Lesson 7
Time (1): While, Every, The Moment
- 1 〜うちに ~uchi ni while / before it changes Do it before the situation changes — the "while you still can" feeling.
- 2 〜間(に) ~aida (ni) during / while Another action inside a stretch of time — and に changes the meaning.
- 3 〜最中(に) ~saichuu (ni) right in the middle of Something interrupts at the busiest point — "right in the middle of it!"
- 4 〜たびに ~tabi ni every time Every time that happens, this happens too — a repeating pair.
- 5 〜ついでに ~tsuide ni while you're at it Using the trip you're already making to get one more thing done.
- 6 〜たとたん(に) ~ta totan (ni) the moment ~ At the exact instant one thing finished, something unexpected followed.
Lesson check
All 6 forms of this lesson together — pick the right one from its look-alikes, the way the exam does. 6/8 completes the lesson.
🔒
「暗くならない＿、早く帰りましょう。」 — fill the blank.
💡 Hint:Before the situation changes.
Vない＋うちに = 'before it gets ~'. 間に rarely takes a negative, and たびに / ついでに don't fit the meaning.
「子どもが寝ている＿、部屋をそうじした。」 — fill the blank.
💡 Hint:Another action inside a stretch of time.
Vている＋間に = 'while ~ is going on'. たびに needs the dictionary form and とたんに the た-form, not Vている.
「会議の＿、田中さんの電話が鳴った。」 — which says 'right in the middle of the meeting'?
💡 Hint:An interruption at the busiest point.
N の最中に = 'right in the middle of' (when interrupted). たびに means 'every time', and とたんに needs Vた, not N の.
「この歌を聞く＿、国の家族を思い出す。」 — fill the blank.
💡 Hint:A repeating pair.
Dictionary form＋たびに = "every time". 最中に and 間に need Vている, とたんに needs Vた.
「コンビニへ行く＿、この手紙も出してきて。」 — fill the blank.
💡 Hint:Since you're going anyway, one more small job.
〜ついでに = 'while you're at it'. この手紙 is one letter, so たびに doesn't fit, and 最中に / とたんに don't take the dictionary form.
「ドアを開けた＿、ねこが外に出ていった。」 — fill the blank.
💡 Hint:Suddenly, at the very instant it was done.
Vた＋とたん = 'the moment ~' (something unexpected). ついでに is for an extra task you choose to do, not for a cat suddenly getting out; 間に and うちに don't take Vた.
「来年国に帰るから、日本にいる＿、富士山に登りたい。」 — fill the blank.
💡 Hint:The 'while I still can' feeling.
〜うちに = 'while you still can'. とたんに needs Vた, 最中に is for an activity, not a state like いる, and たびに means 'every time'.
Which is unnatural?
💡 Hint:Which verb form comes before とたん?
とたん always takes the た-form: 出たとたん, never 出るとたん.
Your score: /8