JLPT N2 Change, manner, and degree
つつある describes a change in progress, ばかりだ one that keeps getting worse, and 次第に one that happens gradually. やがて, いよいよ, and いきなり place events in time, and よほど, わずかに, and 以上に express degree. 次第に and 次第 look similar, but 次第に is an adverb for gradual change, not "as soon as".
21 N2 grammar points in this group
再び (futatabi): again; once more
Use 再び（ふたたび） when you want to express that something happens a second time, often after a gap, failure, or interval.
彼は再び故郷を訪れた。 — He visited his hometown once again.
やがて (yagate): before long; eventually
Use やがて when you want to describe something that will happen after some time passes.
雨はやがて雪に変わった。 — The rain eventually turned into snow.
いよいよ (iyoiyo): at last; finally; beyond doubt
Use いよいよ when you want to express that a moment that has been anticipated or built up to is finally here.
いよいよ明日試験だ。 — The exam is finally tomorrow.
いきなり (ikinari): abruptly; suddenly; all of a sudden; without warning
Use いきなり when you want to express that an action or event occurs without any prior sign or preparation.
彼はいきなり大声で歌い出した。 — He suddenly started singing loudly.
一気に (ikki ni): in one go; without stopping; all at once; immediately; instantly; right away
Use 一気に（いっきに） when you want to express that an action is completed in one continuous, uninterrupted burst.
ビールを一気に飲んだ。 — I drank the beer in one gulp.
直ちに (tadachi ni): immediately
Use 直ちに when you want to express immediate action in a formal way.
危険を感じたら、直ちに避難してください。 — If you sense danger, evacuate immediately.
とっくに (tokku ni): long ago; already
Use とっくに when you want to emphasize that something happened much earlier than expected.
宿題はとっくに終わった。 — I finished my homework long ago.
次第に (shidai ni): gradually
Use 次第に when you want to describe a progressive change over time.
空が次第に暗くなってきた。 — The sky gradually became dark.
つつある (tsutsu aru): is in the process of
Use つつある when you want to describe a gradual change currently underway.
社会は大きく変わりつつある。 — Society is in the process of changing greatly.
ばかりだ (bakari da): continue to (go in negative direction)
Use ばかりだ when you want to express that a negative situation or habit keeps going in an increasingly bad direction.
物価は上がるばかりだ。 — Prices just keep going up.
ばかり (bakari): about, approximately
Use ばかり when you want to express that indicating an approximate amount, slightly more formal or literary than くらい.
駅まで十分ばかり歩いた。 — I walked about ten minutes to the station.
一応 (ichiou): more or less; pretty much; roughly; tentatively
Use 一応（いちおう） when you want to express that something is done provisionally, more or less, or just to be safe — not final.
一応確認しましたが、問題ありませんでした。 — I checked, just in case, and there were no problems.
わずかに (wazuka ni): slightly; only barely
Use わずかに when you want to describe a very small amount or narrow margin.
利益はわずかに増えた。 — Profit increased slightly.
よほど / よっぽど (yohodo yoppodo): very; quite; to a great extent
Use よほど / よっぽど when you want to emphasize a high degree or strong reason inferred from a situation.
彼はよほど疲れていたのか、すぐに寝てしまった。 — He must have been very tired because he fell asleep immediately.
以上に (ijou ni): more than; not less than; beyond
Use 以上に（いじょうに） when you want to express that something goes beyond a stated limit, expectation, or quantity.
その映画は想像以上に面白かった。 — That movie was more interesting than I had imagined.
ふうに (fuu ni): this way; that way; in such a way; how
Use ふうに when you want to express that indicating the manner, style, or way in which something is done.
こんなふうにやってください。 — Please do it like this.
というふうに (to iu fuu ni): in such a way that
Use というふうに when you want to explain a manner, example, or way of doing something.
まず例を見せるというふうに説明すると分かりやすい。 — It is easy to understand if you explain it in a way where you first show an example.
ままに (mama ni): as, to do as
Use ままに when you want to express that an action is done exactly as told, led, or felt — following without resistance.
彼に言われるままに、書類にサインしてしまった。 — I just did as he told me and signed the documents.
ことなく (koto naku): without doing something even once
Use ことなく when you want to express that something is accomplished completely without a certain event occurring even once.
彼は一度も諦めることなく、最後まで走り続けた。 — He kept running to the end without ever giving up.
もかまわず (mo kamawazu): without caring; without worrying about
Use もかまわず when you want to express that someone acts completely disregarding normal concerns, obstacles, or social norms.
彼は人の目もかまわず、大声で叫んだ。 — He shouted loudly, without caring who was watching.
抜く (nuku): do through to the end; completely
Use 抜く when you want to express doing something thoroughly until completion.
最後まで走り抜いた。 — I ran through to the end.
More JLPT N2 grammar groups
- Conditionals and preconditions (10)
- Contrast and concession (17)
- Cause, reason, and "no wonder" (16)
- Obligation, advice, and no choice (15)
- Feelings, resolve, and exclamations (15)
- Possibility, risk, and certainty (14)
- Viewpoint and judging from appearance (11)
- Negation and "far from" (12)
- Limits, exceptions, and minimums (14)
- Adding, listing, and connecting ideas (19)
- Timing: as soon as, since, in the end (15)
- Relational phrases: based on, regardless of (19)