Together With (といっしょ)
“When a hundred men stand together, each of them loses his mind and gets another one.” – Nietzsche
The word いっしょ isn’t so much new grammar as it is a new vocab word that sort of connects to と and forms a bit of new grammar for you to learn. In fact, the difference between と and といっしょ is very subtle. It’s the difference between “with” and “together with.” I bet you can think of all kinds of sentences that would use “together with,” right?
ボビーさん と いっしょ に たべた
I ate together with Bobby
田中さん と いっしょ に テニス を した
I played tennis together with Tanaka
こういちさん は 田中さん と いっしょ に のんだ
Koichi drank together with Tanaka
あの さる と いっしょ に あるきました
I walked together with that monkey (over there)
ひとみちゃん と いっしょ に あそんだ
I played with Hitomi
Now, the difference between only having と versus the whole といっしょに thing is pretty small. といっしょ ni has more emphasis on the “together” part of it, as in you’re both doing something together. Still, doing something with someone suggests you’re doing it together with the other person, but the emphasis isn’t quite there.
こういちさん と マクドナルド に いった
I went to McDonalds with Koichi
こういちさん と いっしょ に マクドナルド に いった
I went to Mcdonalds together with Koichi
Really not all that different, though you’ll see といっしょ a lot in these situations.