〜につれて — JLPT N2 Grammar

Learn how to use 〜につれて (ni tsurete) to express parallel change — 'as ~ happens, ~ also changes.' Includes structure, nuance, examples, and comparisons.

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Pattern

V-dictionary form + につれて Noun + につれて 〜につれ (formal/written abbreviation)

The verb or noun before につれて describes a gradual change or progression. The main clause describes a corresponding change that occurs in parallel.

Formality

Standard to Formal. につれて is used in both formal writing and conversation, though it sounds slightly literary. It is commonly found in essays, journalism, and formal speech. In very casual registers, 〜にしたがって or 〜ていくと are sometimes preferred, though につれて is well within conversational use.

Meaning

As ~; as ~ progresses, ~ correspondingly changes

〜につれて expresses a parallel change relationship: as X changes or progresses, Y also changes in a corresponding way. Both X (the condition in front of につれて) and Y (the result in the main clause) change together, proportionally.

Explanation

につれて comes from に + 連れて (つれて, te-form of 連れる, "to accompany; to bring along"). The literal image is of one change "accompanying" another — as one thing moves forward, it brings the other along with it. This gives the pattern a sense of two things moving in tandem.

The key constraint of につれて is that both the condition and the result must involve gradual, ongoing change. You cannot use につれて to describe a sudden or one-time event. The changes are typically scalar — they increase, decrease, improve, worsen, deepen, or fade over time. Common condition words used before につれて include: 年を取る (to age), 時間が経つ (as time passes), 技術が進む (as technology advances), 経験が増える (as experience grows).

The result clause must also describe a change — it cannot describe a fixed state. 春になるにつれて、花が咲く (as spring comes, the flowers bloom) is natural because blooming is a process. But につれて cannot connect two fixed states.

につれ (dropping て) is the written abbreviation, found in formal essays and journalistic writing.

Example Sentences

  1. 年を取るにつれて、体力が落ちていく。 Toshi wo toru ni tsurete, tairyoku ga ochite iku. As one ages, physical strength gradually declines.

  2. 日本語の勉強が進むにつれて、難しさも増してきた。 Nihongo no benkyou ga susumu ni tsurete, muzukashisa mo mashite kita. As my Japanese study progressed, the difficulty also increased.

  3. 技術が進歩するにつれ、新しい問題も生まれてきた。 Gijutsu ga shinpo suru ni tsure, atarashii mondai mo umarete kita. As technology advances, new problems have also emerged.

  4. 経済が成長するにつれて、生活水準も向上した。 Keizai ga seichou suru ni tsurete, seikatsu-suijun mo koujou shita. As the economy grew, living standards also improved.

  5. 春が近づくにつれて、日が長くなってきた。 Haru ga chikazuku ni tsurete, hi ga nagaku natte kita. As spring approaches, the days have been getting longer.

  6. 慣れるにつれて、仕事がだんだん楽しくなってきた。 Nareru ni tsurete, shigoto ga dandan tanoshiku natte kita. As I got used to it, work gradually became more enjoyable.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Using につれて for sudden or one-time changes. につれて requires a gradual, continuous change. It cannot describe an abrupt event or a one-time occurrence.

  • Incorrect: 地震が起きるにつれて、建物が崩れた。
  • Correct: 揺れが大きくなるにつれて、建物が崩れていった。(As the shaking became stronger, the building gradually collapsed.)

Mistake 2: Using a fixed-state result in the main clause. The result must also change — it cannot be a static state. If the result clause describes a fixed condition without change, につれて is inappropriate.

  • Awkward: 時間が経つにつれて、東京は大きい都市だ。
  • Natural: 時間が経つにつれて、東京はますます大きくなった。(As time passed, Tokyo became increasingly large.)

Compare With

Pattern Meaning Key Difference
〜につれて as ~ (parallel gradual change) Both the condition AND the result must show gradual change. Natural for scale changes.
〜にしたがって as ~, in accordance with ~ Nearly synonymous for parallel change. Also means "in accordance with (rules/instructions)." Slightly more formal.
〜とともに together with, as ~ (simultaneously) Both change simultaneously. とともに can also mean "together with [a person/group]." Slightly more formal.
〜に伴って along with, accompanying ~ Emphasizes that the change in the main clause is a natural consequence or accompaniment of the first. Often used for negative consequences.
〜ていくにつれて as [action] continues to happen The ていく adds a sense of ongoing movement into the future, slightly emphasizing the trajectory.

The につれて vs. にしたがって pair: These two are so close that native speakers and textbooks often treat them as interchangeable for parallel change. The subtle difference is that にしたがって also has a second meaning ("in accordance with orders/rules"), while につれて only expresses parallel change. On the N2 exam, both would be correct for "as time passes, X changes."