JLPT N1 grammar

〜を控えてmeaning and usage

Meaning

With A approaching (in B amount of time)...

How to form it

  • nounを控えて/を控えたnoun
  • nounをnounに控えて

How it is used

'With A (an exam, a wedding, an opening) coming up soon': what follows is usually the preparations or tension. 「Aを来週に控えて」 says how soon. Slightly more formal than 「を前に」.

Examples

  1. 今月末の大会を控えて、選手は毎日練習に励んでいます。

    With the competition at the end of this month approaching, the athletes are working hard at practice every day.

  2. 開店を明日に控えて、店の中はまだ準備で慌ただしい。

    With the opening set for tomorrow, the shop is still a flurry of preparations.

  3. 開幕を控えた球場では、芝の手入れが急ピッチで進められている。

    With the season opener coming up, work on the stadium's turf is being pushed ahead at full speed.