JapaneseJLPT
JLPT N3 grammar · Chapter 8

～にしたがって・～につれて (change)

One gradual change develops along with another

You’ll be able to connect two gradual developments that change together and distinguish this use of にしたがって from following an instruction.

Illustration of the scene described by As we climbed the mountain road, the air gradually became cool.
Read it first

山道やまみちを登のぼるにしたがって、だんだん空気くうきが涼すずしくなりました。

yamamichi o noboru ni shitagatte, dandan kuuki ga suzushiku narimashita.

What do you think this sentence means?

As we climbed the mountain road, the air gradually became cool.

Why it means that

Two changes develop together

～にしたがって and ～につれて mean “as” or “with.” They show that one gradual change develops along with another.

Examples

暗くらくなるにつれて、気温きおんが下さがってきました。

kuraku naru ni tsurete, kion ga sagatte kimashita.

As it got dark, the temperature dropped.

子こどもが大おおきくなるにつれて、家いえを狭せまく感かんじるようになりました。

kodomo ga ookiku naru ni tsurete, ie o semaku kanjiru you ni narimashita.

As the children grew, the house started to feel small.

How it is built

Put the first changing condition first

Use dictionary-form verb or noun + にしたがって／につれて, followed by a second change. This use describes linked developments, not obeying a rule.

dictionary-form verb / noun+にしたがって／につれて+gradual change
Example

年としを取とるにつれて、体力たいりょくが落おちてきた。

toshi o toru ni tsurete, tairyoku ga ochite kita.

As I have gotten older, my physical strength has declined.

Compare

にしたがって (following) vs にしたがって (change)

After a rule or instruction, にしたがって means you follow it. After something that changes, it means a second change comes along with the first.

  • rule / instruction + にしたがって, following

    ルールにしたがって、ゲームを進すすめました。

    ruuru ni shitagatte, geemu o susumemashita.

    We played the game following the rules.

    The rules are something we obeyed.

  • change + にしたがって, as … changes

    ゲームが進すすむにしたがって、ルールがわかってきました。

    geemu ga susumu ni shitagatte, ruuru ga wakatte kimashita.

    As the game went on, I came to understand the rules.

    Two changes develop together.

Examples

台風たいふうが近ちかづくにつれて、風かぜがだんだん強つよくなってきた。

taifuu ga chikazuku ni tsurete, kaze ga dandan tsuyoku natte kita.

As the typhoon approached, the wind gradually grew stronger.

駅えきから離はなれるにしたがって、家賃やちんが安やすくなる。

eki kara hanareru ni shitagatte, yachin ga yasuku naru.

The farther you get from the station, the cheaper the rent becomes.

練習れんしゅうを重かさねるにつれて、ピアノを弾ひくのが楽たのしくなってきた。

renshuu o kasaneru ni tsurete, piano o hiku no ga tanoshiku natte kita.

As I kept practicing, playing the piano became more and more fun.

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