〜ながら
nagara
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
"while doing ~" — two actions performed at the same time by the same person; the second clause is the main action.
Attach ながら to the ます-stem of the background action. The important action comes last: 音楽を聞きながら勉強する = you are studying, with music on.
Everyday speech and writing, whenever one person does two things at once.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
V-ます stem + ながら + main clauseBoth actions must have the same subjectThe main (more important) action goes in the second clause
Visual diagram
- 音楽を聞きbackground action (ます-stem)
- ながらwhile
- 勉強しますmain action (carries tense)
Natural examples
音楽を聞きながら勉強します。
おんがくをききながらべんきょうします。
I study while listening to music.
歩きながら電話をしないでください。
あるきながらでんわをしないでください。
Please don't use the phone while walking.
テレビを見ながらご飯を食べないでください。
テレビをみながらごはんをたべないでください。
Please don't eat while watching TV.
父は新聞を読みながらコーヒーを飲んでいます。
ちちはしんぶんをよみながらコーヒーをのんでいます。
My father is drinking coffee while reading the newspaper.
Similar grammar and the difference
て lists actions one after another; ながら means at the same time. Compare side by side
ながら attaches to the ます-stem. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 音楽を聞くながら
- ✓
- 音楽を聞きながら
- Why
- ながら attaches to the ます-stem, not the dictionary form.
- ✗
- 音楽を聞いてながら
- ✓
- 音楽を聞きながら
- Why
- Not the て-form either.
- ✗
- 私が歌いながら、妹が踊ります。
- ✓
- 私は歌いながら踊ります。
- Why
- Both actions must be done by the same person.
The main (more important) action comes second. Both actions must have the same subject; for different subjects use 〜ている間に (N4). Tense is carried only by the final verb.
JLPT N5 tips
On the exam
- Blank + ながら → ます-stem (drop ます). Distractors will be the dictionary form and て-form.
- The main action is the second verb. If a question asks "what is the person mainly doing?", look at the end.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜ながら mean?
"while doing ~" — two actions performed at the same time by the same person; the second clause is the main action. Attach ながら to the ます-stem of the background action. The important action comes last: 音楽を聞きながら勉強する = you are studying, with music on.
How do you form 〜ながら?
V-ます stem + ながら + main clause / Both actions must have the same subject / The main (more important) action goes in the second clause. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜ながら used?
Everyday speech and writing, whenever one person does two things at once.
What is the difference between 〜ながら and て-form (sequence)?
て lists actions one after another; ながら means at the same time.
What is the difference between 〜ながら and ます (stem)?
ながら attaches to the ます-stem.
What is a common mistake with 〜ながら?
Wrong: 音楽を聞くながら Right: 音楽を聞きながら ながら attaches to the ます-stem, not the dictionary form.
Quick check
What goes in ( )? 音楽を（ ）ながら 勉強します。