてする
The sentence itself is unnatural but if it has a noun at the end of the sentence, it is possible to say that.
今よりもちょっと穏やかに生きようとしてする”田舎での生活”
The life in the country
Oh, I think I understand now. The verb (する・作る）describes what action is done to the noun, and ようとして describes the intention behind it.
So if I’m understanding correctly, and don’t mind my garbled translation, 「Jeremyに食べてもらおうとして作るおにぎり」 pretty much means “the rice ball I made [with the intention of having Jeremy eat it] for Jeremy to eat”.
Thank you very much for your explanation!
That’s right! You got it. 👏
Dear Maggie Sensei,
I have a question about “ようとしない”. In my text book it says this expression is used to indicate present continuous, but I don’t really get the example sentences like for instance 彼は、自分のことは何も言おうとしない。This sentences is translated with: He doesn’t seem to talk about himself.
I don’t really understand how the expression “ようとしない” is used. Could you explain it?
Thank you in advance :)
Hello Barbara,
I have a lesson how to use volitional form (Click here.)
I explained ようとする in 8) in that lesson.
~ようとしない is a negative form but basically the idea is the same.
try not to do something/ not willing do something.
彼は、自分のことは何も言おうとしない。 could be translated “He is not willing to talk about himself. “
Hi Maggie Sensei, thanks for another great lesson, this helped a lot! However I just had a question with something that I am writing for homework, does this sentence make sense? 空港で、自分でチェックインすることに緊張しました。Thank you!!
Hi Alyssa
空港で、自分でチェックインすることに緊張しました。
You can say that when someone asks you 何に緊張しましたか？, “What makes you feel nervous?”
You could also say
I was nervous at the airport because I had to check in by myself.
空港で自分で(or 一人で）チェックインしなくてはいけなくて緊張しました。
「～ことになっている」と「～ようになっている」の違いですが、
「～ようになっている」は、例文のように、物事の仕組みを説明するとき
「～ことになっている」は、決まりごと、（規則やルール）
Ex. 本は１週間以内に返すことになっています。（規則）
に使うことが多いですよ。…….
I found this in one of the replys.
But i can’t understand,sensei.😅
Could you explain me in English?
As it is shown in the example sentence, you usually use 「～ようになっている」 to explain how things work and 「～ことになっている」 for rules.
Ex. 本は１週間以内に返すことになっています。 = You are supposed to return the book (rules.)
Maggie sensei,
Me again !
What is the difference of the below 2 sentences sensei?
(1) 「ごめん。明日は、実家に行くことになっているんだ。」
= Sorry. I am supposed to go to my parents’ house tomorrow.
If I replace ことになっている with ことになりました、
(2) ごめん。明日は、実家に行くことにりました。
In my understanding, sentence (1) means
“Going to my parent’s house tomorrow is decided (and I am supposed to go)
Sentence (2) also means “Going to my parents’s house tomorrow is decided”.
What to use in which case sensei.
They sound the same
Thanks sensei as always.
Hello,
明日は、実家に行くことになっているんだ。
= I am supposed to go visit my parents.
You are focusing on your plans.
You have made the plans before and you are telling someone what you are planning to do tomorrow.
明日は、実家に行くことになりました。
= I decided to go visit my parents.
You are focusing on your decision.
Ex. 毎日、1万歩は歩くようにしていている there is a mistake in the end ;-)
Hi fab
Thank you for spotting the typo. I fixed it. ありがとう！
Awesome post, very complete, there is no better, thank you very much !
I just have a question. Why did you write : “毎日、1万歩は歩くようにしていている。”
and not “毎日、1万歩は歩くようにしている。”
What’s the difference ?
Thank you :)
Hi Audrey!!!
Oops! Sorry to make you confused. That was a typo. I fixed it.
I’m sorry I kind of forgot to say what is 言うことにしましたｍean here?
文部科学省は、教科書などを置いて帰ってもいいようにしてほしいと、日本中の学校に言いうことにしました。
I have two questions if you could answer them please whatに is doing here?：日本中の学校（に）言いうことにしました。
and could you explain the meaning of this example I gave you if you could? Thank you very much
Someoneに言う To tell someone
This に is an object marker (indirect object)
I don’t do the translation here but it means,
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology decided to tell all the schools in Japan that the students* can go home leaving their textbooks at school*.
* parts are not in the textbook but you can assume from the context.
Thank you very much for responding awesome page and awesome work you are really skilled at teaching.
I’ve been using a Japanese News app is where I got that from
You’re very welcome!
Good! You are studying Japanese from the current news!
