Click the button below to see similar posts for other categories

When Should You Use 〜ことにする to Express Your Intentions?

When you start learning Japanese grammar, one important phrase to know is 〜ことにする (koto ni suru).

This phrase means you are telling someone about your decisions or plans. It helps you explain what you have decided to do. Using it correctly is really important to make your intentions clear.

How to Use 〜ことにする

Let's break down how to use it. The pattern you follow is simple: [verb in plain form] + ことにする.

Make sure to use the verb in its basic form.

For example, if you want to say “I’ve decided to go,” you say 行くことにする (iku koto ni suru). This shows you have made a clear decision to go somewhere.

When to Use 〜ことにする

Here are some common situations where you can use this phrase:

1. Making Personal Decisions

The main way to use 〜ことにする is to talk about personal choices or intentions. It shows you have thought about a choice and made a decision.

For example:

  • 毎日ジョギングをすることにする。
    (Mainichi jogingu wo suru koto ni suru.)
    “I’ve decided to jog every day.”

In this sentence, it shows the speaker is committed to jogging every day. This is not just a passing thought; they are serious about it.

2. Telling Others About Your Decision

You can also use this phrase to let others know your decisions. You might use it when sharing your plans.

For instance:

  • 旅行に行くことにしました。
    (Ryokou ni iku koto ni shimashita.)
    “I have decided to go on a trip.”

This tells others that you have thought about this trip and are serious about it.

3. Decisions Based on Reasons

You can use 〜ことにする when your choice is influenced by certain reasons.

For example:

  • 健康のため、野菜をもっと食べることにする。
    (Kenkou no tame, yasai wo motto taberu koto ni suru.)
    “For my health, I’ve decided to eat more vegetables.”

Here, the speaker is clearly showing that their decision is based on wanting to be healthier. It shows they have thought carefully about this choice.

4. Comparing Different Choices

You can use 〜ことにする to compare different options.

For example:

  • パーティーに行くことにしたが、友達とカラオケに行くことにする。
    (Paatii ni iku koto ni shita ga, tomodachi to karaoke ni iku koto ni suru.)
    “I decided to go to the party, but I’ve decided to go to karaoke with my friends.”

This shows that the speaker had another option but chose karaoke instead.

5. Talking About Future Plans

While 〜ことにする is often used for current choices, you can also use it for future intentions.

For example:

  • 来年日本へ行くことにする。
    (Rainen Nihon e iku koto ni suru.)
    “I’ve decided to go to Japan next year.”

This shows you not only intend to go to Japan but have also started planning for it.

Using 〜ことにする Well

To use 〜ことにする effectively, remember that it shows you are determined in your choices. Whether you're talking about personal goals, sharing your plans, or explaining your reasons, it helps you communicate clearly in Japanese.

Practice Time!

To get better at using 〜ことにする, try making your own sentences based on the examples we've talked about:

  1. Write a sentence about a personal goal for the month.
  2. Share a decision you've made with a friend, in Japanese.
  3. Think of a decision you made recently and explain the reason using this phrase.

Practicing these will help you understand 〜ことにする better and make it easier to share your intentions in Japanese. Enjoy learning this interesting part of the language!

