Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 8: 4/22

(とも)

Together with, At the same time, As well as

Structure

Verb + (とも)
[い]Adjective + (とも)
[な]Adjective + である + (とも)
Noun + (とも)

Details

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About と共に

(とも) is a noun in Japanese that is frequently used as a either a prefix, or a suffix. In the case of (とも), it is used in conjunction with the case marking particle と as an adverb. (とも) expresses that (A) will happen 'together with (B)', or 'at the same time as (B)'.
(とも) may be used after verbs, い-Adjectives, な-Adjectives or nouns. With な-Adjectives, it will sometimes be preceded by である.
  • (かぜ)(つよ)くなる(とも)(あめ)()てきます
    As the wind gets strong, it will start to rain.
  • あの先生(せんせい)(きび)しい(きび)しい(とも)(やさ)しい。
    That teacher is strict, but as strict as he is, he is also very kind.
  • (ぼく)()でいる場所(ばしょ)(しず)である(とも)空気(くうき)綺麗(きれい)
    The place I live is very quiet, together with the air being clean.
  • (わたし)(とも)人生(じんせい)(あゆ)んでくれませんか
    Would you please walk together with me forever. ((あゆ)む is a poetic way of saying 'to walk' that often means 'to travel a passage')
Fun Fact
(とも) is a structure that is used when two things are 'existing' in the same way. This means that it may be used to show mutual actions, or that it may be used to show mutual qualities (states of existence). Because of this nuance 'to be mutually (A)' is one of the closest literal translations of (とも). (A) may be an action, an adjective, or even a noun!
  • (とし)()(とも)身体(からだ)どんどん(かた)くなってきた
    As I get older, I am starting to get less flexible.
  • この(いけ)綺麗(きれい)である(とも)危険(きけん)である
    This lake is beautiful and dangerous at the same time.

Examples

  • (わたし)(とも)論文(ろんぶん)発表(はっぴょう)をしてくれませんか。

    Would you mind presenting the paper with me?

  • 息子(むすこ)日本(にほん)()んでいるので、(さび)しい(とも)(ほこ)りもあります

    Since my son lives in Japan, I feel sad but also proud.

  • (とし)()(とも)(からだ)(うご)きにくくなる一方(いっぽう)だ。

    As we grow older, it becomes more and more difficult to move our bodies. (Along with)

  • そのシリーズ(ぽん)怪奇(かいき)ある(とも)(おそ)ろしいと(かんが)えられている。

    This book series is considered mysterious, as well as terrifying.

  • 夜明(よあ)(とも)旅立(たびだ)った。

    (I) departed with the break of dawn.

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と共に – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (13 in total)

  • ulurujamman

    ulurujamman

    About 2 years ago

    Came here to query the same sentence. The point about 心身ともに being a set phrase is very interesting, but I’m still none the wiser as to whether the translation to the original sentence is strictly correct (or whether the original sentence would read awkwardly to a native japanese speaker).

  • narfi

    narfi

    About 2 years ago

    The 日本語の森 video shows examples where と共に can be replaced with と一緒に and where it cannot. Now, there have been multiple questions on this topic in this thread. I have also used 一緒 に several times in my answers to this grammar point and always gotten ✗. Of course, I >think< I am always using in the right contact where these are interchangable but I don’t really know without consulting a native speaker.

    May I be as bold as to suggest that you catch it when the user enters と一緒に and use it as a teaching opportunity. You can give the appropriate feedback:

    a) good job, this fits here but we are looking for something that can also mean “at the same time, as well as”
    b) sorry, this doesn’t fit because it means “together with”. Think of “at the same time, as well as”

    This might help reinforce the overlap and difference between the two phrases.

  • Daru

    Daru

    About 1 year ago

    I’ve taken your suggestion to the content team. I agree its a good idea!

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