すると

すると is a conjunction that connects two clauses, indicating that the second event occurs naturally, unexpectedly, or as a direct consequence of the first. It translates to "and then," "thereupon," or "if so." It is placed at the beginning of the second sentence or clause.

Sequential / Consequential: "and then"

The most common use of すると is in narrative contexts, where one action is followed by an event that occurs naturally or unexpectedly. The second clause typically describes something the speaker observed or discovered – not something they intentionally did.

This is a key difference from そして ("and then") and それから ("after that"), which can be followed by intentional actions. With すると, the second event is typically beyond the speaker's control – a surprise, a discovery, or a natural result.

Conversational: "if so" / "in that case"

すると can also be used in conversation to draw a conclusion or confirm an implication based on what was just said. In this usage, it functions similarly to "so then" or "in that case."

Common mistake

Because すると implies that the second event happens naturally or unexpectedly, avoid using it when the speaker deliberately performs the second action. For intentional follow-up actions, use そして or それから instead.

✗ 家に帰った。すると、テレビを見た。(Unnatural – watching TV is intentional.) ✓ 家に帰った。それから、テレビを見た。