G30 · While: 〜ながら

Before you start

The sentences only use words you already know from hiragana, katakana and the beginner level.

This lesson assumes what you saw in the earlier ones. If something feels shaky, go back to it:

• G01build sentences with は and です
• G02ask and answer
• G03say what something is not
• G04say whose something is
• G05point at things and ask what they are
• G06say «also»
• G07say what you do
• G08say no and talk about the past
• G09say where you go
• G10say where you do something
• G11describe things and say they aren't
• G12describe with な-adjectives and before a noun
• G13say what there is and where
• G14ask and say where something is
• G15talk about what was
• G16ask politely
• G17say what is happening now
• G18say what you want to do
• G19say what you do first
• G20invite and suggest plans
• G21ask for and give permission
• G22say what is not allowed
• G23compare two things
• G24ask and say which of two
• G25give reasons and add «but»
• G26ask someone not to do something
• G27say something wasn't so
• G28say what you think
• G29say what you go to do

What you learn

〜ながら 〜ます

• ながらwhile

ながら attaches to the ます stem and joins two actions of the same person at once: おんがくを ききながら しゅくだいを します (I do my homework while listening to music). The main action goes last.

• おんがくを ききながら しゅくだいを します。ongaku o kikinagara shukudai o shimasu.I do my homework while listening to music.
• テレビを みながら ばんごはんを たべます。terebi o minagara bangohan o tabemasu.I have dinner while watching TV.
• コーヒーを のみながら しんぶんを よみます。koohii o nominagara shinbun o yomimasu.I read the paper while drinking coffee.
• おちゃを のみながら はなします。ocha o nominagara hanashimasu.We talk over tea.
• パンを たべながら がっこうに いきます。pan o tabenagara gakkou ni ikimasu.I go to school eating bread.
• でんわを しながら てがみを かきます。denwa o shinagara tegami o kakimasu.I write a letter while on the phone.

Practice

A short text written only with the kana and grammar you already know. Read it and answer.