「まま」の使い方

[Xhilononi]

How do you use "mama," as in the state. I think I have a very basic understanding of it, so I could understand it if I saw it, but not necessarily use it. Could any one help explain it and tell me if these sentences are right?

ぼうしをかぶるままで、家に入れた。
He entered the house wearing a hat (without taking it off).

新聞を読むままで、テレビを見始めました。
I read the newspaper and started to watch TV (without stopping reading the newspaper).

[Psy]

Close but not quite. "mama" refers to a state that is left as-is and is unchanged. Both of your sentences use dictionary-form verbs, but with "mama" you need the plain-past:

ぼうしをかぶるままで、家に入れた。
-->
ぼうしをかぶったままで、家に入った
He entered the house wearing a hat (without taking it off).

新聞を読むままで、テレビを見始めました。
I read the newspaper and started to watch TV (without stopping reading the newspaper).
With reading a newspaper, this is a concurrent action better expressed with "nagara." You could say, however, something like 立ったままで、テレビを見始めました "I started watching TV while [remaining] standing up."

... I can't believe Javizy hasn't responded to this yet. Hope this helps and corrections welcome.

[jkid]

Psy-san is right, as is most often the case However, you should also note that when the verb placed before まま is in the negative form, it must also be in the nonpast form.

For example (from the grammar bank):

（ドアを）閉めないまま
leaving the door unclosed

[Javizy]

... I can't believe Javizy hasn't responded to this yet. Hope this helps and corrections welcome.

I have faith in the good people here Actually, I'm not all that with まま either. I just realised I've never read the entry in my dictionary. In addition to what's already been said, the entry says that non-volitional verbs preceding ままを can be either past or non-past, e.g.「言われる/言われたままを払った」, and that you only (optionally) follow it with で when it directly precedes a verb. I always find those little notes useful

[Psy]

I have faith in the good people here Actually, I'm not all that with まま either. I just realised I've never read the entry in my dictionary. In addition to what's already been said, the entry says that non-volitional verbs preceding ままを can be either past or non-past, e.g.「言われる/言われたままを払った」, and that you only (optionally) follow it with で when it directly precedes a verb. I always find those little notes useful

Cool! Can't say I'd seen that one, but i looked it up in the nihongo2 grammar guide and it explains that まま behind a nonpast verb talks about going along with a natural tendency or sentiment, whereas with a past-form is as we've discussed above. Some of the examples:

風の吹くままに旗が揺れている。(かぜ・ふ・はた・ゆ）
A flag is swaying with the wind.
命令されるままに動く。（めいれい・はたら）
To work following orders.
感じるままに行動する（かん・こうどう）
to let one's feelings take control
言われるままにする（い）
(to) do as one is told

[jkid]

it explains that まま behind a nonpast verb talks about going along with a natural tendency or sentiment

Oh, good to know! Thanks for that.