whenever [A] happens, [B] also happens (と) – Japanese Grammar と (to)

Q: What JLPT level is と?

JLPT N4 — Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences

Q: How do you use と in a sentence?

Attach と to the appropriate verb or noun form. Whenever [A] happens, [B] also happens

Q: Is と formal or casual Japanese?

と can be used in both casual conversation and polite speech depending on context.

と

N4 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

whenever [A] happens, [B] also happens

づらい zurai 急に kyuu ni 他動詞 & 自動詞 tadoushi & jidoushi さすが sasuga という to iu ばかり bakari てすみません te sumimasen てくる te kuru かもしれない kamo shirenai 終わる owaru と言われている to iwarete iru ように / ような you ni / you na 場合は baai wa の中で no naka de ところ tokoro みたいに mitai ni くする ku suru がする ga suru みたいだ mitai da いらっしゃる irassharu づらい zurai 急に kyuu ni 他動詞 & 自動詞 tadoushi & jidoushi さすが sasuga という to iu ばかり bakari てすみません te sumimasen てくる te kuru かもしれない kamo shirenai 終わる owaru と言われている to iwarete iru ように / ような you ni / you na 場合は baai wa の中で no naka de ところ tokoro みたいに mitai ni くする ku suru がする ga suru みたいだ mitai da いらっしゃる irassharu

🃏 Flashcard

と

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whenever [A] happens, [B] also happens

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📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N4

Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences

Reading to

Post ID 50788

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

whenever [A] happens, [B] also happens

📖 How to use it

Describes a natural consequence or habitual pairing: whenever A happens, B happens.

Attaches to Attach to the dictionary (plain non-past) form of a verb, or to the plain form of an adjective or noun (e.g., するとき, 行くと, 高いと, 学生だと). No tense, no politeness, no て-form.

This と is used to state that one event or situation always leads to another, often a natural result, a habit, or a discovered fact. It feels like 'whenever' or 'if… then'. The first clause is a condition (A), the second is the outcome (B). Because it implies a fixed cause-and-effect, the second clause cannot be an order, request, or invitation—only a statement of fact or a natural result.

Think of it as a rule of life or a discovery: 'When I press this button, the light goes on.' It is not used for hypothetical or personal decisions. For example, you cannot say 'If it rains, let's stay home' with this と, because that is a suggestion, not a fixed outcome.

Be careful: the word と also appears as a connecting particle meaning 'and' or 'with' (e.g., 友達と行く = go with a friend). That is a completely separate function. Here, と links two clauses as a conditional pattern. If you see と between two full clauses, it is likely this grammar point.

春になると、桜が咲きます。

Haru ni naru to, sakura ga sakimasu.

When spring comes, the cherry blossoms bloom.

このボタンを押すと、お茶が出ます。

Kono botan o osu to, ocha ga demasu.

When you press this button, tea comes out.

毎朝早く起きると、駅で友達に会います。

Maiasa hayaku okiru to, eki de tomodachi ni aimasu.

Whenever I get up early in the morning, I meet my friend at the station.

Not ば (conditional) と is used for fixed, natural consequences (if A then B always happens), while ば can also express a condition but allows for more subjective outcomes, like advice or statements of will. For instance, 行けば分かる (if you go, you'll understand) is possible with ば, but 行くと分かる is also okay for a natural discovery. However, と cannot be used when the second clause expresses a command, request, or volition, whereas ば can.

🎯 Quick Quiz

What does this grammar pattern mean or do?

と

📚 How to Master This Pattern

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Say It Aloud

Press Hear it and repeat と three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.

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Flip Before Reading

Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.

✍️

Write Two Sentences

Compose two original sentences using と. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.

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Spaced Review

Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.

🔗 More JLPT N4 Patterns

← Previous

ても

even; even if; even though

と言ってもいい

you could say; one might say; I'd say

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern と mean? ▼

Whenever [A] happens, [B] also happens

What JLPT level is と? ▼

Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N4 — Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.

How do you use と in a sentence? ▼

Attach と (to) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.

Is と formal or casual Japanese? ▼

と is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.

How can I remember と long-term? ▼

Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.