N2#grammar#n2#causality#change

Complex Sentences Lesson 3

Master the grammar points ～につれて and ～に伴って, used to express simultaneous change and correlation between two events.

Context

Observing Change

In life, we often notice that as one thing changes, another thing shifts alongside it. For instance, as you get older, your priorities might change, or as a city develops, the cost of living might rise. In Japanese, we use specific structures to describe these parallel developments.

Imagine you are watching a city grow over the years. You might say, 'As the city develops, the traffic becomes more congested.' You are not just stating two facts; you are linking them by their simultaneous progression.

Explanation

Grammar Structure

Both ～につれて and ～に伴って (ともなって) describe a situation where one change occurs as a result of or in tandem with another change.

Verb-dictionary formNounにつれて / に伴って

These patterns indicate that as A changes, B also changes. They are used for processes that happen gradually over time. Note that both A and B must involve some sort of change or progression (e.g., 'getting warmer,' 'increasing,' 'growing').

Watch out

These patterns cannot be used for sudden, one-time events. They must describe a continuous, progressive change.

Examples

Examples in Context

See how these patterns function in natural sentences.

時代(じだい)が進む(すすむ)につれて、生活様式(せいかつようしき)も変化した(へんかした)。

As the times progressed, lifestyles also changed.

時代じだいera/times進むすすむto progress生活様式せいかつようしきlifestyle変化したへんかしたchanged

人口(じんこう)の増加(ぞうか)に伴って、ゴミ(ごみ)の問題が深刻化(しんこくか)している。

Along with the increase in population, the trash problem is becoming more serious.

人口じんこうpopulation増加ぞうかincreaseゴミごみtrash深刻化しんこくかbecoming serious

試験が近づく【につれて】、緊張が高まってきた。

Hint: Use the grammar point for 'as/in proportion to'.

As the exam approaches, my nervousness has increased.

Usage

Nuance and Register

While similar, there are subtle differences in usage.

につれて vs に伴って

につれて

Focuses on the progression of time or degree.

年をとるにつれて

に伴って

More formal; implies a direct cause-and-effect or accompanying change.

売上の増加に伴って

Which of these is more appropriate for a formal business report?

につれて
✓ に伴って

に伴って is more formal and often used in written reports or news to describe accompanying changes.

Deep dive

Deep Dive: Advanced Usage

Advanced nuances for N2 learners.

When using 'に伴って', the subject of the two clauses often remains the same, or the second clause is a direct consequence of the first. 'につれて' is slightly more flexible and focuses purely on the 'as X happens, Y happens' timeline.

Summary

Lesson Summary

Recap of the lesson.

We have covered ～につれて and ～に伴って. Use these to link two progressive changes together. Remember that 'に伴って' is generally more formal and suitable for written contexts, while 'につれて' is common in both speech and writing.

時代

じだいnoun

era/times

増加

ぞうかnoun

increase

深刻化

しんこくかnoun

becoming serious

生活様式

せいかつようしきnoun

lifestyle