How to tell them apart
につれて describes one change happening in proportion to another change, so both sides must be verbs of change (成長するにつれて…離れていく). と共に is broader: it can mean two things share a property or happen together, not necessarily changing in proportion (建設的であると共に革命的). Swapping them is unnatural when there is no proportional change, since につれて requires a dynamic shift on both sides.
- につれて/つれ Use につれて when one change scales with another simultaneous change.
- と共に Use と共に when two things share a quality or happen together, not necessarily changing.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| につれて/つれ nitsurete tsure | As something changes; along with it | N3 |
| と共に to ni | in company with someone or something; at the same time as; in the course of | N3 |
につれて/つれ nitsurete tsure
As something changes; along with it
につれて and its shorter form つれ express that as one situation gradually changes, another change happens in parallel with it. It follows the dictionary form of a verb, as in 年をとるにつれて, and directly follows a noun, as in 時代につれて. Both the first and second parts must describe ongoing or gradual change, so it is not used for a single one time action or decision.
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夜が更けるにつれて寒くなった。
It became colder as the night wore on.
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冬が近づくにつれて日が短くなる。
The days grow shorter as winter approaches.
と共に to ni
in company with someone or something; at the same time as; in the course of
と共に expresses doing something together with a person or thing, or that one change happens at the same time as another, as in 年とともに. It attaches to a noun as N + と共に, and to a verb in dictionary form as V-辞書形 + と共に. It is formal and common in writing, so in casual speech と一緒に is more natural and と共に sounds stiff in direct commands.
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彼は私とともに喜んでくれた。
He shared in my happiness.
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あなたと共に人生を歩んでいきたい。
I want to spend my life with you.
につれて/つれ and と共に are both JLPT N3 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side on meanings, usage and example sentences, so you can tell them apart.