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There are not much differences from yesterday’s sentences. Both in yesterday’s and today’s, “V-te iru” works to express a result that happened in one time in the past has still been persisting. This kind of “V-te iru” sometimes is dealt with a part of “V-te iru for “Action Continues””, but when an intransitive verb is used for “V-te iru”, it is categorized as “A Result is Persisting”. The only difference between yesterday and today is the subject markers. Yesterday’s sentences use “ga” and today’s “wa”. And today’s sentences use one-series of Ko-so-a words,
1. Kono Denki wa Kiete imasu. (This light is turned off.)
2. Sono Ko’ohi’i Sa’aba’a wa Koshou Shite imasu. (That coffee server broke.)
3. Ano Ki wa Taorete imasu. (That tree has fallen over.)
The sentence 1 indicates that the light turned off in some point in past. After that, the light has been off until now. This explanation was repeated in yesterday’s post. So for today, let us just look at two issues; comparison between intransitive and transitive verbs, and comparison between “wa” and “ga”.
[ 1 ] Intransitive verbs and Transitive verbs
1. Int: Kieru/Kiemasu : Denki ga Kiemashita. (The light turned off.)
Tra: Kesu/Keshimasu : Watashi wa Denki o Keshimashita. (I turned the light off.)
2. Int: Koshoushuru/Koshoushimasu : Ko’ohi’i Sa’aba’a ga Koshou shimasita. (The coffee server has broken.)
Interestingly, there isn’t the transitive version of “Koshousuru/Koshoushimasu”. One of group3 verb “Suru/Shimasu” is very often used as transitive verbs. Although “Suru/Shimasu” sometimes works as intransitive verbs, but not many times. Likewise, compound group 3 verbs with active noun and “Suru/Shimasu” are usually transitive.
<examples — transitive>
– Benkyou-suru (study) : Nihongo o Benkyou-shimasu (study Japanese)
– Ryouri-suru (cook) : Suigyouza o Ryouri-shimasu (cook boiled dumplings)
– Yoyaku-suru (reserve) : Hoteru o Yoyaku-shimasu (reserve a hotel room)
<examples — intransitive>
But there are some compound Gr3 verbs that is a combination of active noun and “Suru/Shimasu”
– Sanka-suru (participate) : Boranthia ni Sanka-shimasu (participate a volunteer activity)
– Goukaku-suru (pass a exam) : Kiken ni Goukaku-shimasu (pass the examination)
– Shuushoku-suru (start working) : Kaisha ni Shuushoku-shimasu (start working in a company)
– Koshou-suru (break) : Kopi’iki ga Koshou-shimasita (Photocopy machine has broken.)
So, group3 verbs “Naninani-suru” are usually transitive verbs, but you need to be careful that some of them are intransitive verbs.
3. Int: Taoreru/Taoremasu : Ki ga Taore mashita. (The tree fell down.)
Tra: Taosu/Taoshimasu : Furui Ie o Taoshi mashita. (We tore down the old house.)
As is the case in 1 and 3, There are pairs of intransitive verb and transitive verb. It is like rise-raise, lie-lay, and sit-seat in English. The problem is that there are so many such pairs in Japanese. On the other, sometimes like 2, there is only intransitive verb and no transitive verb that can be a pair with intransitive verb. Actually, there is a way to have such intransitive verb work as transitive verb. The way will be explained in the section 48.
[ 2 ] “wa” or “ga” for Subject Marker
All the three sentences of today use “wa” for the subject marker.
1. Kono Denki <wa> Kiete imasu. (This light is turned off.)
2. Sono Ko’ohi’i Sa’aba’a <wa> Koshou Shite imasu. (That coffee server broke.)
3. Ano Ki <wa> Taorete imasu. (That tree has fallen over.)
In these situations, the speaker and the listener share what the subject is. Two persons are looking the same light in the sentence 1, the same coffee server in 2, and the same tree in 3. But if you want to use “ga” instead of “wa”, what kind of situation necessitates use of “ga” for subject marker?
