～とともに

How to form it

• Noun + とともに
• Verb (dictionary form) + とともに

Register: Neutral to formal

Explanation

Has three uses: doing something together with someone, two things happening at the same time, and two changes that go together.

With people it is a more formal 'with'. With change verbs it is close to につれて.

Examples

1. 年を取るとともに、体力が落ちてきた。

   としをとるとともに、たいりょくがおちてきた。

   As I got older, my stamina declined.

2. 彼は家族とともに、日本に移住した。

   かれはかぞくとともに、にほんにいじゅうした。

   He moved to Japan together with his family.

3. 経済の発展とともに、環境問題が深刻になった。

   けいざいのはってんとともに、かんきょうもんだいがしんこくになった。

   Along with economic growth, environmental problems became serious.

Compare with

• ～に伴って: に伴って is only for change; とともに also means 'together with'.
• ～と同時に: と同時に stresses the same moment or two roles; とともに can mean 'together' or 'in step with'.

Common mistakes

• Using it for people who are not actually doing it together.