〜ながら〜~nagara ~

How it works

1. 

   Look at the picture: looking at the map and walking happen at the same time. 「ながら」 means doing one thing while doing another.

2. 

   Take the verb’s 「ます形」, remove 「ます」, and add 「ながら」. Note the form 「しながら」.

3. 

   The person looking at the map is also walking. The two actions linked by 「ながら」 are usually done by the same person.

4. 

   The second part gives the main action. The example is mainly about walking around town; looking at the map is an accompanying action.

5. 

   「見ながら」 in the first part stays unchanged. The second part tells you whether it is past or present: 「歩きました」 indicates the past.

6. 

   Studying Japanese and working part-time can take place over the same period. You do not have to do both at the exact same moment every second.

Example sentences

• 地図ちずchizuをo見みmiながら、nagara、町まちmachiをo歩きました。あるきました。arukimashita。

  I walked around the town while looking at the map.

  AI practiceTeacher
• 日本にほんnihon語ごgo

In a conversation

• A
  明日あすの清掃せいそう活動、かつどう、参加さんかしますか？か

  A: Will you participate in tomorrow's cleaning activity?

  AI practiceTeacher
• B
  はい、掃除そうじしながらボランティアぼらんてぃあの人

Check yourself

1. Level 0 · Conjugate

   Change to 〜ながら: “while doing it”. 〜ながら

   地図を（見るみる）、町を歩きました。

   A見ながらB見りながらC見いながらD見るながら

2. Level 1 · Recognise

   Which sentence is correct?

   A公民館で清掃活動をするながら、住民と交流します。B公民館で清掃活動をしながらで、住民と交流します。C公民館で清掃活動をしてながら、住民と交流します。D公民館で清掃活動をしながら、住民と交流します。

3. Level 1 · Recognise

   Listen and choose the meaning

   AWhile looking at the photos, I recall what last year's event was like.BWhile reading the notice, I check whether a participation fee is required.CWhile looking at the map, I look up how to get to the venue.DWhile looking at the bulletin board, I check the schedule for this weekend's event.

4. Level 2 · Build

   Put the words in order

   I walked around town while looking at a map.

   地図を見ながら、歩きました。町を見てながら、
   Check

5. Level 3 · Use

   What goes in the blank?

   地図を____、町を歩きました。

   I walked around town while looking at a map.

   Show answer

More grammar in this theme

• 〜ながら〜while doing another action

Keep practising