に伴って

Accompanying

Level 3Sounds Like nitomonatsute

に伴って（にともなって） is a formal expression used to describe two things changing together or occurring in tandem. It indicates that as one event or change happens, another associated change or event occurs alongside it.

How It Works

に伴って is primarily used in formal writing, news, and business contexts. It functions as a formal version of 'along with', 'as', 'due to', 'following', or 'as a result of'.

Key Characteristics:

  • Associated Change & Cause: It describes how one event or change is associated with another. This can mean they happen in tandem, but it frequently expresses a direct cause-and-effect relationship where the first event triggers the second (e.g., 地震（じしん）に伴って津波（つなみ）が発生（はっせい）した - A tsunami occurred due to the earthquake).
  • Versatility in Change: It can describe multi-directional, cyclical, or non-directional changes (e.g., 'As the economy fluctuates...'), as well as momentary events. This makes it broader than patterns like につれて that only allow one-directional change.
  • Second Clause Requirement & Volition: When used to mean 'As A changes, B changes', the second clause must also contain an expression of change. However, when describing momentary events or announcements, the second clause can include actions, events, or even expressions of the speaker's volition, intention, or requests (e.g., 事業拡大（じぎょうかくだい）に伴い、新しいスタッフを募集（ぼしゅう）します - Following the business expansion, we are hiring new staff). This is a key difference from につれて, which does not allow volitional expressions.
  • Formality: It is rarely used in casual conversation. While とともに is a related pattern, it is also considered formal. For casual daily life, speakers use simple conditionals like 〜と or 〜たら.

Grammar Structures:
1. Noun + に伴って: Directly attaches to nouns expressing changes or events. This includes verbal nouns (e.g., 増加（ぞうか）, 変化（へんか）), momentary events (e.g., 工事（こうじ）, 卒業（そつぎょう）), and natural phenomena (e.g., 地震（じしん）). In highly formal contexts, using a Sino-Japanese noun is often preferred over using a verb.
2. Verb (Dictionary Form) + に伴って / のに伴って: Both attaching directly to the dictionary form and adding the nominalizer の (Verb + のに伴って) are widely accepted and standard.
3. に伴う (Attributive): Used when the pattern modifies a noun directly (e.g., 'The risks accompanying surgery').
4. に伴い (Conjunctive): A very formal variant using the written continuative form to link two clauses in written reports.

Examples (4)

  1. 時代の変化に伴って、人々の考え方も変わってきた。

    As the times have changed, people's ways of thinking have also changed.

    Word by Word: Era's change accompanying, people's way of thinking also changed.

    This shows a gradual, proportional change where the shift in society occurs alongside a shift in mindset.

  2. 新校舎の建設に伴い、グラウンドの使用が禁止される。

    Consequent upon the construction of the new school building, use of the grounds will be prohibited.

    Word by Word: New school building's construction accompanying, ground's use (subject) prohibited is.

    Here, に伴い（にともない） (the conjunctive form) is used for a specific, one-time event in a formal announcement.

  3. 円高に伴って、輸出産業は大きな打撃を受けた。

    Along with the rise of the yen, the export industry took a major hit.

    Word by Word: Yen-high accompanying, export industry (topic) big blow received.

    This demonstrates an associated relationship where the economic change (stronger yen) occurs alongside a negative impact on the export industry.

  4. 手術に伴うリスクについて説明を受けた。

    I received an explanation regarding the risks accompanying the surgery.

    Word by Word: Surgery accompanying risks about explanation (object) received.

    This uses the attributive form に伴う（にともなう） to modify the noun リスク.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the past tense before the pattern.

    人口が増加したに伴って、ゴミが増えた。
    人口の増加に伴って、ゴミが増えた。

    Even if the result happened in the past, the part before に伴って should be a noun or a verb in the dictionary form. You cannot use the past tense した here.

  • Using it for simple personal reasons.

    お腹が空いたに伴って、ラーメンを食べた。
    お腹が空いたので、ラーメンを食べた。

    に伴って is for phenomena or events occurring together, usually on a larger or more formal scale. It is not a substitute for から or ので in everyday personal reasons.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

に伴ってLevel 3Accompanying

Learn This First

に伴って (ni tomonatte) is used to express that as one thing changes, another thing changes along with it. To understand this, you need to be familiar with the te-form of verbs, the use of the particle に to indicate a relationship, and the general concept of expressing gradual change in Japanese.

Words in This Pattern

に伴って伴う