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N5

While Doing with ながら

Connect two actions by the same subject and express that one happens while the other is in progress.

Form ながら from the ます-stem and attach it to a second action.Use ながら when the same subject does both actions.Read the final verb as the main action and tense of the sentence.
Guided study

Forming ながら

Take the ます-stem of a verb and add ながら. The same person does both actions, and the final verb usually carries the main tense and focus.

音楽を聞きながら勉強する。

I study while listening to music.

勉強する is the main action; 聞きながら adds the simultaneous action.

コーヒーを飲みながら新聞を読む。

I read the newspaper while drinking coffee.

The two actions happen at the same time, but 読む is the main action.

母は料理をしながら歌っている。

My mother is singing while cooking.

Both actions belong to the same subject, 母.

Practice guides for this lesson

Use these hub pages to connect this lesson with related reading practice and grammar paths.