Hired to work for the summer with 〜ことになる
Grammar Explanation: To end up being with 〜ことになる
Rinko (Yamato) interviews for a summer job at her favorite cake shop. Following the interview, she is hired and is set to start work the next day. She’s excited at all the new techniques she’ll learn that she’ll use to make various sweets for her boyfriend, Takeo.
- 凛子:
- 「それがいちばん楽しみかも」
- “I think that's what I'm most looking forward to.”
- 猛男:
- 「大和うれしそうだな」
- “Yamato looks happy.”
- 「ずっと好きだったケーキ屋で働けることになってよかった」
- “I'm glad it worked out that she can work at the cake shop she's always loved.”
- Literal: “I'm glad it has become the thing that she can work at the cake shop she has always liked.”
Key Points
1ことになって = “it’s been decided/arranged that…” (て-form)
- ことになる says that something has been decided or has come about. Here the shop decided to hire her.
- It often suggests the decision was made through external circumstances (like getting hired), not purely personal choice.
- ことになって is the て-form, used here to connect to よかった (“I’m glad”).
2Potential form
- The potential form 働ける (“able to work”) emphasizes the opportunity to work there (she can/is able to work there).
3Why て-form here
- The て-form ことになって connects the clause to よかった.
- This creates a single thought: “Because it turned out this way, I’m glad.”
See Also
- Grammar: To end up being with 〜ことになる
- Future entry: Past tense with 〜た・〜だ
- Grammar: Connecting actions with 〜て・〜で
- Grammar: Might with 〜かもしれない
- Grammar: Able to do with 〜れる・〜られる
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