This is in Renshuu N3 grammar pack:
私は髪を切__カラーリングもした。
With options for (two others ommited):
- ったついでに
- る内に
If you look at the translation they expected, "Since I got my hair cut, I took the opportunity and had it dyed", it's obvious that only the first option works. But I'm wondering if there's anything gramatically wrong with the second, with the meaning of "while cutting my hair, I had it died"
by TobiTako
5 comments
I think うちに usually follows verbs in ている form, ない form, or potential form. Maybe that’s why it’s not the best option?
My understanding is that うちに needs something expressing a state behind it. Usually a cut and colour is not done literally simultaneously. It’s not like the hairdresser is continuously cutting your hair without stopping then decides to use their extra pair of arms to do the dye job while they’re at it.
Verbs common before うちに are things like 忘れないうちに、寝ているうちに、etc.
___内にhas a feeling of “before ___ is over”, (若い内に読むべき本) so this would imply you had to finish dying your hair while your hair was being cut. If you use 間に instead, it just means “while I was cutting my hair” without any added implication.
“I cut my hair and I also had it colored” is what it translates to. 切る内に doesn’t really make sense.
As the other comment mentioned, the verb form is incorrect. In addition to that, うちに is not used when the speaker clearly knows both the beginning and end of the action; it’s used when the timeframe is somewhat vague. If the timeframe is clear, ‘間に’ is used instead.
Examples:
✕髪を切っているうちにネイルもした
◯髪を切っている間にネイルもした
◯気づかないうちに寝ていた
✕気づかない間に寝ていた
◯日本にいるうちに日本語を学びたい
◯日本にいる間に日本語を学びたい