Time and sequence expressions

Pattern 〜ようになった (change in ability/habit)

Pattern 〜ようになった expresses a change from an old state or habit to a new state that develops gradually. For a change in habit, this pattern is attached after the dictionary form (辞書形, jisho-kei) of a verb, for example 「作る(つくる, to make)」. For a change in ability, this pattern is attached after the potential form (可能形, kanō-kei), for example 「話せる(はなせる, can speak)」. The forms that appear often are 〜ようになった (has come to be), 〜ようになってきた (has started to become), and 〜ようになる (will come to be).

In long reading passages, 〜ようになった often serves as a marker of change that must be caught, for example a change in how someone shops, interacts, or behaves. Readers need to look for this pattern in order to answer questions about what has changed.

In sentence structure, motion verbs such as 「帰ってくる(かえってくる, to come back)」 can form a single unit before 〜ようになる, so 「くる」 must not be separated from its て-form.

• 〜ようになる — to come to be able or accustomed to. 例) 最近、週末に料理をするようになった。
• 〜ようになってきた — a change that starts to be felt little by little. 例) 日本語のニュースが分かるようになってきた。
• 〜ことになった — a decision or rule from another party, not a personal change of habit.
• 〜ことにした — a decision made by oneself.
• 〜ようにする — an effort carried out continuously, not a change that happens by itself.
• なかなか〜なかった — very difficult, not yet; used to describe the state before a change.

Pattern 〜とたんに (as soon as/the moment)

Pattern 〜たとたん(に) expresses that the second event happens immediately after the first event, often with an impression of suddenness or unexpectedness. This pattern is attached after the past form of a verb (〜た). Because the time interval is very short, this pattern is not used for long-term habits or for actions based on the agent's intention.

In a sequence of two events that happen very quickly, 〜とたんに suits an event that occurs right after an action is completed, for example arriving at a certain place and then something happening immediately.

• 〜たとたん(に) — as soon as, instantly. 例) 部屋に入ったとたんに、電話が鳴った。
• 〜まで(に) — until, or by, before a certain time limit.
• 〜うえに — in addition, adding a condition; not a time sequence.
• 〜きり — after that, with nothing following; the situation simply continues.
• 〜ばかりに — because of, used for a bad result that is regretted.
• 〜ばかりか — not only ... but also.
• 〜まえに — before, attached to the dictionary form.
• 〜あげく(に) — in the end, after a long series of events, usually with an undesired result.

Pattern 〜ているうちに

Pattern 〜ているうちに expresses that a change happens gradually while an action or state continues. This pattern is formed with the ている form of a verb, followed by 「うちに」. After this pattern, a change or result usually follows, often in the form 〜てきた, which expresses a change from the past up to now.

Improved ability or physical condition resulting from regular training is often expressed with this pattern, for example 「体力(たいりょく, physical stamina)がついてきた」. The form 〜ついていた expresses a condition that has already become established, not a process of change.

• 〜ているうちに — for as long as ~ continues, while ~. 例) 話しているうちに、緊張がほぐれてきた。
• 〜てきた — a change that has been taking place from the past up to now. 例) 練習を続けているうちに、字がきれいになってきた。
• 〜ようにしている — making an effort or making a habit of doing something continuously, attached to the dictionary form. 例) 毎日、野菜を食べるようにしている。 This pattern differs from 〜ようになった, which expresses a change that happens by itself.
• 〜上がるばかりだ / 上がったところだ — neither of these expresses a gradual process of change: the first means keeps rising without end, and the second means has just happened.

Pattern 〜てから (since / duration)

Pattern 〜てから expresses the order of time, that is, the second event happens after the first event is finished. This pattern is also used to express a starting point, and then to count how long it has been from that event up to now. In this form, 〜てから is followed by an amount of time and 「になる」, for example 〜てから二か月になる (it has been two months since ...).

To express that a certain amount of time has passed, the て form of 「たつ(立つ, to pass)」 is used: 「たって」. The pattern 〜てからある期間たって expresses that after a certain time has passed, a particular state finally occurs.

In sentences arranged from word pieces, 〜てから must come before the predicate that expresses the result, so that the time order remains clear.

• 〜てから — since, after. 例) 大学を卒業してから、ずっと同じ会社で働いている。
• 〜たばかり — just now, with a very short time gap.
• 〜たところ — having just finished, the point in time is very close.
• 〜たつまえに — before a certain amount of time passes.
• 〜たったきり — ever since then, remaining unchanged.
• 〜になったばかりで — having just reached a certain amount of time.

Pattern 〜につれて (as, in step with)

Pattern 〜につれて expresses two changes that occur at the same time and follow each other: as one changes, the other changes gradually along with it. This pattern is formed with the dictionary form (辞書形) of a verb or a noun + につれて. The forms 〜につれ and 〜にしたがって have the same meaning and are more formal.

In a sentence, the two clauses connected by 〜につれて usually both express change, not a single event.

• 〜につれて — as, in step with. 例) 年をとるにつれて、体力が落ちてくる。
• 〜たびに — every time, expressing repetition, not gradual change.
• 〜ばかりで — only ... so that, expressing a bad state that continues.
• 〜とおりに — in accordance with something that already exists.
• 〜までに — by a certain deadline.
• 〜ついでに — while on the way, taking the opportunity.
• 〜ところに — at the exact moment when an event occurs.

Pattern 〜あとで (after)

Pattern 〜たあとで expresses time sequence: the second action is done after the first action has finished. This pattern uses the past form of the verb (〜た) followed by 「あとで」. In a sentence, あとで can appear between the clause and the main predicate.