At a glance
Vる ともなく V means "doing something without really meaning to" or "without paying much attention". It is mostly used in written or literary Japanese to describe an idle, half-conscious action.
V (dictionary form) + ともなく + same V (conjugated as needed)
彼は見るともなく空を見ていた。 He was gazing at the sky without really looking at it.
How to form it
The verb before ともなく is in dictionary form. The same verb is repeated after it, conjugated however the sentence needs.
| Verb | Before ともなく | After ともなく (example) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 見る (る-verb) | 見るともなく | 見ていた | was watching without really watching |
| 聞く (う-verb) | 聞くともなく | 聞いていた | was listening without really listening |
| 考える (る-verb) | 考えるともなく | 考えていたら | while thinking idly |
| 待つ (う-verb) | 待つともなく | 待っていた | was half waiting |
Politeness and tense go on the final verb only: 見るともなく見ていました.