「～ともなると／～ともなれば」- Conditional Change

Explanation

～ともなると／～ともなれば is an advanced Japanese grammatical structure used to indicate that due to a change in someone's status or situation, their behavior or attitude also changes accordingly. This structure is used to describe how certain things become natural or inevitable under specific circumstances. It is pronounced as 「ともなると」（ともなるとtomo naru to） and 「ともなれば」（ともなればtomo nareba）.

Grammar Pattern

Grammar Point	Connection	Explanation
Noun + ともなると／ともなれば	Noun + ともなると／ともなれば	Connects to nouns indicating age, time, status, or identity, expressing that when reaching that point or state, certain things become natural or inevitable.

Examples

• Example 1:
  • 彼かれは警官けいかんともなると、強盗ごうとうを追おいかけるとき、同級生どうきゅうせいの姿すがたが目めに入はいった。
  • Kare wa keikan tomo naru to, goutou o oikakeru toki, doukyuusei no sugata ga me ni haitta.
  • As a police officer, while chasing a robber, he caught sight of his classmate.
    
• Example 2:
  • この年齢ねんれいともなると体からだが思おもうように動うごいてくれなくなる。
  • Kono nenrei tomo naru to karada ga omou you ni ugoite kurenaku naru.
  • At this age, the body no longer moves as you want it to.
    
• Example 3:
  • 結婚けっこんともなると二人ふたりだけの問題もんだいではなくなる。
  • Kekkon tomo naru to futari dake no mondai dewa naku naru.
  • Once you get married, it’s no longer just a matter between the two of you.
    
• Example 4:
  • 社会人しゃかいじんともなれば異性いせいとの関かかわりはどうしても避さけられなくなる。
  • Shakaijin tomo nareba isei to no kakawari wa dou shitemo sakerarenaku naru.
  • Once you become a working adult, interactions with the opposite sex become unavoidable.
    

Summary

～ともなると／～ともなれば is used to describe inevitable outcomes following a change in status or situation, emphasizing the naturalness or inevitability of certain things under specific conditions. Mastering this structure allows for more accurate expression of the impacts brought about by changes in time, status, or identity.