〜ともなると/ともなれば
When It Comes to
〜ともなると / 〜ともなれば is an advanced expression meaning 'When it comes to...' or 'Once someone/something reaches the stage of...' It highlights a significant threshold where expectations or situations change dramatically.
How It Works
This expression is used when the speaker wants to point out that a certain level or situation is special and carries its own set of rules, responsibilities, or characteristics.
Key Nuances:
- Threshold: It is used for 'high-level' or 'significant' nouns, including roles, positions, or statuses (e.g., 社長（しゃちょう）, プロ, 大人（おとな）), as well as specific times, seasons, or ages (e.g., 12月（じゅうにがつ）, 週末（しゅうまつ）, 30歳（さんじゅっさい）) that represent a distinct stage of change.
- Emphasis: The inclusion of the particle も adds a sense of emphasis, surprise, or admiration regarding the significance of the stage reached. Unlike the neutral conditional 〜となると (if/when it becomes...), the addition of も in 〜ともなると restricts its use exclusively to high-level, special, or extreme situations.
- Inevitability & Weight: It implies that the result is a natural consequence of reaching that stage. The second part of the sentence often describes a situation that is serious, difficult, or carries a heavy burden. It frequently collocates with the adverb さすがに (as one would expect / naturally) to emphasize this natural consequence.
- Implicit Contrast: The pattern implicitly contrasts the new, advanced stage with a previous, normal stage, highlighting that the rules have changed because a threshold was crossed.
- Tone: It is used in both formal contexts and everyday speech when the speaker wants to add dramatic emphasis.
- Grammatical Restriction: The clause following this pattern describes a natural result or state. It cannot express the speaker's direct will, desire, invitation, or command (such as 〜たい, 〜てください, or the volitional form). However, natural changes in desire (〜たくなる) and expressions of obligation or judgment (such as 〜なければならない or 〜べきだ) are allowed and common with both 〜ともなると and 〜ともなれば.
- Verb Usage: When attached to verbs, the action must represent a significant event, major undertaking, or extreme situation, rather than a mundane daily action.
- 〜ともなると vs. 〜ともなれば: These two are largely interchangeable. However, 〜ともなると (using the と conditional) often emphasizes natural results or general truths that occur once a state is reached. 〜ともなれば (using the ば conditional) leans slightly more toward hypothetical scenarios or future conditions.
Construction:
- Noun + 〜ともなると/〜ともなれば: (e.g., プロともなると)
- Verb (Dictionary Form) + 〜ともなると/〜ともなれば: (e.g., 外国へ行く（がいこくへいく）ともなると)
Examples (4)
- プロの料理人ともなると、包丁の手入れには一切妥協しない。
When it comes to being a professional chef, they do not compromise at all on the maintenance of their knives.
Word by Word: Professional chef when it becomes, knife maintenance-in at all compromise do not.
This highlights that 'professional' is a high threshold where the level of care for tools is naturally much higher than an amateur's.
- １２月ともなれば、街はすっかりクリスマスムード一色になる。
Once it becomes December, the town turns completely into a Christmas atmosphere.
Word by Word: December once it becomes, town completely Christmas mood one-color becomes.
Uses the 'time' aspect to show that reaching December naturally triggers a complete change in the town's atmosphere.
- 社長ともなると、自分の時間などほとんどなくなってしまうものだ。
Once you become a company president, you end up having almost no time for yourself.
Word by Word: President once it becomes, own time etc. almost disappear-ends-up thing is.
Uses 〜ものだ to express a general truth about the heavy responsibilities that come with a high social status.
- 海外旅行へ行くともなると、準備が大変だ。
When it comes to going on a trip abroad, the preparations are quite a task.
Word by Word: Overseas travel to go when it becomes, preparation is hard.
Shows the pattern attached to a verb phrase, emphasizing that 'going abroad' is a significant event compared to a local trip.
Common Mistakes
Using the pattern for trivial or low-level situations.
平社員ともなると、毎日コピーを取らなければならない。部長ともなると、責任も重くなる。The pattern implies a 'significant' or 'high' level. Being a low-level employee (平社員) is usually not considered a 'peak' or 'special threshold' in this context.
Ending the sentence with a personal desire or volition.
プロともなれば、新しい道具を買いたい。プロともなれば、道具の質にもこだわるべきだ。The clause following this pattern should describe a natural result, a state, or an obligation, rather than the speaker's personal 'want' (〜たい).
How It Connects
Learn This First
The pattern 〜ともなると/ともなれば is used to describe a situation where, once a certain high level or significant stage is reached, things naturally change or special conditions apply. To understand this, you need to be familiar with the conditional forms 'to' and 'ba', as well as the verb 'naru' (to become), which together form the grammatical basis for 'when it becomes X'.
- と（条件）If/when (Natural)
The pattern uses the conditional 'to' to express a natural consequence or a specific situation that triggers a change.
Level 2 - ばIf (Hypothetical)
The 'tomo nareba' variant uses the 'ba' conditional form, which is essential for understanding the hypothetical or situational nature of the expression.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- もAlso/too
The particle 「も」 provides the emphasis that this specific case is special or significant compared to others.
Level 1 - 〜だけあってAs Expected of
Similar in that it links status to a result, but 「〜だけあって」 focuses on praising someone because their quality matches their status, whereas 「〜ともなると」 focuses on the transition to that status.
Level 4 - ものだUsed To/should (General)
Often used at the end of sentences with 「〜ともなると」 to express a general truth or social expectation.
Level 3 - なければならないMust/have to
Often follows this pattern when discussing the heavy responsibilities that come with a high status.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice 〜ともなると/ともなれば in Bubblegum
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