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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    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

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.
  • 久(ひさ)しぶりに押入(おしい)れの掃除(そうじ)をした。すると、無(な)くしたと思(おも)っていた服(ふく)が出(で)てきた。
    I cleaned my closet for the first time in a long time. Upon that, I found clothes that I thought I had lost.
  • お祖母(ばああ)ちゃんが川(かわ)で洗濯(せんたく)をしていた。すると、川(かわ)の向(む)こうから桃(もも)が流(なが)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.
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

  • 従弟(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?'

  • ハロウィンで魔女(まじょ)の格好(かっこう)をした。すると、とてもかわいいと言(い)ってもらえてうれしかった。

    I dressed up as a witch for halloween. And then, people told me I was very cute which made me happy.

  • 昨日(きのう)夢(ゆめ)を見(み)はじめた。すると、弟(おとうと)に起(お)こされた。

    I was starting to dream yesterday. And then I was woken up by my brother.

  • 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.

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