JLPT N5 grammar

〜ながらmeaning and usage

Meaning

Links two actions done at the same time by the same person: “do B while doing A”. It attaches to a verb’s ます-stem.

How to form it

  • verb (masu-stem)ながら

How it is used

One person doing two things at once; the main action comes last, so 「音楽を聞きながら勉強する」 is about studying. If the two actions have different subjects, use 「〜ている間」 instead.

Examples

  1. すごい！ 田中さんはジャンプをしながら歌います！

    Wow! Tanaka sings while jumping!

  2. テレビを見ながら晩ご飯を食べます。

    I eat dinner while watching TV.

  3. 歩きながら電話をしないでください。

    Please don't talk on the phone while walking.

About the example In ジャンプをしながら歌います, ながら shows that Tanaka sings while jumping.