Posted inN3 Grammar

Learn JLPT N3 Grammar: にしたがって / にしたがい (にしたがって / にしたがい)

Posted inN3 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

“As X happens, Y happens accordingly” or “following X / in accordance with X”. It shows a change in Y proportional to a change in X, or adherence to a rule/order.

🎯 Primary Function

To indicate a change in one element that occurs concurrently or proportionally with a change in another element (temporal or proportional change), or to indicate acting in accordance with a rule, instruction, or principle.

📋 Grammar Structure

Noun + にしたがって / にしたがい Verb (dictionary form) + にしたがって / にしたがい

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Frequently used, especially for indicating adherence to rules, laws, or formal processes.

😊 Informal Situations

Less common than in formal contexts, but can be used for proportional change in slightly less formal speech.

✍️ Written Language

Very common, particularly in articles, manuals, reports, and official documents.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Used, but often more formal than patterns like ～につれて. “にしたがい” can sound slightly more formal/written than “にしたがって”.

💡 Common Applications

Describing proportional changes
Used when one thing changes gradually, and another thing changes in correspondence with that change.
Example: 時間が経つにしたがって、状況は悪化した。 (As time passed, the situation worsened.)
Indicating adherence to rules or instructions
Used to mean “following” or “in accordance with” rules, laws, orders, or manuals.
Example: 先生の指示にしたがい、レポートを提出した。 (Following the teacher’s instructions, I submitted the report.)
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📊
Frequency
Moderately frequent in written Japanese, especially in formal contexts. Less frequent in casual conversation.
🎚️
Difficulty
Intermediate (N3 level). The main difficulty lies in distinguishing its two core meanings and differentiating it from similar patterns.
Example Sentences
山を登るにしたがって、気温が下がっていった。
As we climbed the mountain, the temperature dropped.
法律の改正にしたがって、手続きが変わった。
In accordance with the revision of the law, the procedures changed.
説明書にしたがい、組み立ててください。
Please assemble it according to the instruction manual.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Two main meanings
Can express either a proportional change over time/circumstance OR following/adhering to something (rules, instructions, etc.).
Example: Use “変化するにしたがって” for change, and “規則にしたがって” for following rules.
“にしたがって” vs “にしたがい”
“にしたがって” is the continuous form, often emphasizing the process of change. “にしたがい” is the conjunctive form, often used when the following clause is a direct result or action based on the preceding clause (especially for “following rules”), and can sound slightly more formal/written.
Example: 時間が経つにしたがって暖かくなった。(Emphasizes the process) 規則にしたがい行動する。(Emphasizes the result/action based on the rule)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using it with things that don’t change proportionally or aren’t rules/standards.
✅ Ensure the first part is something that changes gradually or something to be followed.
It’s used for gradual, corresponding change or adherence, not just any sequence of events.
❌ Confusing the “following” meaning with simple sequence.
✅ Remember the “following” meaning implies adherence to a standard, not just doing something after something else.
先生の話を聞いた後でレポートを書いた (Simple sequence) vs 先生の指示にしたがいレポートを書いた (Following instructions).

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Generally neutral to slightly formal, especially in the “following rules” sense.
Social Situations: Used in situations describing natural phenomena, social/economic trends, or when explaining processes and regulations.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese grammar, no significant regional variations.

🔍 Subtle Differences

～につれて (ni tsurete) vs ～にしたがって (ni shitagatte)
～につれて is primarily used for proportional changes, emphasizing the *movement* or *process* of change in both parts. ～にしたがって also shows proportional change but can also mean “following/in accordance with”. にしたがって feels slightly more formal than につれて for proportional change.
When to use: Use ～につれて mostly for natural or physical changes. Use ～にしたがって for changes and also for following rules/standards. にしたがって is broader and slightly more formal.
～とともに (to tomo ni) vs ～にしたがって (ni shitagatte)
～とともに can mean “together with” or “as X happens, Y happens”. The latter meaning is similar to につれて/にしたがって for proportional change, but ～とともに can sometimes imply a stronger sense of simultaneity or shared fate.
When to use: Use ～とともに for “together with” or emphasizing simultaneous progression or shared impact. Use にしたがって for clear proportional change or adherence to standards.
～どおりに (doori ni) vs ～にしたがって (ni shitagatte)
～どおりに strictly means “exactly as specified/shown” (a plan, an example). ～にしたがって means “following” or “in accordance with”, which can be slightly less strict adherence than ～どおりに.
When to use: Use ～どおりに when something is done *precisely* according to a model or plan. Use にしたがって when acting *in accordance with* rules, instructions, or principles (which might allow slight interpretation).

📝 Conjugation Notes

Connects to the dictionary form of verbs and directly to nouns. No other conjugation needed for にしたがって/にしたがい itself.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Pronounce ににしたがって as /ni-shi-ta-gat-te/ and にしたがい as /ni-shi-ta-gai/. The が (ga) is typically voiced.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of 従う (shitagau) meaning “to follow”. So, にしたがって/にしたがい means “following…” or “in accordance with…”. This helps remember both the “proportional change” (following the change) and “following rules” meanings.

Practice Exercises
時間が経つ＿＿＿＿＿＿、ワインの味はまろやかになる。
につれて
にしたがって
に応じて
にとって
会社の規則＿＿＿＿＿＿、制服を着用しなければならない。
に対して
ばかりに
にしたがい
ことから
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