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You can make the sauce while the pasta is boiling. Look at the picture: how are the two tasks timed?

Lesson notes · ≈ JLPT N4 · Beginner 3

〜ている間に~te iru aida ni

during an ongoing action

Use 「〜ている間に」 for a second action that happens within the time an ongoing action continues.

How it works

You can make the sauce while the pasta is boiling. Look at the picture: how are the two tasks timed?
The first action continues for a period of time. The second action takes place within that period.
The sauce is made while the pasta is boiling, rather than waiting until the pasta is cooked.
Use the verb’s 「ている」 form, then add 「間に」, as in 「茹でている間に」.
You can use this pattern for making miso soup while rice is cooking, too: another task is done during the rice-cooking time.

After mentioning that the pasta is boiling, you can use 「その間に」. 「その」 refers to the time period just mentioned.

Notice 「間に」: it tells us what was done within that period. The two tasks do not have to start and end together.

茹でゆでyudeてteいるiru間あいだaidaに、にniソースそーすsoosuをo作ります。つくりますtsukurimasu
While it is boiling, make the sauce.
ご飯ごはんgohanをo炊いたいtaiてteいるiru間あいだaidaに、にniみそmiso汁しるshiruをo作ります。つくりますtsukurimasu
While the rice is cooking, make miso soup.

A
パスタぱすたはわどうやって作りますつくりますか。か
A: How do you make pasta?
B
パスタぱすたを茹でます。ゆでますその間あいだに、にソースそーすを作ります。つくります
B: I boil the pasta. In the meantime, I make the sauce.
A
便利べんりですね。ね
A: That is convenient.

Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
I make the sauce while it is boiling.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
ご飯を炊いてみそ汁を作ります。
While cooking rice, I will make miso soup.