ことに | Grammar

Structure

[i-adj] + ことに [na-adj] + な + ことに [verb た-form] + ことに

Description

ことに opens a sentence with the speaker's feeling about what comes next: "to my surprise", "unfortunately", "happily". It follows an い-adjective, a な-adjective with な, or the た-form of a verb of feeling, and the fact that caused the feeling follows the comma.

、。

To my joy, I passed the exam.

、。

Unfortunately, I hear it will rain tomorrow.

、。

To my surprise, he can already speak Japanese.

、。

Annoyingly, I lost my passport.

The feeling is the speaker's own, about something that has happened or is a fact. The second half reports; it does not ask, invite or decide: ×嬉しいことに、一緒に行きましょう.

The verb takes the た-form: おどろいたことに驚いたことに, not ×驚くことに. Other words that take ことに this way include さいわい幸いなことに, ふしぎ不思議なことに, おもしろい面白いことに and ありがたいことに.

Register

ことに belongs to writing, speeches and careful storytelling. In conversation, the feeling usually comes as a separate remark, or with an adverb such as ざんねん残念ながら.

、。

Unfortunately, the concert was cancelled.

Examples

、。

To my delight, the project was completed successfully.

、。

To my surprise, she had been doing everything by herself.

、。

Unfortunately, the concert was cancelled.

、。

Annoyingly, I lost my passport.

、。

Fortunately, there were no injuries.

、。

Sadly, that shop has closed down.

、。

Interestingly, I heard the two of them were born on the same day.

、。

Strangely, a cat had somehow gotten into the room.

、。

Thankfully, many people helped me.

、。

To my embarrassment, I got the teacher's name wrong.

、。

Frustratingly, nobody apologized.

、。

To my joy, my salary will go up starting next month.

References

ことにBunpro