Umm, hi here, a frantic japanese student approaching a Noken exam. I’m only going to add to the pile of positive comments at this point, but I still wanted to thank you for such an wonderful page. It’s amazing how complete your lessons are, so much so that lately if I have any doubts I’ll come to your page right away.
However, one doubt here: what’s the difference between koto ni suru and furi wo suru?
Thank you, Maggie sensei
Hi Alraisen
As you can see in this lesson, one of the meanings of ことにする is “to pretend”/
When you catch someone is doing something and pretend not to see that, you can say both
見なかったことにする and 見なかったふりをする (pretend not to see)
But you use ふりをする when you describe that moment or one’s behaviors. (acting as if ~ )
For example, you are talking to a Japanese people and they use big words and you don’t understand at all but you keep nodding pretending you understand them. That is わかったふりをする not わかったことにする.
Ex. 彼はいつもわかったふりをする。
= He always prentend to understand ( = act as if he understands)
X 彼はいつもわかったことにする
Hope it helps…
I need to make a lesson on ふりをする someday.
JLPTがんばって！ :)
マギー先生、こんにちは！
このサイトで検索しましたが、「～ようになっている」という表現の使い方が見つけられませんでした。特に、「～ことになっている」と「～ようになっている」はどう違うのでしょうか。
この二つの文法についていろいろ調べて、内容がまあまあわかるようになったと思いますが、例文を見るとき大変似ている気がします。例えば、あるサイトで見つけた以下の例文は、「よう」の代わりに「こと」を使ってもいいですか。
この図書館は、誰でも利用できるようになっています。
こんにちは Andrey!
「～ことになっている」と「～ようになっている」の違いですが、
「～ようになっている」は、例文のように、物事の仕組みを説明するとき
「～ことになっている」は、決まりごと、（規則やルール）
Ex. 本は１週間以内に返すことになっています。（規則）
に使うことが多いですよ。
あ、そんな風にもっと明らかになってきました。
早速答えてくださってありがとうございました！
よかった〜！！ :)
Hi Maggie!
I recently heard the form ~ようとするand learned that it also has the meaning of “to try to”. Is there a difference between using ようとする and ようにする?
Hi Chami!
Good question.
1) First the the verb form is different and not all the verb can be ようとする
How to form
verb (dictionary form） + ようにする
食べるようにする
するようにする
来るようにする
書くようにする
行くようにする
愛するようにする
V(よ)うとする is a volitional form
verb masu stem + (よ)うとする
食べようする
irregular
しようとする
来ようとする
書こうとする
行こうとする
愛そうとする
2) The difference of the meaning
Ex. 野菜を食べるようにする
= to make up one’s mind to eat vegetables.
Ex. 野菜を食べようとする。
= to be about to eat vegetables./ to be trying to eat vegetables.
So ようとする shows one’s intention to do something or to be about to do something.
彼が私のお菓子を取ろうとした。
= He tried to take my snack away.
家を出ようとしたら電話がかかってきた。
= When I was about to leave my house, I got a phone call.
マギー先生、こんにちは！
ちょっと質問があるですけど、
（ことになっている）という意味は (supposed to be) ですね、はずとは何が違いますか？
例えば ：
彼はもう帰ったはずです
と
彼はもう帰ったことになっている
意味が同じじゃないですか？
こんにちは、LEO!
いい質問ですね。
英語だと同じような訳になるから違いがわかりにくいですね。
はずのレッスンはもう見ましたか？
１） 「はず」は話す人の気持ちが入ることが多いです。
彼は私を助けてくれるはず。I believe he will help me. (expressing the speaker’s strong belief or expectation)
彼は私を助けてくれることになっている。He is supposed to help me. (We can tell there was some kind of arrangement/ the speaker has talked to him and he agrees to help the speaker.)
2) verb past tense + はずです = the speaker is guessing something and is pretty sure about it.
verb past tense + ことになっている = People say ~ / People believe ~ but it didn’t actually happen.
彼はもう帰ったはずです I believe / I am sure he went home already. (the speaker believes he went home.)
彼はもう帰ったことになっている People think he went home already but he hasn’t.
Hey Maggie Sensei :)
I’m new to your (excellent) website and currently going through many of your grammatical explanations.
What absolutely confuses me about the use of ~ことにする though is the fact that I learned “決める” first and don’t understand why we need ことにする at all if we already have the word “to decide”. So what would be the difference between:
“[…] と決めた” and
“[…] ことにした” ?
That’s also my biggest problem in Japanese. There are so many words and expressions that (on paper) have the same meaning if I look them up, so I get confused about whether it’s better to use expression A or B. Did you already cover this kind of problem in one of your guides or plan on doing some guide about how to deal with seemingly identical expressions? Or is it just a matter of getting used to and learning it by context?
