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JLPT N3Formal Expressions

～つつある— In the Process of Changing

Attaches to a verb stem to express that an action or change is steadily and continuously progressing toward completion. It captures a gradual shift over time (recovering, increasing, disappearing) and feels more formal and written than the everyday ～ている. Used mainly for changes in state, not one-off actions.

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Pro lessonUNIT 40 · FORMAL EXPRESSIONS

Structure · 形

[Verb ます-stem] + つつある

Examples · 例文

  • 日本の人口は減りつつある。

    Nihon no jinkou wa heritsutsu aru.

    Japan's population is steadily declining.

    減り (ます-stem of 減る, decrease) + つつある = a gradual, ongoing change

  • 祖父の体調は少しずつ回復しつつあります。

    Sofu no taichou wa sukoshi zutsu kaifuku shitsutsu arimasu.

    My grandfather's condition is gradually recovering.

    回復し (stem of 回復する) + つつあります shows a slow but continuous improvement

  • 古い習慣は消えつつある。

    Furui shuukan wa kietsutsu aru.

    Old customs are gradually disappearing.

    消え (stem of 消える) + つつある = the process of fading is underway

Usage notes · 注意

  • Register: formal / written; common in news and academic writing.
  • Only works with verbs of change or progression, not with instantaneous or purely stative verbs.
  • Emphasizes the direction of an ongoing change more than ～ている does.

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones ～つつある is tested against.

vs～ている

～ている simply states an action is ongoing; ～つつある stresses a gradual movement toward completion and is more formal.

vs～つつ(も)

～つつ(も) means 'while / even though' (two simultaneous actions or concession); ～つつある means 'is in the process of changing'.

More formal expressions

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