Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 1: 18/22

するとHaving done..., If...is done..., (And/just) then, Thereupon, If so

Structure

Phrase。すると + (Result) Phrase

Details

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About すると

すると, a combination of する and the conjunction particle と, is generally considered to be an abbreviation of そうすると, and means that 'once (A) is done, (B)', or 'upon (A), (B)'. すると is usually used at the beginning of a new sentence, to highlight something that occurred due to the circumstances mentioned in the previous sentence/statement.

As a standalone statement, すると is classified as a conjunction.

Caution

The 'result' that すると conveys, should always be one of two specific things. Something that the speaker has no control over, or a conclusion/determination that the speaker wants to confirm is correct (based on their understanding of the previous statement).

  • 猿(さる)にバナナをあげた。すると、猿(さる)がどんどん集(あつ)まってきた。
    I gave a banana to a monkey. Having done that, more and more monkeys started to gather around me.
  • 19歳(さい)なの？すると、大学(だいがく)1年生(ねんせい)でしょう？
    You are 19? So you mean to say that you are a freshman, right?

When すると is used to draw a conclusion about another person's statement, the translation is closer to 'so you mean to say (A)', or 'if so, then (A)'.

Examples

--:--

    口笛(くちぶえ)を吹(ふ)いた。すると、小鳥(ことり)がやって来(き)た。

    I whistled. Having done that, a small bird came.

    目(め)を閉(と)じた。すると、一瞬(いっしゅん)で眠(ねむ)ってしまった。

    I closed my eyes. And then I fell asleep immediately.

    川(かわ)に魚(さかな)を釣(つ)りに行(い)った。すると、そこで旧友(きゅうゆう)に会(あ)った。なんという偶然(ぐうぜん)？

    I went fishing on the river. And then I met an old friend there. What a coincidence!

    従兄弟(いとこ)が絵(え)を描(か)いていた。すると、弟(おとうと)も真似(まね)をして描(か)き始(はじ)めた。

    My cousin was drawing a picture. And then my younger brother, imitating him, started to draw too.

    A：「僕(ぼく)は◯◯年(ねん)生(う)まれです。」
    B：「すると、車(くるま)を運転(うんてん)できる歳(とし)ですね。」

    A: 'I was born in XX year.'
    B: 'Then, you are old enough to drive, right?'

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すると – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (1 in total)

  • Isurandil492

    Isurandil492

    The second example sentence is:

    お祖母ちゃんが川で洗濯をしていた。すると、川の向こうから桃が流れてきた。
    An old lady was washing her clothes in the river. Just then, a peach flowed down the river from a distance.

    Is this part of the story of Momotaro-san?

    (Please move this post to a more appropriate place, if this is too offtopic-y for grammar discussion.)

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