Verb (Base II) + nagara - to do while 'verb'ing.

With this grammar construction, both past tense and present tense expressions are allowable. After reading the following examples, plug in your favorite Japanese verbs and, play! Plugging and playing in this way makes learning Japanese fun!

Example 1. sara o arainagara, kuchibue o fuku. - While doing the dishes, I whistle.

Example 2. enka o kikinagara, sake o nomu - While listening to an enka drink sake.

Japanese Grammar Formulation Breakdown

Put verb in base II
a. The verb arau (v. to wash) in + direct object sara (n. dishes) is sara o arau - to do the dishes.

b. arau in base II becomes arai.

2. Fuse arai and nagara to make arainagara, or the phrase while washing... plugged and played.

Past tense, non-polite (familiar), plain-form ending

Ex. 1 sara o arainagara kuchibue of fuita. I whistled while doing the dishes.

Past tense, polite ending -

Example 1. sara o arainagara, kuchibue of fukimashita. - While doing the dishes, I whistled.

Past tense, non-polite (familiar), plain-form ending -

Example 2. enka o kikinagara, sake o nonda (While listening to enka, I drank Sake)

Past tense, polite ending -

Example 2. enka o kikinagara, sake o nomimashita.( While listening to enka, I drank Sake)

Past tense, non-polite (familiar), plain-form ending

Example 3. kuruma o unten shinagara, tomodachi to hanshi o shita (While driving my car, I spoke with my friend)

Past tense, polite ending -

Example 3. kuruma o unten shinagara, tomodachi to hanshi o shimashita

Ganbatte Ne!
Do your best!
Makurasuki

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