1’. A : I have heard that a light bulb is off. Which one is turned off?
B : Kono Denki <ga> Kiete imasu. (This the light that is turned off.)
2’. A : I have heard that one of coffee servers had got problem and didn’t work well. Do you know which one is broken?
B : Sono Ko’ohi’i Sa’aba’a <ga> Koshou Shite imasu. (That coffee server is the one that has broken.)
3’. A : There are many trees in the park. Do you know if there is a tree that fell down by the strong wind yesterday?
B : Ano Ki <ga> Taorete imasu. (That tree has fallen over.)
As you can see, if we think of situation in which “ga” is used for the subject markers, we need to make up settings. On the other, the sentences 1, 2, and 3 using “wa” are simply mentioning the situation. It is really a difficult problem as to which of “wa” or “ga” is to be used. If you don’t know which is better, using “wa” may be a good choice. “wa” is broadly being used for topic marker and subject marker. This is the reason that you learn “wa” in the first day of Japanese learning, but “ga” comes later.
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This post was written with reference to the exercise A2 on Section29 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”
[ 1 ] “V-te iru” for “A Result is Persisting”
As explained in A2 S28, the functions of “V-te iru” are shown below;
<1> Action is Ongoing
– Satou-san wa Ima Denwa de Hanashite imasu. (Sato-san is now talking on a phone.)
<2-1> Action Continues
– Satou-san wa Suzuki-san o Shitte imasu. (Sato-san knows Suzuki-san.)
<2-2> Result of Action is Persisting
– Doa ga Aite imasu. (The door is left open.)
<3> Action is Repetitive
– Maiban Ku-ji no Nyu’usu o Mite imasu. (I watch the news program at 9 p.m. every night.)
What we are learning is <2-2>. Although <2-2> is sometime included in “<2-1> Action Continues”, if a verb for “V-te” is an intransitive verb that expresses action in short period of time (instantaneous verbs) *. Let us look at some examples of <2-2>.
1. Mado ga Aite imasu. (A window has kept opening.)
In some time in the past, it happened that a window opened. When that window was opening, the action didn’t take much long. Action “open” itself was short lasting. However, the consequence of the action has lasted since it happened. This “V-te iru” ‘Aite imasu’ expresses that the result of action is sustained until now.
“Aite” is the Te-form of intransitive verb “Aku”. If you want to say “open” as transitive verb, it is “Akeru”. check the difference between intransitive verb “Aku” and transitive verb “Akeru”.
– Intransitive verb sentence : Mado ga Akimashita. (The window opened.)
– Transitive verb sentence : Watashi wa Mado o Akemashita. (I opened the window.)
2. Taxi ga Tomatte imasu. (A taxi is stopping.)
A taxi stopped in some moment in past, and it keeps stopping until now. “Tomatte” is the Te-form of intransitive verb “Tomaru”. If you want to say “stop” as transitive verb, it is “Tomeru”. check the difference between intransitive verb “Tomaru” and transitive verb “Tomeru”.
– Intransitive verb sentence : Takushii ga Tomarimashita. (The taxi stopped.)
– Transitive verb sentence : Watashi wa Takushii o Tomemashita. (I stopped the taxi.)
3. Garasu no Koppu ga Warete imasu. (A glass cup is broken.)
A glass cup broke. Breaking was instantaneous. Since then, the cup is left broken until now. “Warete” is the Te-form of intransitive verb “Wareru”. If you want to say “break glass into pieces” as transitive verb, it is “Waru”.
– Intransitive verb sentence : Osara ga Waremashita. (The dish was broken.)
– Transitive verb sentence : Watashi wa Osara o Warimashita. (I broke the dish.)
