につれて

The grammar pattern につれて expresses the idea that as one thing changes, another thing changes along with it. It describes two correlated, gradual changes happening in parallel – as X progresses, Y naturally follows. It translates to "as," "along with," or "in proportion to" in English.

Basic Usage

Attach につれて to a verb in plain (dictionary) form or a noun that implies change or progression.

With Nouns

When used with a noun, the noun typically expresses something that naturally changes or progresses over time, such as せいちょう成長 (growth), じかん時間 (time), or じんこうぞうか人口増加 (population increase).

Important Nuances

• Both the first and second clauses must describe a change. You cannot use につれて when only one side changes. For example, a sentence like ×「春につれて、 桜が咲く」is unnatural because はる春 (spring) is not a change itself.
• The changes described are typically gradual and continuous, not sudden or one-time events.
• につれて emphasizes a natural, proportional relationship between the two changes.

Related Patterns

• にしたがって: Very similar in meaning ("as / in accordance with"), but can also be used for following rules or instructions, which につれて cannot.
• とともに: Also means "along with," but can express simultaneous actions as well as correlated changes.
• につれ: A slightly more formal or literary variant of につれて with the same meaning.