At a glance
Noun + に沿って means "along" or "in line with". It is used for moving along something long, like a river or road, and for acting in line with a plan, policy or rule.
Noun + に沿って + verb
Noun + に沿った + noun
計画に沿って行動します。 I will act according to the plan.
How to form it
に沿って attaches to nouns only. The form changes depending on what comes next:
| What comes next | Form | Example | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verb or clause | Noun + に沿って | 川に沿って歩く | Neutral |
| Noun | Noun + に沿った + noun | 方針に沿った計画 | Neutral |
| Noun (less common) | Noun + に沿う + noun | 希望に沿う形 | Neutral |
| Verb, in writing | Noun + に沿い、 | 方針に沿い、 | Formal |
Politeness comes from the end of the sentence, not from に沿って itself.