Grammar › Tendency & Manner
ともすると/ともすれば — “tend to, apt to (something undesirable)”
Warns that a situation easily and naturally slides toward an unwanted outcome
ともすると (or ともすれば) at the start of a clause warns that, without active effort otherwise, a situation naturally tends to drift toward an undesirable result — “left unchecked, it's apt to…”. It's close to がち but describes a general tendency of a situation or type of person, rather than one specific person's personal habit.
How to form it
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| ともすると + clause | ともすると、計画は先延ばしになりがちだ — Left unchecked, plans tend to get put off |
Example sentences
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 一人暮らしはともすると、食生活が偏りがちになる。 | ひとりぐらしはともすると、しょくせいかつがかたよりがちになる。 hitorigurashihatomosuruto、shokuseikatsugakatayorigachininaru。 | Living alone, your diet tends to become unbalanced if you're not careful. |
| 忙しいと、ともすれば健康管理がおろそかになる。 | いそがしいと、ともすればけんこうかんりがおろそかになる。 isogashiito、tomosurebakenkoukanrigaorosokaninaru。 | When you're busy, health management tends to get neglected if you're not careful. |
| 若い頃はともすると、無理をしてしまいがちだ。 | わかいころはともすると、むりをしてしまいがちだ。 wakaikorohatomosuruto、muriwoshiteshimaigachida。 | When you're young, you tend to overdo it if you're not careful. |
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Watch out
ともすると describes a general, situational tendency (anyone in this situation might drift this way) — for one specific person's personal habit, plain がち attached directly to that person is the more natural choice.