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So in a negative construction, うちに means "before". 前に is also used to mean
"before", but in verb-dict. form of course. How are they different? Also,
while we're on this topic, with positive verbs うちに means "while" or "during".
How is this different from saying ながら or 間? Are all 3 interchangeable?
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grammar nuances
Difference between 前に and うちに
You could translate うちに to "before", but more accurately it'd be closer to
"while" or "during" as in "during a period when a certain situation remains in
effect."

> 雨が降らない **うちに** 帰りましょう。= While it is not raining, let's head home!

前に on the other hand has a clearer distinction of what happens before.

> 私は東京へ行く **前に** 日本語を勉強しました。= Before I went to Tokyo, I studied Japanese.

The use of ながら expresses actions that happen simultaneously.

> 私は踊りながら音楽を聞きます。= Every time I listen to music, I dance.

Here with using ながら the later listed action (listening music) is the focus.
When using あいだに, both actions are of equal importance.
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## 前に

前に is the easiest and clearest way to say 'before'. It can be used with the
constructions noun + の、and Vnon-past。

  1. Noun + の

旅行 **の前に** 風邪を引きました Before the trip I caught a cold

試験 **の前に** 映画を見に行った Before the exam I went to see a movie.

  2. Vnon-past （する）

(this means verb in non-past/dictionary/casual form, whatever you know it by)

日本へ **行く前に** 日本語を勉強しました Before I went to Japan I studied Japanese.

日本人はご飯を **食べる前に** 「いただきます」と言います。 Japanese people say "itadakimasu" before they
eat

Note that it is always non-past form, even when the action took place in the
past (first example). The tense of the final verb in the sentence reflects the
temporality of the whole sequence.

## うちに

うちに refers to completing an action while a given situation is still in effect.
Often, the implication is that, once the situation has changed, completing the
particular action will become more difficult, less pleasant, etc.

  1. Vnegative （しない）

Used with a negative verb, if can mean before something happens (before it's
too late)

雨が **降らないうちに** テニスをしてきます I'm going to play tennis before it rains

**忘れないうちに** 言っておきたいことがあります I have something to tell you before I forget.

  2. Vpresent-continuous （している）・Vpotential （できる）

With the ている or できる form, it means 'while' or 'during'.

**考えているうちに** 分からなくなった While thinking about it, I got lost/confused

**働けるうちに** 出来るだけ働きたい I want to work as much as possible while I (still) can
work

  3. い and な adjectives

Used with adjectives it also means 'while'

**温かいうちに** 飲んでください Please drink it while it's warm

  4. Nouns

With nouns, it predictably tends to mean 'during'.

**休みのうちに** よく寝ておきます I'll sleep a lot during the holidays (while I have the
chance)

## ながら

ながら has a more restricted use. When nagara is used, the subject must be the
same in both clauses (same person doing the actions), and can only be used
with verbs, unlike うちに.

新聞を **読みながら** 朝ごはんを食べます I read the newspaper while eating breakfast.

With nagara, the second action is the main action of the sentence.

ものを **食べながら** 話してはいけません You shouldn't talk with your mouth full (while eating)

When the subjects of the two actions are different, you can use 間

## 間（に）

間 expresses one of two things.

  1. Simultaneous actions of approximately the same duration

私がご飯を **食べている間** 、父はテレビを見ていました While I was eating, dad was watching TV

(this cannot be expressed with nagara, as the subjects are different (me/dad))

  2. A second action falls within the time span of first action

私がご飯を **食べている間に** 、電話が鳴りました While I was eating, the phone rang
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