Japanese by Example
Learning through examples in manga

To end up being with 〜ことになる

Appending ことになる to a clause gives the meaning that the clause came to be. The focus is on the result that came to be.

While this grammar is stating that a situation came to be, when the clause ends in a verb it’s often translated in English as a “decision” having been made.

If the speaker alone is the one deciding to do the action of the clause, 〜ことにする is used.

Further reading

Examples

名探偵コナン » Volume 18 » Page 96
レンタルおにいちゃん » Volume 3 » Page 120
それでも歩は寄せてくる » Volume 2 » Page 134
三ツ星カラーズ » Volume 1 » Page 8