# ともすれば: apt to (do); tend to; liable to; prone to ~ > Master ともすれば, an N1 adverbial phrase meaning apt to do, liable to, prone to. Learn formation, nuance, comparison with ともすると, and JLPT test usage. JLPT level: N1 · Updated: 2026-05-18 · Canonical: https://hane-app.com/blog/n1-tomo-sureba/ **ともすれば** means **apt to (do); tend to; liable to; prone to ~**. It is a **JLPT N1** Japanese grammar pattern used to express that someone or something is naturally inclined toward a certain, usually undesirable, behavior or state. This grammar point appears primarily in formal writing, essays, and critical commentary. If you want to describe an inherent tendency that leads to a negative outcome, **ともすれば** adds precise, sophisticated nuance to your Japanese.
You use ともすれば when the subject’s disposition makes a certain result almost unavoidable — not because of a single trigger, but because it is built into the nature of things.
## What does ともすれば mean? Use **ともすれば** when you want to express that a person, system, or situation is **liable to**, **inclined to**, or **apt to** end up in a particular state or action. The outcome is almost always undesirable — a mistake, excess, carelessness, or misjudgment. Natural translations include: - apt to (do); tend to; liable to; prone to ~ The best translation depends on the sentence. Try to feel the innate tendency before attaching a word. Often, “be apt to” or “be liable to” works better than a flat “tend to” because the nuance suggests a kind of latent weakness or predisposition. ## How to form ともすれば **ともすれば** is an adverbial phrase that sits before the verb or clause describing the tendency. It does not inflect, and it attaches directly to a full statement.
ともすれば → ［undesirable action / state］
It can be used with verbs in dictionary form, potential form, passive form, or with negative predicates. The phrase itself remains unchanged. Examples of the pattern: - ともすれば忘れ(わすれ)がちになる - ともすれば陥り(おちいり)やすい間違い(まちがい) - ともすれば見過ごさ(みすごさ)れがちだ Because ともすれば is a fixed adverbial, no conjugation is needed. However, the surrounding sentence must make clear what the inevitable tendency is. In JLPT questions, they might test whether you understand that ともすれば does not change form regardless of the following verb. ## When is ともすれば used? Use **ともすれば** in situations like: - pointing out a human weakness or a systemic flaw - warning that something naturally drifts toward an error - analyzing why a mistake “easily” occurs, not due to a specific cause but due to the nature of things Tone and register: - formal, analytical, often used in essays, critiques, and academic writing - rarely used in casual conversation; it would sound stiff or condescending - appears in editorials, reviews, and JLPT N1 reading passages where the author diagnoses a general tendency Because it suggests an inbuilt danger rather than a one-off accident, it implies a somewhat critical or resigned stance on the part of the speaker. ## ともすれば example sentences
人間にんげんはともすれば楽らくなほうへ流ながれがちだ。
Humans are apt to drift toward the easier path.
general tendency
油断ゆだんしていると、ともすれば大おおきなミスにつながる。
When you let your guard down, it easily leads to a major mistake.
warning
若わかい頃ころはともすれば感情かんじょうだけで物事ものごとを判断はんだんしがちだ。
When you’re young, you’re liable to judge things based purely on emotion.
youth & emotion
権力けんりょくを持もつ人ひとはともすればそれを乱用らんようしがちである。
People who hold power are prone to abusing it.
social commentary
便利べんりな道具どうぐはともすれば使つかい方かたを誤あやまる危険きけんがある。
A convenient tool is liable to be misused.
systemic flaw
伝統でんとうはともすれば形式化けいしきかしがちだ。
Traditions are apt to become mere formalities.
cultural critique
After reading each sentence, ask what job **ともすれば** is doing: it marks a general, almost natural drift toward an undesirable outcome. That makes the nuance easier to remember than a one-word translation. ## Nuance of ともすれば The key nuance is **an inherent predisposition toward a negative result**. This matters because learners often translate it as simply “tend to,” but ともすれば carries a stronger sense of inevitability rooted in character, structure, or human nature. It is not about a person’s habitual preference but about a built-in vulnerability. For example: - If your system is complex, ともすれば bugs appear — not because programmers are lazy, but because complexity makes it almost inevitable. - A very busy schedule is ともすれば health-neglecting — the drift is part of the situation itself. Because the speaker is diagnosing an underlying flaw, the tone can sound slightly critical or wise. Using this pattern makes your statement feel like an observation about the world, not just a personal opinion.
💡 ともすれば often pairs with ～がちだ, ～やすい, or a negative potential form like ～かねない. Together they reinforce that the outcome is a natural, recurring danger.
