ようになる / ことになる / ことにする

Gradual change · external decision · personal decision · established rule

'I became able to swim.' 'I've been transferred.' 'I decided to jog every morning.' 'Smoking is prohibited here.' — four similar-looking patterns with very different meanings.

What you'll learn

• ようになる = gradual change (ability/habit develops naturally)
• ことになる = external decision (not your will — circumstance/rule)
• ことにする = your own decision ('I decided to ~')
• ことになっている = established rule or fixed arrangement in effect

JLPT N3 Japanese self-study — interactive practice, instant feedback, completely free.