densha o matte iru aida, techou o yomikaeshimasu.

While waiting for the train, I reread my planner.

Breakdown of densha o matte iru aida, techou o yomikaeshimasu.

• を: direct object particle
• 電車でんしゃ: train
• 待まつ: to wait
• 〜て いる: progressive form

Questions & Answers about densha o matte iru aida, techou o yomikaeshimasu.

Why are there two を particles in this sentence?

Because the sentence contains two different verbs, and each verb has its own object:

• 電車を待っている = waiting for the train
• 手帳を読み返します = reread the notebook/planner

So the structure is basically:

• [電車を待っているあいだ], = while waiting for the train
• [手帳を読み返します] = I reread my planner

Each を belongs to a different verb, so this is completely normal.

Why does 待つ use を? In English we say wait for the train.

In Japanese, 待つ usually takes a direct object with を.

So:

• 電車を待つ = wait for the train
• 友だちを待つ = wait for a friend

This is different from English, where wait often needs for. A natural way to think about it is:

• English: wait for X
• Japanese: X を 待つ

So 電車を待っている is exactly what you would expect in Japanese.

What does 待っている mean here?