Grammar -으면서

☝️Restrictions on use☝️ The verb in the following clause reflects the tense. ➡️ 영화 보면서 팝콘을 '먹었어요.' I ate popcorn while watching movie. The subject of the preceding clause and the following clause of -으면서 should be the same. ➡️ '한스 씨는' 밥을 먹으면서 (한스 씨는) 신문을 봤어요. Hans read newspaper while having a meal.

📝NOTE 1📝 Two reported speech clauses are connected as follows: 1. When 'speech + action' are simultaneously happening 카밀라 "약속이 있어요" + 카밀라 씨가 나갔다 ➡️ 카밀라 씨가 약속이 있다고 하면서 나갔어요. Kamila left while saying she had appointment. 2. When 'speech + speech' are simultaneously happening. 동규 "오늘은 시간이 없어요. 내일 만납시다." ➡️ 동규 씨가 오늘은 시간이 없다고 하면서 내일 만나자고 했어요. Donggyu asked to meet tomorrow while saying he has not time today.

📝NOTE 2📝 Both -으면서 and -는 동안에 are used when connecting two actions which are happening simultaneously. However, when different subjects are performing different actions simultaneously, only -는 동안에 can be used. ➡️ 학생들이 시험 보는 동안에 선생님이 책을 읽어요. The teacher is reading while the students is having exam.