The verbs for Te-form are all intransitive verbs in the example 1 to 3; Aku, Tomaru, and Wareru. These actions take very short period of time. But making “V-te iru”, you can express that the result of action is still sustained. This is one of functions of “V-te iru”, but we can learn as important aspect of “V-te iru”. It is that “V-te iru” can make an instantaneous action a stative situation.
* : Most of Verbs express actions that can be done in short period of time (instantaneous verbs). Therefore, this caveat after “that expresses” may be unnecessary. Stative intransitive verbs are not many. Knowing Aru(有る), Iru(居る), Iru(要る), is okay. There are no “V-te iru” for these. If you think you have heard “V-te iru” for these Aru and Iru, they are not, instead;
– Atte iru => 会っている(be meeting), or 合っている(be fitting, be adjusting)
– Itte itu => 言っている(be saying), or 行っている(being there)
[ 2 ] Subject Marker “-ga” for New Information
Here is another important issue for today’s sentence construction. Compare the following two;
1. Mado ga Aite imasu. (A window has kept open.)
4. Ano Mado wa Aite imasu. (That window has been kept open.)
Today we learn the sentence 1, and tomorrow, 4. What is the subject marker for 1 and 2? The subject marker is “ga” in the sentence 1, while it is “wa” in the sentence 2. Selecting “wa” or “ga” for subject marker is difficult for learners, and even for native Japanese speakers for sometimes. There are some criteria for decision making about “wa” or “ga”;
Explanation1:
“wa” : The purpose of the sentence is to explain of Known subject’s name, condition, or action.
“ga” : The purpose of the sentence is to specify what the subject is.
Explanation2:
“wa” : [Subject] wa [Important Information].
“ga” : [Important Information] ga [Predicate].
So far, I have used these two explanations when it comes to choice of “wa” or “ga” as subject marker. But when you look at today’s sentence 1;
1. Mado ga Aite imasu. (A window has kept opening.)
Which of the subject or the predicate is important in this sentence, “Mado (a window)” or “Aite imasu(has kept opening)”? You may answer both are important. Yes, probably the subject “Mado” and the predicate “Aite imasu” are both important information. And depending on a situation, “Mado wa Aite imasu” is also okay. Then, how we correctly choose “wa” or “ga”?
Case for “wa”
A : Mado wa Aite imasuka. (Is the window open?)
B : Hai, Mado wa Aite imasu.(Yes, the window is open.)
In this case, the word “window” is shared between persons A and B.
Case for “ga”
Suppose a burglar broke into a house. The next morning, a police officer arrived. He called his boss from the scene.
Boss : Anything wrong with the house?
PO: A window is open. => Mado ga Aite imasu.
The boss must have thought the house had got something unusual. But at the time of asking, the boss didn’t have a concrete idea about what was wrong. Then the police officer told him a new information. A window that should be closed during the night was left open in the morning. As this example indicates, when you say new information, “ga” is usually used as the subject marker. Window’s being left open is not surprising to police officer, but sometimes a thing happens suddenly, and it is a bit surprising, “ga” is used like below;
5. Att! Mukou kara Basu ga Kimasu. (Ah! a bus is coming from there!)
6. Hora! Shingou ga Kawarimasu. (Look at that! Trafiic light is changing!)
Therefore, another “wa” or “ga” criteria would be as follows;
“wa”; when talking about already known information
“ga”; when talking about a new information.
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This post was written with reference to the exercise A1 on Section29 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”
Yesterday, we learned a sentence construction to say reasons using the conjunctive particle “-shi,” twice. Basically “-shi,” is to enumerate two things. Today’s sentence also raised two reasons, but uses “-shi,” only once for the first reason. For the second reason, “-kara” is used. Let’s look at today’s sentences;
A : Doushite Nihon no Hokkaido ga Sukina ndesuka. (Why do you like Hokkaido of Japan?)
B1 : Tabemono mo Oishii shi, Fu’ukei mo Kirei desu kara.
