Today, I am going to share the homework correction from my JLPT N3 course!
The student’s sentence is not correct. Can you find the mistake?

 

[Student’s sentence]

昨日、テレビをつけながら寝てしまいました。

*きのう、てれびをつけながらねてしまいました。

 

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[My correction]

昨日、テレビをつけながら寝てしまいました。
→昨日、テレビをつけたまま寝てしまいました。
Yesterday, I fell asleep with the TV on.

 

ながら is used to indicate doing two actions at the same time.
Using ながら would mean that you are trying to turn on the TV while you are asleep, which is not possible.

(た)まま is used when doing something different during a continuing action or condition.
If you want to say that you “slept with the TV on,” then (た)まま is appropriate for this sentence.

 

e.g.
くつをはいたまま、家(いえ)に入(はい)らないでください。
Do not enter the house with your shoes on.

 

まどを開(あ)けたまま、出かけてしまいました。
I left the window open and went out.

 

I hope my explanation helps you. 😊

 

In the JLPT course, all lessons come with homework. If you submit your homework, I will reply with corrections.
I can break down the Japanese grammar and point out mistakes, explaining the structure and nuances of Japanese in an easy-to-understand way.
You can also ask me any questions in as much detail as you want. I will teach you until you get it!