GRAMMAR DETAIL
つつある
Indicates that a change is currently under way and moving toward a new state.
Examples
町の古い景色が失われつつある。
The town's old scenery is gradually disappearing.
Words used
海辺の町は新しい道路によって変わりつつある。
The seaside town is changing because of the new road.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: Attach
つつあるto a verb's masu-stem to describe an ongoing change toward a new state. - Basic usage:
町の古い景色が失われつつある。describes the town's old scenery as being in the process of gradually disappearing.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Unlike tsutsu for simultaneous actions
考えつつ歩くcombines thinking and walking at the same time, whereas人口が増えつつあるdescribes the progress of population growth. In the change expression,あるbelongs to the construction.