← Grammar bank

Formation: V-dictionary + ともなく／ともなしに + same verb; question word (+ particle) + ともなく (どこからともなく, 誰からともなく, いつともなく)

With a verb, it describes doing something without any clear intention, idly or absent-mindedly. Usually the same verb is repeated, as in 見るともなく見る or 聞くともなしに聞く. Only a few verbs take it, mainly 見る, 聞く, 言う, 考える and 待つ. With a question word, it means the source or time is uncertain, as in どこからともなく ("from somewhere or other") or 誰からともなく ("without anyone in particular starting it"). It is literary and common in novels and essays. Compare 〜ことなく and 〜なしに, which simply mean "without doing X". 〜ともなく means the action happens, but without real purpose.

Variants: 〜ともなしに、どこからともなく、誰からともなく、いつともなく

Examples

• 窓の外を見るともなく見ていた。
  I was idly gazing out of the window.
• ラジオを聞くともなしに聞いていたら、懐かしい曲が流れてきた。
  I was half-listening to the radio when a song I used to love came on.
• どこからともなく、花の香りが漂ってきた。
  From somewhere or other, the scent of flowers drifted in.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

No post has used this pattern yet. Examples from real texts will appear here.