ているあいだに | Grammar

Structure

[verb て-form] + いる + あいだに

Description

ているあいだに means "while": during the time one action is going on, something else happens at some point inside it. The first verb is in the て-form plus いる, and あいだに (often written 間に) follows.

、。

While the child was asleep, I did the cleaning.

、。

The phone rang while I was in the bath.

、。

A parcel came while I was out.

The あいだに clause normally stays in the plain ている form, even when the sentence is polite and even when it is about the past. Tense and ます go at the end.

× 寝ていますあいだに → 寝ているあいだに

あいだに or あいだ

With に, the second event happens once, somewhere within the time. Without に, the second action fills the whole time.

、。

While I was waiting for my friend, I got a phone call.

、。

I read a book the whole time I was waiting for my friend.

× 待っているあいだに、ずっと本を読んでいた → 待っているあいだ、ずっと本を読んでいた

が inside the clause

The person in the あいだに clause takes が, not は, because the clause only sets the time for the main sentence.

、。

While my mother was out shopping, my father made dinner.

× 母は買い物をしているあいだに → 母が買い物をしているあいだに

あいだに or うちに

also means "while", but it is for something that happens before you notice, or a chance to take before the situation changes. あいだに just places the event in the time.

、。

I got sleepy as I was reading.

、。

My friend came while I was reading.

Examples

、。

While the child was sleeping, I did the laundry.

、。

While my mother was cooking, my little brother ate the cake.

、。

While I was watching TV, the cat climbed onto the table.

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While the teacher was explaining, he fell asleep.

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While I was waiting for my friend, I had a coffee.

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While I was on a trip, I lost my house key.

、。

While I was riding the train, I finished reading a book.

、。

While I was in the bath, the phone rang.

、。

It seems a burglar broke in while I was away.

、。

While my older brother was studying, I tidied up the room.

、。

While I was taking a walk, it started to rain.

、。

While she was shopping, I filled up the car with petrol.

References

ているあいだにBunpro