Thank you very much in advance and keep up the good work!
Hello Kai
I understand your problems. That is why people here, Twitter, Facebook ask me all the difference/which one to use all the time.
The best way to learn the difference is to use Google and type the word to see how/when the word is used.
I know it depends on the context and intonation and sometimes they are interchangeable but 決める is much stronger than ことにする. For example if you decided to go to Tokyo
東京に行くことに決めた
東京に行くことにした。
If you say 決めた, it sounds like going to Tokyo is a big deal and you can assume that the speaker has gone through some kind of process and finally decided to go to Tokyo.
ことにした also means “make up one’s mind” but it could be just “I am going to Tokyo.” and it could be more casual.
So if you decide something in a meeting having some presentation, discussion, paper work, etc, you use 決める
Wow that was fast! Thank you very much for the detailed answer :)
ありがとうございます
どういたしまして、Kai 💕
マギー先生、こんにちは！「ことにする」について質問がありますよ。
「決定する」の意味も “to decide”ですね？「ことにする」と違いはありますか。
「結局、日本には行かないことにした」と「結局、日本には行かない決定した」は同じくらいですか。
ありがとうございます！
こんにちは、Palidor!
まず
「ことにする」を「ことに決めた」に言い換えることはできます。
結局、日本には行かないことに決めた。
「ことにする」に比べると「ことに決めた」の方が意思の強さが感じられます。
「決定した」は例えば、会議とか話し合いの上で何かをすること・しないことに決めた時に使うので自分の意思に使うの違和感があります。
ああ、なるほど。「決定する」はもっと公式的です。うちの会社で会議があって、「決定する」が使えます。分かりました。さすがマギー先生、説明をするのが上手ですよね！ありがとうございます。
どういたしまして、Palidor!
Hi!
Do ようになる and ことができる mean the same then? And so do ようにする and てみる (to try + verb)?
While ことができる means “to be able to do something” (describing the current ability) ようになる means “to become ~ “/ “to come to ~” and describes certain changes.
1) 彼は日本語を話すことができる。= He can speak Japanese.
2) 彼は日本語が話せるようになった。 = He came to be able to speak Japanese. (He couldn’t speak Japanese before.)
3) 彼は少しずつ日本語を話すようになった。= He has started to speak Japanese. (He didn’t speak Japanese before but now he has started speak Japanese.)
ようにする・てみる
ようにする = try to do something usually for something which requires efforts ) てみる (to give it a try, to do something as a trial, it could be just one time)
毎日、5時に起きるようにしている。I try to get up at five every morning.
明日は、５時に起きてみる。I will give it a try to get up at five.
I don’t get the difference between the last two examples. ようにする is more like “I make sure to”, isn’t it?
ようにする means “to try to do something” or if you want to talking about some state, “to make sure to”. It depends on the context.
Getting up at five in the morning is kind of hard. But if the speaker is trying hard to get up at five every morning, 毎朝、５時に起きるようにしている。 (You make it habit getting up at five. )
Please check my てみる lesson.
Hope you get the general usage of てみる to see the difference.
OK, many thanks! :)
You’re very welcome!
Thank you maggie sensei. Very well explained lesson.
If possible, can you categorize lessons based on N1, N2 or etc?
Hi Lucas
Thank you for your suggestion. Though my lessons are not to study for JLPT, I have never clasified by its level.
But I will try to add more tags based on the level in future. :)
thanks for this lesson Maggie sensei ! You know, I visit your website almost every day, it’s excellent !
ありがとうございます ！
あのう… May I ask you some help ? I’ve started to tweet in Japanese and communicate with Japanese people. Even though I make some mistakes, I enjoy it a lot !
Well, I was talking about Ainu language with one of my followers and told her I discovered that people thanks to Murakami’s books.
her answer was as follows :
“村上春樹を読んでるのね！アイヌ語は文字で残らない言語だから、むずかしい。ルーさんが興味を持ってるのがすごいよ.”
I understand it, except for the first part : is she saying she’s glad to hear I read Murakami or does that mean she’s reading Murakami’s novels too ? Or maybe is she correcting me ? Would you mind helping me ? ^^
I’m really to bother you, that’s okay if you have no time to answer !
Again, thanks for your website ! ^^
Hi ルー
I’m happy to hear you visit here almost every day!
I don’t do the translation here but just this time. :)
She is impressed to hear you read Haruki Murakami’s novels and you are interested in Ainu language.
