〜ながら nagara

〜ながら（nagara）means “while doing; at the same time as”. Attach 'nagara' to the masu-stem of a verb to show that one person does two actions at the same time. Formation: V-ます（去ます的连用形）+ ながら

while doing; at the same time as

N5

Formation

V-ます（去ます的连用形）+ ながら

Explanation

Attach 'nagara' to the masu-stem of a verb to show that one person does two actions at the same time. The main action is the one in the second clause; 'nagara' marks the simultaneous, secondary one. Both actions must be ongoing (durative), so momentary verbs like 'arrive' or 'die' don't fit this pattern.

Examples

おんがくをききながらべんきょうします。
おんがくを ききながら べんきょうします。
I study while listening to music.
かれはコーヒーをのみながらしんぶんをよみます。
かれは こーひーを のみながら しんぶんを よみます。
He reads the newspaper while drinking coffee.

Note

Subject must be the same for both actions. For two different people's simultaneous actions, use 〜あいだに instead.

FAQ

〜ながら — what does it mean and how is it used?

while doing; at the same time as. Attach 'nagara' to the masu-stem of a verb to show that one person does two actions at the same time. The main action is the one in the second clause; 'nagara' marks the simultaneous, secondary one. Both actions must be ongoing (durative), so momentary verbs like 'arrive' or 'die' don't fit this pattern.

〜ながら — how do you form it?

V-ます（去ます的连用形）+ ながら

〜ながら — any usage notes?

Subject must be the same for both actions. For two different people's simultaneous actions, use 〜あいだに instead.

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