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Sample Sentences for ながら
彼はいらだちながら思った。
He thought irritably.
ご飯食べながらよくスプラッター映画見れるね。
How can you watch splatter films while eating food.
人形のおなかの横にあるねじをまくと、腕を回してでんぐり返しをしながら前に進みます。
If you wind up the doll with the key on the side of its torso it will swing its arms round and go forward doing somersaults.
その悪い知らせは残念ながら本当だ。
The bad news is only too true.
少し悪いと思いながらも、彼は笑うのを抑えることはできなかった。
He could not refrain from smiling, though with a slight sense of guilt.
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It's a particle and it means (1st meaning) while (at the same time).
To use this particle on verbs you take the -masu form of the main action verb, and then replace -masu with -nagara.
Ex 1. While
I listen to the radio while I drive.
運転しながら、ラジオを聞きます。
The main action is in front of ながら, the secondary action is after ながら。Aながら = while A.
Ex 2. Despite
Despite living in Holland I'm studying Japanese.
オランダにいながら、日本語を勉強しています。
Context suggests it is possible, but there are better options.
Ex 3. Although
John is weak even though he's tall.
ジョンさんは背が高いながらも、弱いです。
The particle も adds contrast (i.e. as opposed to).
Ex 4. Common expression
I'm sorry but there is (I have) no time.
残念ながら時間がない。
You'll often hear this in spoken language.