It is a difficult language because there is no existence of written record.
thank you maggie sensei !! This is so kind of you !! (I won’t bother you with translation anymore, I promise ^^)
どうもありがとうございます！
My pleasure, ルー！ 💕
If you want, find me on Twitter,too and say hello! 😉
もうMaggie先生のフォロワーですよ〜 💕
いつでも気軽にtweetしてね！
Aynw ytah =an rw-we ne -e qw=qes-to ram-ma qan-na yay-paq-as-nw-ye-qar wa yn-qar rw-we , Aynw ytah shyq-no=an na.
A-nw-qar=an yan ne>👀 💻Ainutopic.ninjal.ac.jp
S(h)y-s(h)a-mo ytah= 日本語,アイヌ語=Aynw ytah wa Enqyrysw ytah=English( EJ so📰) 会話辞典( Qanazawa shozabwro wa Jynpo qotora1898 📖=w-qo-y-so—ytah qan-py ( qa-ta) sos OSX WNS (iOS saq🙅♂️) .
ainutopic.ninjal.ac.jp no =an ne -e an nw qar Puffi qo-nw-noqa-so(browser App Apple y-qor e anainutopic iOS y-qy-qar=an (desk top version =e-as-qay ne rw-we wa
Maggie as-pe se-qor an❤️ I’m happy to hear you visit here almost every day!
I don’t do the translation here but just this time. :)
She is impressed to hear you read Haruki Murakami’s novels and you are interested in Ainu language.
A -nw-p -qw-shyshアイヌ語は文字で残らない言語だから !s(h)o-mo e-ne qw=qw-ny qw=ram-w=a-hy TAN👇 orwsh-po qw=nw
It is a difficult language ysay-qa ne 📝 because there is no existence of written record.
qw-sw ne wa a-qan-na -qar wa yn-qar ram-ma qan-na qy-ary-qy-qy yan
Wow! Pretty impressive, Andrw!
agree with Alain, each research for japanese grammar -good and usefull- explanations on google, always back my eyes to your site, your work is very precious for lot of japanese learners there’s no doubt!
@cyril
Thank you!!
Love all the people who visit here!
Ex. 彼の曖昧な態度が彼女を傷つけることにならないか心配だ。
= Kare no aimai na taido ga kanojo wo kizutsukeru koto ni naranai ka shinpai da.
= I am worried that his wishy-washy attitude may end up hurting her.
I’m confused about the using of ka in ( naranai ka shinpai )
the sentence is affirmative why it bacame negative?
I know my question is simple but I got confused suddenly..
@roro
You can say “affirmative form + か+ 心配だ”
1) ~が傷つけることになるか心配だ worry that ~ will end up hurting her (worry about the consequences)
2) 〜が傷つけることにならないか心配だ。worry that ~ may end up hurting her (worry about the possibilities more)
b) is more hypothetical
****
I will make a lesson on か some time.
Maggie sensei, I have a question about this sentence from the lesson.
マギー先生のように日本語が話せるようになるには4年はかかる。
= In order to be able to speak Japanese like Maggie Sensei, you will need at least two four years.
Is the ‘two four years’ a typo? Doesn’t 4年 mean four years?
Oh Than you for spotting the mistake. My original sentence was “two years” but I changed the number and forgot to erase it. :)
Many thanks for this lesson, Maggie-Sensei! Very informative and helpful as usual.
I have a question regarding the term “volitional” that you used in your explanation:
## So verb (volitional) + ことにしている ( = koto ni shiteiru) is used when you make a habit of doing something.
Ex. たくさん食べた次の日はダイエットをすることにしている。
verb (volitional verb) + ようにする ( = you ni suru) / ようにしている ( = you ni shiteiru)
これからもっと気をつけるようにします。##
I thought that “volitional verb” in Japanese means the “う” or “よう” form. Eg: しよう (for する) and つけよう (for つける). But in your example sentences, the dictionary form of the verb and not the volitional form of the verb is used?
@Yan
Hi Yan
What I meant by “volitional verb” is not a “volitional form” ~う・よう
ダイエットをする →ダイエットをすることにしている
食べる→食べることにしている
運動をする→運動をすることにしている
電話をする→電話をすることにしている
These verbs requires the doer’s will. You do all the action intentionally)
But for example, you can’t controle verbs such as ある, 雨が降る、出会う, with your will.
You don’t say
X電話があるようにしている。
X雨が降るようにしている
Xいい人に出会うようにしている
or potential form
X 話せることにしている
Thank you! Now I understand. :)
@Yan
You’re very welcome! :)
thank you maggie sensei ^^
you can’t imagine how happy I’m witn this new lesson.. I keep checking your page everyday for new lesssons :)
do you know where I can find the full list of all levels of kanji?
Good to hear that, roro.
As for the kanji, use Google and type in “kanji list” with specific level. You will get a lot of hits.
excellent Maggie Sensei, as usual
Thank you, alan! Glad to hear that!