GRAMMAR DETAIL

ともなく

without any particular intention

Indicates that an action takes place without a clear purpose or conscious intention.

Examples

電車の中で広告を見るともなく見ていた。

I was looking at the advertisements on the train without any particular intention.

窓の外を眺めるともなく眺めていた。

I was gazing out the window without really meaning to.

ラジオを聞くともなく聞いているうちに眠ってしまった。

I fell asleep while listening to the radio without really intending to.

Structure: Follow a dictionary-form verb with ともなく and continue with the same action to describe doing it without a clear purpose or focused attention.
Basic usage: 電車の中で広告を見るともなく見ていた。 means looking at the advertisements absent-mindedly rather than deliberately examining them.

Role of the repeated verb
- In 聞くともなく聞いている, the first 聞く connects in the dictionary form, while 聞いている describes the ongoing action. The two verbs do not list separate listening events.
Attention compared with ずに
- 広告を見ずに means not looking at the advertisements. 広告を見るともなく見ていた means looking, but without any particular intention or concentration.