Vます + ながら — Shows two actions happening at the same time | JLPT N5 grammar

Meaning

Shows two actions happening at the same time.

13 sentences

音楽おんがくを聞きききながら勉強べんきょうします
I study while listening to music.
歩きあるきながら話しはなしました
We talked while walking.
妹いもうとは歌うたを歌いうたいながら料理りょうりをしています
My younger sister is cooking while singing a song.
母はははラジオを聞きききながら庭にわの仕事しごとをします
My mother works in the garden while listening to the radio.
地図ちずを見みながら駅えきまで歩きあるきました
I walked to the station while looking at the map.
お茶おちゃを飲みのみながら旅行りょこうの予定よていを話しはなしました
We discussed our travel plans while drinking tea.
子どもこどもは歌うたを歌いうたいながら帰っかえってきました
The child came home singing a song.
メモを取りとりながら旅行りょこうの計画けいかくを聞きききます
I listen to the travel plan while taking notes.

5 more examples

写真しゃしんを見みながら祖父そふの話はなしを聞きききました
I listened to my grandfather's story while looking at photos.
電車でんしゃを待ちまちながら単語たんごを覚えおぼえます
I memorize words while waiting for the train.
兄あには音楽おんがくを聞きききながら部屋へやを掃除そうじしています
My older brother is cleaning his room while listening to music.
スマホを見みながら歩かあるかないでください
Please do not walk while looking at your smartphone.
鏡かがみを見みながら発音はつおんを練習れんしゅうします
I practise pronunciation while looking in a mirror.

ながら links two actions of the same person at the same time, and the main action comes last: 音楽を聞きながら勉強します (I study while listening to music).

Swapping the parts changes the focus: 歩きながら話す (talk while walking) vs 話しながら歩く (walk while talking). For two different people use 間: 母が料理している間、私は勉強します.

Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.

Sentence 1: 写真しゃしんを見みながら祖父そふの話はなしを聞きききました I listened to my grandfather's story while looking at photos.I will look at the travel photos and call my friend.I will call my friend after I look at the travel photos.
Sentence 2: 兄あには音楽おんがくを聞きききながら部屋へやを掃除そうじしています My older brother is cleaning his room while listening to music.I will throw away the old magazines and clean the room.I will clean the room after I throw away the old magazines.
Sentence 3: 鏡かがみを見みながら発音はつおんを練習れんしゅうします I will study after eating.I practise pronunciation while looking in a mirror.I get up in the morning and wash my face.

The pattern appears in these episodes. They open in the app with the transcript and translation.