All three represent the continuation of an action or state and can be connected to sentences that describe other actions performed at the same time. They have slightly different meanings, so let’s take a look at what they mean!
V(し)たまま
(For conjugation, see the Ta-form [た形].)
It expresses a continuous state of the result of an action. Or another action is performed during the continuous state.
V can be a momentary verb (瞬間動詞).
*Momentary verbs are immediate actions, such as 立つ (to stand), 座る (to sit), 開ける (to open), 閉める (to close), [眼鏡を]かける (to put on glasses), [電気を]つける (to turn on a light), etc., that continue in that state after the action is performed. These verbs basically cannot be used with 「しながら」.
姉はサングラスをかけたまま、部屋の中に入ってきた。
“My sister walked into the room with her sunglasses on.”
彼はとても忙しくて、立ったままお昼ご飯を食べていた。
“He was so busy that he ate his lunch while standing.”
Negative forms can be used as well
V(し)ないまま
(For conjugation, see the Nai-form [ない形].)
上着を着ないまま外へ出た。
“I went outside without my jacket on.”
メガネをかけないまま運転した。
“I drove without glasses on.”
Adjectives can be used, too
ナ形容詞 (Na-adjective)
Adj.なまま
古い着物が綺麗なまま残っていた。
“The old kimono remained in a clean state.”
イ形容詞 (I-adjective)
Adj.まま
昨日の残り物を冷たいまま食べた。
“I ate yesterday’s leftovers as they were cold. (I didn’t heat them up before eating.)”
Nouns can be used when it describes states
Nのまま
サイレンに驚いて、パジャマのまま外へ出た。
“Startled by the sirens, I went outside in my pajamas as I was.”
豚肉を生のまま食べるとお腹を壊すよ。
“If you eat pork while it’s raw, it will upset your stomach.”
ここらへんの景色は昔のままだね。
“The scenery around here is just as it used to be.”
V(し)ながら
(For conjugation, see the Masu-form [ます形].)
It expresses performing some action while performing another action. (Two actions are going on at the same time.)
V cannot be a momentary verb (瞬間動詞).
彼は鼻歌を歌いながら、自転車に乗っていた。
“He was riding his bike while humming a song.”
お皿洗いをしながらNetflixを見るのが好きです。
“I like to watch Netflix while doing the dishes.”
V(し)っぱなしで
(For conjugation, see the Masu-form [ます形].)
It means to perform another action while the result of one action is still continuing, as in したまま. Or, the action itself continues. Basically, it often expresses “a negative state opposite to the state that it should be”.
a continuation of the result of the action
エアコンをつけっぱなしで旅行に出かけた。
“I went on a trip without turning off the air conditioner.”
We get the impression that they should have turned off the air conditioner but forgot to do so.
エアコンをつけたまま旅行に出かけた。
“I went on a trip with the air conditioner on.”
We get the impression that they are just stating facts. Depending on the context, it could be positive or negative. There could be a positive reason, for example, “to prevent houseplants from dying due to the summer heat”.
a continuation of the action itself
朝から歩きっぱなしで、疲れた。
“I have been walking since this morning, and I am tired.”
久しぶりだから、今日はカラオケで4時間も歌いっぱなしだ。
“It’s been a while, so we’ve been singing karaoke for four hours today.”
Exercises
Translate the following sentences into Japanese by using one of「たまま」「ながら」「っぱなし」.
“I slept with the light on.”
(私は)電気をつけたまま寝た。
(私は)電気をつけながら寝た。
→ As「電気をつける」is a momentary verb, you can’t use it with ながら.
(私は)電気をつけっぱなしで寝た。
“It’s not good for your eyes to study while the room remains dark.”
部屋が暗いまま勉強するのは、目に良くないよ。
部屋が暗いながら勉強するのは、目に良くないよ。
部屋が暗いっぱなし勉強するのは、目に良くないよ。
→「ながら」 and 「っぱなし」cannot be connected to adjectives.
Key points
I would like to express the continuation of the result of a verb ending in a moment, an adjective, or a noun.
→「～まま」
I would like to express that two actions are going on at the same time.
→「ながら」
I would like to express the continuation of the result of a verb that ends in a moment or the general verb action itself.
I would like to express the continuation of a negative thing
→「っぱなし」