〜つつある

〜つつある expresses a change progressing step by step toward some result: 回復しつつある (gradually recovering), 変わりつつある (gradually changing). It belongs to written style, often seen in newspapers, news broadcasts, and reports; in everyday conversation people say だんだん〜てきた.

Connection: drop ます from the verb, then add つつある, and the verb must be one that expresses change. A subtle point compared with the ている form: with verbs of instantaneous change, ている describes the STATE after the change is complete (変わっている — already different), while つつある captures the very MIDDLE of the change (変わりつつある — in the process of changing).

Compared with 〜一方だ: 一方だ highlights a one-way trend that won't stop, often negative; つつある is neutral, implies steady progress toward a goal, and works for both good news and bad. Don't confuse it with 〜つつも (although…) — same root つつ but a concessive meaning, covered in its own lesson.

Examples

• 病気(びょうき)の祖父(そふ)は、少(すこ)しずつ回復(かいふく)しつつあります。

  My grandfather has been ill, but he is gradually recovering.

• 社会(しゃかい)は大(おお)きく変(か)わりつつある。

  Society is in the midst of major change.

• 古(ふる)い習慣(しゅうかん)は消(き)えつつあります。

  Old customs are gradually disappearing.

Related patterns

• 〜一方だ
• 〜つつ（も）