JLPT N2 • GENERAL

つつ

While talking on the phone, I take notes.

Practice Question

電話で話し ___ 、メモを取る。
Explanation

電話で話し ___ 、メモを取る。

English Explanation

"〜つつ" follows the masu-stem of a verb (e.g., 話し + つつ) to express concurrent actions, often in formal/written contexts. "も" (also) doesn't fit this structure. "ながらに" means "while remaining in a state" (e.g., 居ながらに), not for simultaneous actions. "すら" means "even" and doesn't express concurrency.

日本語解説

「〜つつ」は動詞の連用形(ます形の語幹)に接続し、「〜しながら」と同時進行を表す書き言葉です。「話しつつ」=「話しながら」。「も」は「〜もまた」という意味で構造に合いません。「ながらに」は「居ながらに」のように状態の継続を表し、同時進行の意味では使いません。「すら」は「〜さえ」という意味で並行動作を表しません。

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