Related articles

Similar Categories
Basic Vocabulary for Grade 9 SpanishConversational Skills for Grade 9 SpanishVerbs and Grammar for Grade 9 SpanishConversational Skills for Grade 10 SpanishVocabulary and Grammar for Grade 10 SpanishBasic Vocabulary for Grade 11 SpanishConversational Skills for Grade 11 SpanishConversational Skills for Grade 12 SpanishSpanish Culture for Grade 12 SpanishLanguage Skills for Grade 12 AP SpanishBasic Vocabulary in SpanishIntroduction to Spanish GrammarBasic Conversations in SpanishEnhanced Vocabulary in SpanishIntermediate Spanish GrammarIntermediate Conversations in SpanishAdvanced Vocabulary in SpanishAdvanced Spanish GrammarSpanish Literature AnalysisBasic Vocabulary in FrenchIntroduction to French GrammarBasic Conversations in FrenchEnhanced Vocabulary in FrenchIntermediate French GrammarIntermediate Conversations in FrenchAdvanced Vocabulary in FrenchAdvanced French GrammarFrench Literature AnalysisBasic Vocabulary in Mandarin ChineseIntroduction to Mandarin GrammarBasic Conversations in MandarinEnhanced Vocabulary in Mandarin ChineseIntermediate Mandarin GrammarIntermediate Conversations in MandarinAdvanced Vocabulary in Mandarin ChineseAdvanced Mandarin GrammarMandarin Literature AnalysisBasic Vocabulary in GermanIntroduction to German GrammarBasic Conversations in GermanEnhanced Vocabulary in GermanIntermediate German GrammarIntermediate Conversations in GermanAdvanced Vocabulary in GermanAdvanced German GrammarGerman Literature AnalysisBasic Vocabulary in ItalianIntroduction to Italian GrammarBasic Conversations in ItalianEnhanced Vocabulary in ItalianIntermediate Italian GrammarIntermediate Conversations in ItalianAdvanced Vocabulary in ItalianAdvanced Italian GrammarItalian Literature AnalysisBasic Vocabulary in JapaneseIntroduction to Japanese GrammarBasic Conversations in JapaneseEnhanced Vocabulary in JapaneseIntermediate Japanese GrammarIntermediate Conversations in JapaneseAdvanced Vocabulary in JapaneseAdvanced Japanese GrammarJapanese Literature AnalysisBasic Vocabulary in RussianIntroduction to Russian GrammarBasic Conversations in RussianEnhanced Vocabulary in RussianIntermediate Russian GrammarIntermediate Conversations in RussianAdvanced Vocabulary in RussianAdvanced Russian GrammarRussian Literature Analysis
Click HERE to see similar posts for other categories

When Should You Use 〜ことにする to Express Your Intentions?

When you start learning Japanese grammar, one important phrase to know is 〜ことにする (koto ni suru).

This phrase means you are telling someone about your decisions or plans. It helps you explain what you have decided to do. Using it correctly is really important to make your intentions clear.

How to Use 〜ことにする

Let's break down how to use it. The pattern you follow is simple: [verb in plain form] + ことにする.

Make sure to use the verb in its basic form.

For example, if you want to say “I’ve decided to go,” you say 行くことにする (iku koto ni suru). This shows you have made a clear decision to go somewhere.

When to Use 〜ことにする

Here are some common situations where you can use this phrase:

1. Making Personal Decisions

The main way to use 〜ことにする is to talk about personal choices or intentions. It shows you have thought about a choice and made a decision.

For example:

  • 毎日ジョギングをすることにする。
    (Mainichi jogingu wo suru koto ni suru.)
    “I’ve decided to jog every day.”

In this sentence, it shows the speaker is committed to jogging every day. This is not just a passing thought; they are serious about it.

2. Telling Others About Your Decision

You can also use this phrase to let others know your decisions. You might use it when sharing your plans.

For instance:

  • 旅行に行くことにしました。
    (Ryokou ni iku koto ni shimashita.)
    “I have decided to go on a trip.”

This tells others that you have thought about this trip and are serious about it.

3. Decisions Based on Reasons

You can use 〜ことにする when your choice is influenced by certain reasons.

For example:

  • 健康のため、野菜をもっと食べることにする。
    (Kenkou no tame, yasai wo motto taberu koto ni suru.)
    “For my health, I’ve decided to eat more vegetables.”

Here, the speaker is clearly showing that their decision is based on wanting to be healthier. It shows they have thought carefully about this choice.

4. Comparing Different Choices

You can use 〜ことにする to compare different options.

For example:

  • パーティーに行くことにしたが、友達とカラオケに行くことにする。
    (Paatii ni iku koto ni shita ga, tomodachi to karaoke ni iku koto ni suru.)
    “I decided to go to the party, but I’ve decided to go to karaoke with my friends.”

This shows that the speaker had another option but chose karaoke instead.

5. Talking About Future Plans

While 〜ことにする is often used for current choices, you can also use it for future intentions.

For example:

  • 来年日本へ行くことにする。
    (Rainen Nihon e iku koto ni suru.)
    “I’ve decided to go to Japan next year.”

This shows you not only intend to go to Japan but have also started planning for it.

Using 〜ことにする Well

To use 〜ことにする effectively, remember that it shows you are determined in your choices. Whether you're talking about personal goals, sharing your plans, or explaining your reasons, it helps you communicate clearly in Japanese.

Practice Time!

To get better at using 〜ことにする, try making your own sentences based on the examples we've talked about:

  1. Write a sentence about a personal goal for the month.
  2. Share a decision you've made with a friend, in Japanese.
  3. Think of a decision you made recently and explain the reason using this phrase.

Practicing these will help you understand 〜ことにする better and make it easier to share your intentions in Japanese. Enjoy learning this interesting part of the language!

Related articles