(Because foods are delicious, and scenery is beautiful.)
B2 : Onsen mo Kimochi’ii shi, and Suki’i-jou mo Arimasu kara.
(Because hot springs make me feel good, and there are many ski resorts.)
B3 : Yuki mo Mirareru shi, Ainu Bunka mo Wakarimasu kara.
(Because I can see snow, and also, I can learn about Ainu* culture.)
*= proper noun
The question A doesn’t say “Sukidesuka”, instead, it says “Sukinandesuka.” using “-ndesu” which was introduces in the section 26. “-ndesu” has a function to explain a reason/cause. Using “-ndesuka” is an effective way when asking a question using “Doushite” and “Naze” which both mean “why”.
The answers of B1 to B3 end with “-kara.” This is what Minna no Nihongo shows learners. And this is no problem, especially thinking about developmental stage of Japanese as a second language. Saying a reason is important for communication. The sentence-final particle “-kara” is introduced in early stage in Minna no Nihongo. It is at “Sample sentences” in the section 9. But to me, using “-kara” as a sentence-final particle sounds a little bit casual. Again, it’s no problem for a learner of Japanese as foreign language to end the sentence with “-kara.” But if a learner is of intermediate-level, I would like to recommend a different type of sentence ending with “kara”.
Here’s the last half of B1;
– Fu’ukei mo Kirei desu kara.
= [Subject] + [Predicate with Polite Ending] + kara.
My suggestion is as follows;
– Fu’ukei mo Kirei da kara desu.
= [Subject] + [Predicate with Short Ending] + kara desu.
B2 => Suki’i-jou mo Aru kara desu.
B3 => Ainu Bunka mo Wakaru kara desu.
I don’t think it is good to increase the number of variations in the early stage of second language learning. So just stick to the way Minna no Nihongo shows you. But let me say that it is good to end your answer with “-kara desu.” when you are asked a question starting with “Doushite (why)” or “Naze (why)”.
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This post was written with reference to the exercise A5 on Section28 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”
The function of the conjunctive particle “-shi,” is to say two things parallelly. And sometime such enumeration tends to be reasons for a conclusion. As shown in yesterday’s post, the connections between a word and “-shi” is usually be short ending form plus “-shi”. In the case of present-positive;
(1) verb : -u+shi, — e.g. Ar-u+shi, Ir-u+shi,
(2) I-adjective: -i+shi, — e.g. Hiro-i+shi, O’o-i+shi,
(3) Na-adjective: -da+shi, — e.g. Shizuka-da+shi, Benri-da+shi,
Let us look at today’s sentences;
[Subject] wa [Predicate1] shi, [Predicate2] shi, [Conclusion].
Examples;
1. Kono Toshokan wa Shizukada shi, Hiroi shi, Itumo Koko de Hon o Yonde imasu.
(This library is quiet and spacious, so I always read a book here.)
2. Kono Toshokan wa Hon mo O’oi shi, Kashidashi mo Benrida shi, Itsumo Koko de Hon o Karite imasu.
(This library has many books, and the lending procedure is convenient, so I always borrow a book here.)
where; Kashidashi; noun(+suru); lending
3. Kono Toshokan wa Zasshi Ko’ona’a mo Arushi, Shinsetuna Hito mo Irushi, Itumo Koko de Hon o Yonde imasu.
(In this library, there is a magazine area, and kind people are there, so I always read a book here.)
Note that there are two intransitive verbs for existing;
– Things without life and plants; Aru/Arimasu
– Human kind and animals; Iru/Imasu
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This post was written with reference to the exercise A4 on Section28 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”
Since I can harvest many carrots from my garden, I made pickles this morning. Tasted in the evening, I felt it’s not so bad.
The sentence construction in the title uses the word “Predicate”. When it comes to predicate, we need to think about four types of it. They are Noun, Na-adjective, I-adjective, Verb predicates. Since a noun predicate and a Na-adjective predicate are using the same sentence endings, let us look at three types of predicates for today’s construction.
