Japanese Grammar: Expressing Specific Time Actions or Events 「ながら」「…間に」「ばかり」
Before starting the exercise for expressing specific time actions or events 「ながら」「...間に」「ばかり」, please clarify any doubts you may have about the grammatical rules by referring to your grammar guidebook or dictionary. The Instantaneous Composition Method requires you to compose sentences with the target sentence pattern(s) over and over in order to use them almost effortlessly. You should already have the necessary knowledge.
Instantaneous Composition Exercise for Expressing Specific Time Actions or Events 「ながら」「...間に」「ばかり」
This is not a translation exercise. This is the Instantaneous Composition Exercise. As if a reflexive action, try to create an equivalent Japanese sentence shortly after reading an English script. Try not to think for more than three seconds.
Natural Speed with Pauses
English and Hidden Japanese Scripts
(I) have just eaten a meal.
ごはんを食べたばかりです。
(I) have just watched that movie.
その映画を見たばかりです。
(I) have just come now.
今来たばかりです。
While (you) are in Japan, let’s go to Kyoto.
日本にいる間に、京都に行きましょう。
While (I) was sleeping, (my) mother came to (my) house.
寝ている間に、お母さんが家に来ました。
While (I) was studying, the movie finished.
勉強している間に、映画が終わりました。
(I’m) studying while talking.
話しながら勉強をしています。
(I’m) waiting while singing.
歌いながら待っています。
While (it’s) unfortunate, (I) cannot go today.
残念ながら、今日は行けません。
Even while (it was) worrying, (I didn’t) ask anything.
心配ながらも、何も聞きませんでした。
Note
The difference between 「間に」 and 「ながら」 is whether 「間に」 expresses a range of time or 「ながら」 expresses a continuous action or state.
