97853
In an [IMABI tutorial](https://www.imabi.net/whileiiuchi.htm) showcasing the
differences between 間 vs うち, the author notes:

> Again, it is possible for 間 to not be followed by a particle, but this is
> not possible for うち.

and then uses the following sentence as an example:

> **家に帰るまでの間** 、雨につかまってしまった。
>
> I was caught in the rain till I got home.

**Question:** Isn't this just an example of a particle being _omitted_ (but
still there, implicitly) from 間? That is, isn't this just "家に帰るまでの間 **に** " or
"家に帰るまでの間 **ながら** "? If this is the case, couldn't we just convert sentences
like

> 知らない **うちに** 、眠ってしまっていた。

into

> 知らない **うち** 、眠ってしまっていた。

to get them "particleless", as well?

If not, and there really is zero particles in the original sentence
(implicitly and explicitly), then does that mean 「家に帰るまでの間」is functioning
purely adverbially there?
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2022-12-29T21:42:01.810
97849
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question
particles
Using 間 without particles
It is rather about _addition_ of に. 間/うち is a noun and X間/うち can be used
adverbially as noun phrases expressing time (like other time expressions). You
can think に is optional to some extent, but idiomaticity varies depending on
the nature of the main verb (and other semantic factors).

As for 間/間に, に adds the 'point-in-time'-ness to 間 which sounds like the whole
duration. When there is に, the main clause tends to be instantaneous and when
there is no に, it is continuous.

  * 家に帰るまでの間、小説を読んでいた

_Reading a novel_ happens all the time while going back home (on the train for
example).

  * 家に帰るまでの間に、小説を読み終えた

_Finishing a novel_ is instantaneous.

In both of the above, switching 間/間に makes them less natural (but not
completely odd).

* * *

Similarly for うち/うちに, but the difference seems more subtle to me.

  * 本を読んでいるうちに、眠りに落ちた
  * 本を読んでいるうち(に)、眠くなってきた

For the former, dropping に is ok but less natural (to me); for the latter, に
is totally optional.
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answer