(1) Verb
1. Satou-san wa Gita’a mo Hikeru shi, Uta mo Utaeru shi, soreni Sakkyoku mo Dekimasu.
where, sakkyoku; noun(+suru); composition, song-writing
(Sato-san can play a guitar, can sing a song, and she can write a song.)
Note that three verbs in the sentence are all in potential form. Using potential forms are not always necessary for this construction. For example,
2. Miller-san wa Osake mo Nomushi, Osashimi mo Tabemasu.
(Mr. Miller drinks Sake, and eat Sashimi.)
If Miller-san who is not Japanese drinks Sake and eats Sashimi, wouldn’t it be positive things? Someone having potentialities to do is positive. And it is good to say positive things when enumerating two or three words. Therefore, it is good to learn a sentence with verbs in potential forms, when you learn the conjunctive particle for enumeration.,
2’. Miller-san wa Osake mo Nomerushi, Osashimi mo Taberaremasu.
(Mr. Miller can drink Sake and eat Sashimi.)
where; Nomeru and Taberareru are the potential forms of Nomu and Taberu, respectively.
(2) I-adjective
3. Suzuki-san wa Wakai shi, Se mo Takai shi, soshite Ashi mo Hayai desu.
(Suzuki-san is young and tall, and he runs fast.)
where; Se is height of body. Ashi is legs.
An I-adjective is placed in front of “-shi.,” with “i” as you see in the sentence 3.
(3) Na-adjective
4. Takahashi-san wa Majimeda shi, Shinsetsuda shi, Karada mo Kenkou desu.
(Takahashi-san is Majime* and kind, and his body is healthy.)
* It is difficult to express “Majime” by one word in English.
It is important to know how verbs, I-adjectives, and Na-adjectives are connected to “-shi,”. These three types of words need to be “short ending forms” in front of “-shi,”. In the case of present tense;
(1) verb : -u+shi, — e.g. Hiker-u+shi, Utaer-u+shi, Nomer-u+shi, Taberarer-u+shi,
(2) I-adjective: -i+shi, — e.g. waka-i+shi, Taka-i+shi,
(3) Na-adjective: -da+shi, — e.g. Majime-da+shi, Shinsetsu-da+shi,
These “-u+”, “-i+”, and “-da+” are used for present tense. In the case of past tense, connections to “-shi,” can be as below;
(1) verb in past tense
1’. Satou-san wa Gita’a mo Hiketa shi, Uta mo Utaeta shi, soreni Sakkyoku mo Dekimashita.
(Sato-san was able to play a guitar and sing a song, and she was able to write a song.)
(2) I-adjective in past tense
3’. Suzuki-san wa Wakakatta shi, Se mo Takakatta shi, soshite Ashi mo Hayakatta desu.
(Suzuki-san was young and tall, and he ran fast.)
(3) Na-adjective in past tense
4’. Takahashi-san wa Majimedatta shi, Shinsetsudatta shi, Karada mo Kenkou deshita.
(Takahashi-san was Majime* and kind, and his body was healthy.)
Although the conjunctive particle “-shi,” is the main thing to learn here, but you may find that the particle “-mo” is used many times in the examples. “-mo” has already been introduced at A5 in the section 1. At that time, it is explained that “-mo” is a particle to indicate that the noun is the same kind with another noun that appeared in preceding sentence. This time, “-mo”(s) has the function to enumerate two or three nouns within a sentence.
1. Satou-san wa Gita’a <mo> Hikeru shi, Uta <mo> Utaeru shi, soreni Sakkyoku <mo> Dekimasu.
If guitar, song, and composition are not enumerated, and each of them stands alone,
<Gita’a ga Hikemasu.>, <Uta ga Utaemasu.>, and<Sakkyoku ga Dekimasu.>
So, putting these three into one sentence, the particle “ga” turned to be “mo”.
