While / Although / Process of (つつある)

Here we introduce つつ, a formal, literary grammar point that acts as the written equivalent of ながら. It can be used to form three different expressions:

1. To express a state of change.
2. Simultaneous actions (formal “while”).
3. An unexpected outcome (formal “although”).

1. To Express a State of Change: “つつある”

Here the basic structure attaches to verbs that indicate change (e.g., increase, decrease, spread, disappear):

【Verb: Stem】＋ つつある

社会しゃかいが変化へんかしつつある。

Society is changing (in the process of changing).

失うしなわれつつある言語げんご。

A vanishing language.

住宅じゅうたくの不足ふそくがますます厳きびしい状況じょうきょうになりつつあり、政策的せいさくてきな対応たいおうが求もとめられてきた。

The housing shortage is increasingly becoming a difficult situation, such that a political response is being demanded.

2. Simultaneous Actions: “〜つつ”

Used without the verb ‘to exist’ (ある), つつ indicates that two actions take place simultaneously, much like ながら but much more formal.

(Clause A) ＋【Verb: Stem】＋ つつ ＋ (Clause B)

両親りょうしんのことを思おもいつつ、手紙てがみを書かいた。

Write a letter whilst thinking about one’s parents.

付つき合あってくれるといいなと考かんがえつつ、彼女かのじょが座すわっているところへ行いく。

Go over to where she is sitting whilst thinking how good it would be if she would date you.

最終的さいしゅうてきな目標もくひょうを意識いしきしつつ、作業さぎょうを行おこなう。

Carry out tasks with the final objective in mind.

締しめ切きりに追おわれつつ、作業さぎょうを続つづける。

Continue working whilst under pressure to meet the deadline.

3. An Unexpected Outcome: “〜つつも”

Adding も to this structure gives it the meaning of “although” or “despite.” The outcome in the second clause does not follow naturally from the first clause.

締しめ切きりに間まに合あわないと思おもいつつも、作業さぎょうを続つづける。

Continue working despite thinking that you won’t meet the deadline.

はっきり言いうのをためらいつつも、責任せきにんを認みとめる。

Accept responsibility whilst hesitating to state it clearly.

However, very often the も is omitted in conversation.

漢字かんじを勉強べんきょうしようと思おもいつつ、ゲームをやり始はじめちゃう。

Think about studying kanji, but then start playing a game anyway.

This looks identical to the ‘simultaneous’ structure above, but it’s obvious from the context that you ended up doing something that did not follow naturally from the first clause. Normally, the outcome is something undesirable, or opposite to what might have been expected (often paired with mental verbs like 思う or 知る).

Crucial JLPT Rule: The Same Subject

For both the “Simultaneous Actions” (つつ) and “Unexpected Outcome” (つつも) usages, there is a strict grammatical restriction: The subject of the first clause must be the exact same person as the subject of the second clause. If different people are performing the two actions, you cannot use つつ and must use a different conjunction instead.