adverbial N1 uncommon written
ともすれば — tend to
ともすれば
Meaning
- tend to / be apt to / be liable to ~ — flags a latent, usually unwelcome tendency; written
Key sentence
人はともすれば楽な道を選びがちだ。
People tend to choose the easy path.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Adverb (placed early in the clause) | ともすれば … — the predicate typically ends in 〜がち(だ) / 〜やすい / 〜かねない | ともすれば〜を忘れがちだ |
When: Written/formal; describes a tendency the speaker views as a risk or fault.
Examples
急いでいると、ともすれば確認を忘れがちだ。
When in a hurry, one is apt to forget to double-check.
専門家はともすれば難しい言葉を使いがちだ。
Experts tend to use difficult words.
When you can't use it
- Describes a general, latent (usually negative) tendency — not a one-time event. For a single occasion use とき / たら.
Easily confused with
See ともすれば in real sentences
Jengo shows ともすれば the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar.