Verb ている + 間 + Main clause

[While ~ (For the Whole Duration)]

Connection: Verb ている form + 間 + Main clause OR Noun + の間 + Main clause

This is the clause-level use of 間, meaning "while ~" or "during ~." It emphasizes that the main action occurs throughout the entire duration of the subordinate action.

Verb form: Usually ている (progressive/continuous form) comes before 間

Key difference from 間に:

• 間 = entire duration/throughout (the whole time)
• 間に = at some point during (not necessarily the whole time)

Structure: [Verb ている form / Noun + の] + 間、[Main clause]

Examples:

母が買い物をしている間、私は本を読んでいました。(While my mother was shopping, I was reading a book.)

夏休みの間、毎日泳ぎました。(During summer vacation, I swam every day.)

彼が話している間、誰も動きませんでした。(While he was talking, nobody moved.)