10.4 While / During

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Overview

This lesson covers three patterns for expressing time overlap: ～ながら for doing two things simultaneously, ～間 for something that lasts the whole duration, and ～間に for an event that occurs at some point within a period.

These three patterns all relate to time overlap, but they describe different kinds of “while”. Choosing the right one depends on whether the action is continuous, simultaneous, or momentary.

～ながら — doing A while doing B

～ながら is used when one person does two actions at the same time. Both actions happen in parallel, and the subject is the same.

Structure

Verb (ます-stem) + ながら + Phrase

。

I study while listening to music.

。

I talked while walking.

The action before ～ながら is secondary, and the main action comes after.

Note that subjects must be the same.

～間 — during the whole time

～間 describes something that happens throughout an entire time span. The action or state lasts for the whole duration.

Structure

Verb (～ている) + 間 + Phrase
Noun + の + 間 + Phrase

、。

I was in Japan during summer vacation.

、。

I stayed quiet during the meeting.

～間に — at some point during

～間に is used when something happens once at some point within a time span. The action does not last the whole time.

Structure

Verb (～ている) + 間に + Phrase
Noun + の + 間に + Phrase

、。

It rained while I was away.

、。

I got a call while I was sleeping.

Compare:

、。

I was crying the whole time I was watching the movie.

、。

I cried at some point while watching the movie.

～間 → entire duration
～間に → some moment within

Summary

Pattern	Meaning	Key idea
～ながら	while doing	same subject, parallel actions
～間	during	whole duration
～間に	while / during	one event inside a period

Dialogue

わたくし私はおんがく音楽をきき聞きながらべんきょう勉強します。かれ彼はあるき歩きながらでんわ電話しています。たべ食べながらはなす話すのはよくないです。でんしゃ電車にのり乗りながらほん本をよむ読むひと人がおおいです多いです。なつやすみ夏休みのあいだ間、ずっといなか田舎にいました。かいぎ会議のあいだ間、のうとノートをとっていました取っていました。じゅぎょう授業のあいだ間はすまほスマホをつかわない使わないようにしています。るすのあいだ留守の間に、にもつ荷物がとどきました届きました。ねている寝ているあいだ間に、あめ雨がふりはじめました降り始めました。ともだち友達をまっている待っているあいだ間に、ほん本をよみました読みました。えいが映画をみている見ているあいだ間、ずっとないていました泣いていました。りょこう旅行しているあいだ間に、かばんをなくしてしまいました。

I study while listening to music. He is on the phone while walking. It's not good to talk while eating. Many people read books while riding the train. During summer vacation, I was in the countryside the whole time. I was taking notes during the meeting. I try not to use my phone during class. While I was out, a package arrived. While I was sleeping, it started to rain. While waiting for my friend, I read a book. I was crying the whole time while watching the movie. While traveling, I lost my bag.

10.3 On the Verge of Action

10.5 Leaving Things As-Is

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