とともに③

About

「と共ともに」 is a combination of the と particle, the word 「共とも」 ("together"), and the に particle.

～と共ともに is a formal/stiff way to say "with; together; as (X happens)".

～とともに has three main usages: ① "together" as in "to do something together", ② "At the same time; while X, also Y", and ③ "As X happens, so does Y". This entry concerns usage ③.

As opposed to usage ②, usage ③ deals with events of longer time scales, and actions of change.

E.g. 時間じかんが経たつとともに、痛いたみが治おさまってきた。 "My pain improved with the passage of time.

E.g. 骨ほねは年齢ねんれいとともに弱よわくなっていく。 "Bones get weaker with age."

Summary

• 

  ～と共ともに is a formal/stiff way to say "with; together; as (X happens)"

• 

  ～とともに has three main usages:

• 

  ① "Together" as in "to do something together"

• 

  ② "At the same time; while X, also Y"

• 

  ③ "As X happens, so does Y"

• 

  Usage ③ deals with events of longer time scales, and actions of change