〜とともに: 'Together With' / 'As ... Also'
The three links it makes
〜とともに is a connector, and the thread running through everything it joins is two things sharing the same moment or situation. That single idea splits into three links: a companion doing something alongside you, a change moving in step with another change, or two roles held at once.
ヤッタンは家族とともに新年を迎えた。
ヤッタンは かぞくと ともに しんねんを むかえた。
Yattan welcomed the New Year together with his family.
Sense 1: 'together with' a person.
時代とともに、人々の価値観も変わっていく。
じだいと ともに、ひとびとの かちかんも かわって いく。
Along with the times, people's values change too.
Sense 2: a change moving in step with another.
先生は研究者であるとともに、優れた教育者でもある。
せんせいは けんきゅうしゃで あると ともに、すぐれた きょういくしゃでも ある。
The teacher is a researcher and, at the same time, an excellent educator.
Sense 3: 'both A and B.'
Formal on the page, 〜と一緒に in speech
The companion link — sense 1 — is the closest to plain English "with," marking a partner in an action:
モチは仲間とともに新しい店を始めた。
モチは なかまと ともに あたらしい みせを はじめた。
Mochi started a new shop together with his friends.
Here とともに is interchangeable with と一緒に in meaning, but it sounds more written or ceremonial — you'd see it in a speech or a news article, not a casual chat. That register split matters: for everyday conversation, reach for 〜と一緒に (友だちと一緒に行く), and note that と共に can be written in kanji (と共に) or kana (とともに) — both are common, with the kanji looking slightly more formal.
What it attaches to — and what has to follow
とともに attaches to a noun or to a verb in dictionary form. For the "both A and B" link it follows a clause ending in である / a plain form:
| Attaches to | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | N + とともに | 家族とともに (together with family) |
| Noun (change) | N + とともに | 年とともに (along with age) |
| Verb (dictionary) | V(る) + とともに | 年を取るとともに (as one ages) |
| Clause (である) | Nである + とともに | 親であるとともに (while also being a parent) |
The catch is on the other side of the connector. For the "as ... also" link, the main clause must contain a change verb — 変わる, 増える, 減る, 落ちる, 成長する — something that moves. Without one, the sense collapses.
Seeing it in action
This change-in-step link is the sense N3 learners most need to nail: as one thing changes, another changes along with it.
年を取るとともに、体力が落ちてきた。
としを とると ともに、たいりょくが おちて きた。
As I've gotten older, my stamina has declined.
Verb 年を取る + とともに; main clause has a change verb 落ちる.
弟は成長するとともに、口数が減っていった。
おとうとは せいちょうすると ともに、くちかずが へって いった。
As my little brother grew up, he became less talkative.
For the "both A and B" link, the first part typically ends in である (for nouns/な-adjectives) or a plain form, presenting two qualities or roles held at once:
彼は会社の責任者であるとともに、一人の親でもある。
かれは かいしゃの せきにんしゃで あると ともに、ひとりの おやでも ある。
He is the person in charge at the company, as well as being a parent.
である + とともに = 'both A and B.'
This link overlaps with 〜一方（で）, but とともに stresses that both are simultaneously true rather than contrasting them.
Watch-outs
- Treating と共に as casual. と共に / とともに is formal and written. For everyday speech, use 〜と一緒に: 友だちと一緒に行く, not 友だちとともに行く in a chat.
- The change link without a change verb. The "as ... also" meaning needs a verb of change in the main clause. 時代とともに好きだ is wrong; you need something like 時代とともに変わる.
- Using を with the verb form. It's V(dictionary) + とともに (年を取るとともに), never 年を取ることをともに.
- Confusing the companion and change links. With a person it means "together with"; with a noun/verb of change it means "along with the change." 家族とともに = with family (sense 1); 成長とともに = along with growth (sense 2).
The short version
- とともに (と共に) = "together with," "along with a change," or "both A and B."
- Attaches to a noun or a dictionary-form verb (the "both A and B" link often after である).
- Formal/written; casual equivalent is と一緒に.
- The "as ... also" link needs a change verb in the main clause.
Practice it
Choose the correct use of とともに across its three senses.
＿＿＿に入れるのに最もよいものを選びなさい。
フォース＿＿＿あれ
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between とともに and と一緒に?
They can both mean 'together with,' but とともに (と共に) is formal and written, used in speeches, news, and essays. と一緒に is the everyday spoken form. For 'as one thing changes, another changes,' use とともに — と一緒に does not carry that meaning.
Does とともに attach to verbs?
Yes — use the dictionary form: 年を取るとともに ('as one ages'). For the 'both A and B' sense it follows である or a plain form: 親であるとともに.
When do I need a change verb with とともに?
In sense 2 ('as A, B also changes'), the main clause must contain a verb of change such as 変わる, 増える, 減る, or 落ちる: 時代とともに価値観が変わる.
Is 共 written in kanji or kana?
Both と共に and とともに are correct and common. The kanji form looks slightly more formal, but they read and mean the same thing.
Where 〜とともに fits
Shaky on this? Get these solid first
- と · N5 — The particle と joins nouns into a complete list ('A and B'), means 'with' someone, and pairs with 同じ/違う for comparisons. Learn how と differs from や.
Don't confuse it with
- 〜一方だ · N3 — 〜一方だ marks a one-way, ongoing change that keeps intensifying — 物価は上がる一方だ ('prices keep rising'). Learn the form, the change-verb rule, and how it differs from 一方で.
More N3 grammar to explore
Keep going with related patterns at the same level:
- 〜とは限らない — 〜とは限らない means 'not necessarily' — it partially negates a general assumption. Learn the formation, the 必ずしも pairing, noun/な-adjective attachment, and how it differs from わけではない.
- 〜といっても — 〜といっても means 'although I say X, (actually it's less than you'd think).' Learn how it downscales the impression the first clause gives, its formation, and common mistakes.
- 〜というのは — 〜というのは defines a term ('X means…') or introduces an explanation/reason (often with 〜からだ). Learn both senses, the casual って variant, and how it differs from という and ということ.
- 〜というより — 〜というより(も) corrects one description to a more fitting one: 趣味というより仕事だ ('it's more like work than a hobby'). Learn the formation, the nuance, and how it differs from plain より.
- 〜際に — 〜際に (さいに) is a formal 'when': verb + 際に or noun + の際に = on the occasion of / at the time of. Learn the formation, the register, and how it differs from とき and 場合.
- 〜とおり / 〜どおり — 〜とおり(に) and 〜どおり mean 'exactly as / in accordance with.' Learn verb + とおり, noun + のとおり, the voiced suffix どおり (予定どおり), and the dict-vs-た choice.