2. Miller-san wa Osake mo Nomushi, Osashimi mo Tabemasu.
What particle is the original one before it turned to be “mo”?
<Osake o Nomimasu,>, <Osashimi o Tabemasu.>
It is better to know what the original particle was before being replacing by “-mo”.
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This post was written with reference to the exercise A3 on Section28 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”
Since I am not so energetic these days, it took one week for me to plant seedlings of green onions. As they grow, I will gradually fill in the ditch. The trunks buried in the soil turn to be white. That white trunk is the main part to eat.
The main item to learn in the Section 28 is the conjunctive particle “-shi,” that is for mentioning two things parallelly. In addition, another conjunctive particle “-nagara,” is introduced in A1 yesterday. “-nagara,” is to express that two actions are ongoing simultaneously. Today’s A2 is also about conjunctive particle, which is “-te(de),”, but it would be better to think A2 is introducing one of usages of “[V-te] imasu.” For Japanese learners at beginner’s level, “[V-te] imasu.” is explained to have three or four usages.
<Functions of “[V-te] imasu.”>
<1> Ongoing Action
– Satou-san wa Ima Denwa de Hanashite imasu. (Sato-san is now talking on a phone.)
This is introduced in the section 14 of Minna no Nihongo. In a sentence of present tense, the adverb “Ima” is usually used in order to say the action is ongoing “Now”. In a sentence of past tense, usually it is specified when the action was ongoing like below;
– Kinou Ie ni Kaetta toki, Chichi wa Nete imashita. (When I came back home yesterday, my dad was sleeping.)
<2-1> Continuous Action
– Satou-san wa Suzuki-san o Shitte imasu. (Sato-san knows Suzuki-san.)
Probably English translation would be better if it’s “Sato-san has known Suzuki-san for long.”. This usage of “[V-te] imasu.”, being introduced in the section 15, expresses that a subject keeps on doing action for a while. Some textbooks introduce another (forth) usage that is part of “Continuous action”.
<2-2> Persistence of Result
– Doa ga Aite imasu. (The door is left open.)
This usage of “[V-te] imasu.”, introduced in the section 29. When the verb in Te-form is an intransitive verb describing instantaneous action, “[V-te] imasu.” means the result of action remains until the time of talking.
<3> Repetitive Action
– Maiban Ku-ji no Nyu’usu o Mite imasu. (I watch the news program at 9 p.m. every night.)
This is what we learn today. This is at A2 in the Section 28. A sentence means that a subject repeats action by this usage of “[V-te] imasu.” It is usually with an adverb having meaning of always and/or every, like; Itsumo (always), Taitei (usually), Mainichi (every day), Doyoubi wa Itsumo (every Saturday) and so on.
Here are some example sentences for this usage “Repetitive Action” of “[V-te] imasu.”
1. Yasumi no Hi wa Taitei Ie de Piano o Hite imasu. (I usually play piano on holiday.)
Note that “wa” is not a subject marker but a topic marker. The subject in this sentence is “Watashi”.
2. San-nen mae Kyouto ni Sunde itatoki, Maishuu Otera o Mini Itte imashita. (When I lived in Kyoto three years ago, I visited temples every week.)
The sentence 2 is of past tense. “Sunde ita” is “V-te iru” of <2-1> Continuous Action, and “Mini Itte imashita” is “V-te iru” of <3> Repetitive Action
3. Maishuu Nichiyoubi, Sentaku o Shitari, Souji o Shitari Shite imasu. (Every Sunday, I wash clothes and clean the room.)
There is a complicated sentence in A2 S28 of Minna no Nihongo. That is the third sentence which uses “Tari-tari construction”. My example sentence uses different words, but the construction is basically the same. “Shitati Shite” seems a double use of the same verb, but this is quite often used. The English translation in the parentheses may not convey the nuance of “Tari-tari construction”. Though “I” wash clothes and clean the room, there is no order about which to be done first. Also, these two are not done simultaneously because if washing and cleaning are simultaneous, “-nagara, ” would be used.
