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Look at the picture: what else is she doing while cheering for her friend? Join the two actions with ながら.

Lesson notes · ≈ JLPT N4 · Intermediate 1

〜ながら~nagara

two actions happening together

Use 〜ながら when the same person does two things at once, with the main action after it.

How it works

Look at the picture: what else is she doing while cheering for her friend? Join the two actions with ながら.
The two colored bars overlap: both actions happen at the same time, rather than one after the other.
She does both the cheering and the photo-taking. The actions before and after ながら must have the same person doing them.
Remove ます from the verb’s ます-form, then add ながら: します→しながら.
The example focuses on taking photos. The action after ながら is the main action; cheering happens alongside it.

The photos were taken in the past, so the sentence ends with 撮りました. The earlier しながら stays the same.

友達ともだちtomodachiをo応援おうえんouenしshiながら、nagara、写真しゃしんshashinをo撮りました。とりました。torimashita。
I took photos while cheering for my friend.
周りまわりmawariのno人ひとhitoとto話しはなしhanashiながら、nagara、イベントいべんとibentoをo楽しみました。たのしみました。tanoshimimashita。
I enjoyed the event while talking with the people around me.

A
何なにをしながら歩いあるいているのですか。
A: What are you doing while walking?
B
放送ほうそうを聴きききながら、会場かいじょうを探しさがしています。
B: I'm looking for the venue while listening to the announcement.
A
危ないですあぶないですから、足元あしもとに気きをつけてくださいね。
A: That's dangerous, so please watch your step.

Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
I read the documents while checking the instructions.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
友達を応援____、写真を撮りました。
I took photos while cheering for my friend.