Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 8: 15/23

一方(いっぽう)だ

More and more, Continue to, Keep on, -er and -er

The verb must express change (e.g. 増える、下がる、or verbs ending with …なる、…てくる、…ていく etc.)

Structure

Verb + 一方(いっぽう)だ
Verb + 一方(いっぽう)で + Phrase

Details

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    Formal

  • 使用域

    硬い

About 一方だ

一方(いっぽう) is a noun that is often seen after verbs, in order to convey the meaning of 'more and more (A)', 'continuing to (A)', or 'getting (A)er and (A)er'.
一方(いっぽう) will be paired with the auxiliary verb だ (at the end of sentences), or で, だ's conjunctive form when it will be followed by some sort of explanation.
  • アメリカとロシアの関係(かんけい)は悪化(あっか)する一方(いっぽう)だ。
    The relationship between the US and Russia keeps on getting worse.
  • 仕事(しごと)の量(りょう)が増(ふ)える一方(いっぽう)で、休(やす)みが取(と)れない。
    Because the amount of work keeps on increasing, I can't take a day off.
As the literal meaning of 一方(いっぽう) is 'single direction', it may be used with things that are increasing, decreasing, intensifying, or weakening, so long as the shift is all in a single direction.
Caution
一方(いっぽう) may only be used with verbs that express some kind of change, as 一方(いっぽう) itself does not express change, just a continuing direction.
  • 高齢化(こうれいか)が進(すす)んで、人口(じんこう)が減(へ)る一方(いっぽう)だ。 (Natural)
    Because of the aging society, the population continues to decline.
  • 子供(こども)が怪我(けが)をして泣(な)く一方(いっぽう)だ。 (Unnatural)
    The child cries in one direction because he got injured.

Examples

  • 上昇(じょうしょう)し続(つづ)ける物価(ぶっか)のせいで生活(せいかつ)は苦(くる)しくなる一方(いっぽう)だ。

    Due to the continuous growth of prices, life keeps on getting harder and harder.

  • 残念(ざんねん)ながらこんな事件(じけん)が増(ふ)える一方(いっぽう)だ。

    Unfortunately, there are more and more cases like these.

  • 皆(みんな)が何(なに)もしようとしないから、地球(ちきゅう)温暖化(おんだんか)が悪(わる)くなる一方(いっぽう)だ。

    Because no one is doing anything about it, global warming is continuing to get worse.

  • このままだと借金(しゃっきん)が増(ふ)える一方(いっぽう)だ。

    If I keep going on like this, my debts will continue to increase.

  • 景気(けいき)は悪(わる)くなる一方(いっぽう)だから、ボーナスは出(で)ないかもしれないですよ。

    We might not get a bonus because the market keeps getting worse and worse.

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一方だ – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (4 in total)

  • mrnoone

    mrnoone

    Hey, long time no see

    Generally 一方だ and ばかりだ are exchangeable at all times when describing some kind of change (often with negative nuance).

    If you are getting then “Could you say it another way?” notification, and another chance to type the answer then answer is considered proper but is not allowed since its using different grammar point.

  • lantana

    lantana

    Thanks for your answer. Unfortunately I am just getting them marked wrong instead of the “Could you say it another way?” notification.

  • mrnoone

    mrnoone

    Hey

    We have fixed it, so ばかり should be working from now on

    Thanks a lot for pointing this error, and sorry for causing the inconvenience

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