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This post was written with reference to the exercise A2 on Section28 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”
The main item to learn in the Section 28 is the conjunctive particle “-shi,” that is for mentioning two things parallelly. Although the exercise A1 is not the sentence construction that uses “-shi,”, it has a common nature with sentences using “-shi,” in respect of mentioning two things parallelly. It is another conjunctive particle, “-nagara,”.
1. Shimbun o Yomi nagara, Asa-Gohan o Tabemsu. (Reading a newspaper, I eat my breakfast.)
2. Arubaito o Shi nagara, Nihongo Gakkou de Benkyou Shite imasu. (I work a part time job, and study at a Japanese language school.)
The sentence 1 expresses taking two actions simultaneously at a moment. On the other, the sentence 2 probably expresses a situation that “I” study in day time and work in the evening. There is not much difference between 1 and 2, but 1 is about short period of time, while 2 is about a little longer period of time.
In order to learn how to use “-nagara,”, let us examine the connection between a verb and “-nagara,”. As the conjugation pattern, a verb becomes “Masu-form without ‘masu’”. For example, in the sentence1, “-nagara,” is connected to the verb “Yomu/Yomimasu”. When getting rid of “masu” from Yomimasu, it becomes “Yomi”. Then you will get “Yomi+nagara,”. Likewise in the sentence2, the verb “Suru/Shimasu” and “-nagara,” are connected together. Since “Masu-form without ‘masu’” is “Shi”, you will get “Shi+nagara,”.
Group2 verbs + nagara,
– Miru/Mimasu (look, watch, see) => Mi/masu + nagara, => Minagara,
– Miseru/Misemasu (show) => Mise/masu + nagara, => Misenagara,
Group3 verbs +nagara,
– Kuru/Kimasu (come) => Ki/masu + nagara, => Kinagara,
– Suru/Shimasu (do) => Shi/masu + nagara, => Shinagara,
Gr1-W verbs + nagara,
– Iu/Iimasu (say) => Ii/masu + nagara, => Iinagara,
Gr1-K verbs + nagara,
– Hataraku/Hatarakimasu (work) => Hataraki/masu + nagara, => Hatarakinagara,
Gr1-G verbs + nagara,
– Isogu/Isogimasu (hurry) => Isogi/masu + nagara, => Isoginagara,
Gr1-S verbs + nagara,
– Hanasu/Hanashimasu (talk) => Hanashi/masu + nagara, => Hanashinagara,
Gr1-T verbs + nagara,
– Motsu/Mochimasu (hold) => Mochi/masu + nagara, => Mochinagara,
Gr1-B verbs + nagara,
– Asobu/Asobimasu (play for fun) => Asobi/masu + nagara, => Asobinagara,
Gr1-M verbs + nagara,
– Kamu/Kamimasu (bite, chew) => Kami/masu + nagara, => Kaminagara,
Gr1-R verbs + nagara,
– Suwaru/Suwarimasu (sit) => Suwari/masu + nagara, => Suwarinagara,
The followings are examples that use “-nagara,”;
<1> Simultaneous two actions
3. Uta o Utainagara, Piano o Hikimasu. (Singing a song, (she) plays a piano.)
4. Mizu o Nagashinagara, Osara o Araimasu. (Flushing water, I wash dishes.)
<2> Two actions in longer period of time (e.g. two occupations)
5. Kaisha de Hataraki nagara, Yasai mo Tsukutte imasu. (I work in a company, and I also grow vegetables.)
6. Nen ni San-kai Inaka ni Karinagara, Toukyou de Hataraite imasu. (I work in Tokyo, and I return to my hometown three times a year.)
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This post was written with reference to the exercise A1 on Section28 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”
Agony or Fun?! Second Language Learning 