While Verbing - Base II + Nagara

Japanese Bunpo (grammar) lesson #106


Today’s lesson focuses in on the grammar principle:

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

You are able to express past tense and current tenses with this bunpo. After reading the following examples, plug in your favorite Japanese verbs and play, it 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 , I drink sake.

Grammar Formulation Breakdown –

1. Put verb in base II
a. The verb arau (to wash) with direct object sara (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 –

Ex.1 sara o arainagara, kuchibue of fukimashita. – While doing the dishes, I
whistled.

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

Ex.2 enka o kikinagara, sake o nonda.

Past tense, polite ending –

Ex.2 enka o kikinagara, sake o nomimashita.

Do your best!
Ganbatte Ne!
Makurasuki