How to use ながら。(While)

Here is a quick review/reference guide to everything talked about in this article:

~nagara (～ながら) is a grammar structure that attaches to ます-Form without the ます that translates to the English “while”.

Creating the ~Nagara form is really simple! Here are the steps:

1. Put the verb into ます-Form without the ます. (Ex: 食たべる->食たべ)
2. Add ながら to the verb stem. (Ex: 食たべ->食たべながら)

It differs slightly from 間あいだに.

You can use ~ながら (JLPT N5) when:

• Both parts of the sentence are actions being actively preformed by someone.
• Both actions are being preformed by the same person.
• Both actions are intentional.

You can use 間 and 間に (JLPT N3) when:

• One or both parts of the sentences are actions that are not actions being preformed by someone.
• Both actions can be preformed by different people.
• One or both actions are not intentional.