## ともすれば vs ともすると Both **ともすれば** and **ともすると** express the exact same meaning: “apt to; liable to.” They are interchangeable in every respect. The difference is purely stylistic and historical.
ともすれば
(standard, recommended)
Modern formal writing, JLPT materials, contemporary analysis
人間(にんげん)はともすれば怠け(なまけ)がちだ。
Humans are apt to become lazy.
ともすると
(literary, slightly older)
Classic essays, pre-war literature, some modern formal texts
人間(にんげん)はともすると怠け(なまけ)がちだ。
Humans are apt to become lazy.
Both forms use the same grammatical structure: the conditional すれば vs すると attached to the auxiliary verb とも (even if; even though). Historically, ともすると appeared earlier, and modern language settled on ともすれば as the more common written form. In JLPT exams, you will almost certainly see ともすれば. If you encounter ともすると in reading, treat it identically. There is no nuance difference worth worrying about. For production, stick with ともすれば. ## Common mistakes with ともすれば
❌ 彼(かれ)はともすれば遅刻(ちこく)した。
✅ 彼(かれ)はともすれば遅刻(ちこく)しがちだ。
Use ともすれば only with a general tendency, not a single past event. The predicate needs to express habit or possibility.
❌ ともすれば、今日(きょう)は雨(あめ)が降る(ふる)かもしれない。
✅ 梅雨時(つゆどき)はともすれば気分(きぶん)が沈み(しずみ)がちだ。
ともすれば is not a weather guess. It describes inner tendencies of people, systems, or society.
❌ いい成績(せいせき)を取っ(とっ)た。ともすれば努力(どりょく)したからだ。
✅ 彼(かれ)は真面目(まじめ)だが、ともすれば完璧(かんぺき)主義(しゅぎ)に陥る(おちいる)。
Connecting unrelated clauses with ともすれば doesn’t work. It must modify the tendency directly.
A helpful practice method is to take a simple tendency (“I tend to forget things”) and recast it using ともすれば with appropriate vocabulary: ともすれば忘れ(わすれ)がちになる. Then rewrite it with どうしても or とかく to feel the nuance shift. ## Is ともすれば on the JLPT?
N1
Yes. **ともすれば** is firmly **JLPT N1** grammar, appearing in reading comprehension and occasionally in grammar/vocabulary sections.
For test preparation, study **ともすれば** in full sentences that combine it with がち, やすい, or かねない. JLPT N1 reading often contains a string of such patterns to build a critical argument, so knowing the nuance lets you follow the author’s judgment. ## Practice questions for ともすれば
1 Write a sentence using ともすれば about a weakness you observe in modern communication (e.g., social media). observation
2 Use ともすれば to describe why a highly efficient system can also be risky. system design
3 Compare ともすれば with どうしても by writing one sentence for each, showing how the nuance changes. contrast
4 Write a short paragraph about a historical event, pointing out that the leaders were ともすれば blind to a certain danger. analytical writing
Keep your first sentences simple. Once the structure feels natural, layer in a second clause that shows the consequence of that tendency. ## Learning path for ともすれば
1 Start by memorizing the fixed phrase ともすれば and reading it aloud in a few model sentences until the rhythm sticks.
2 Compare it with ともあろうものが — both use とも but for entirely different purposes (criticism of an unsuitable actor vs. innate tendency). Understanding the contrast helps you stop mixing them up.
3 Practice with ともなく / ともなしに to feel how とも patterns shift meaning based on what follows. Then return to ともすれば to solidify its distinct role.
4 Write a short opinion piece (200‑300 characters) on a topic like “why strict rules can backfire,” deliberately using ともすれば at least twice.
5 Finally, check your sentences: could you replace ともすれば with ともすると and still sound natural? If yes, you own the grammar.
## Related grammar to review next - [ともあろうものが](/blog/n1-tomo-arou-mono-ga/) — because it uses とも to frame the subject as highly unsuitable; a sharp contrast to the tendency nuance of ともすれば - [ともなく・ともなしに](/blog/n1-tomo-naku-tomo-nashi-ni/) — because it shows another fixed とも construction for undirected actions; good for comparing how とも + conditional vs. とも + negative work - [ともとも](/blog/n1-tomo-tomo/) — because this rare pattern also uses repeated とも to express “both” or “either way” in formal argumentation - [とりわけ](/blog/n1-toriwake/) — because it shares the function of singling out something that easily happens or stands out; useful for describing tendencies alongside ともすれば ## Learn ともすれば with Hane If you want to review **ともすれば** together with these nuanced N1 patterns, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions. Browse more lessons here: - [All grammar lessons](/blog/) - [JLPT N1 grammar lessons](/blog/n1/)