Grammar JLPT Level N3 - Lesson 1

間(あいだ)に, is an expression that can be used with almost any type of word, to highlight that (A) is the period/space within which something else will or did happen/exist, or a period/space 'until' which something else will or did happen/exist. It is a combination of the noun 間(あいだ), and the case marking particle に.
When used with verbs or い-Adjectives, 間(あいだ)に will simply follow the verb/adjective. However, の will be required after nouns, while な will be required after な-Adjectives.

• あくびをしている間(あいだ)に笑(わら)わせないでって前(まえ)も言(い)ったじゃないか。
  I told you before not to make me laugh while I'm yawning!
• 若(わか)い間(あいだ)に色々(いろいろ)な経験(けいけん)をした方(ほう)がいいです。
  It would be better if you experience many different things while you are young.
• 暇(ひま)な間(あいだ)に、部屋(へや)の片付(かたづ)けをしておこう。
  While I'm free, I should clean my room. (Because I can't when I am busy)
• 冷蔵庫(れいぞうこ)とシンクの間(あいだ)に箸(はし)を落(お)としてしまった。
  I accidentally dropped a chopstick between the sink and the refrigerator.

When 間(あいだ)に is being used to express the period/space 'until' something happens/exists, it will be paired with まで.

• 1月(がつ)から4月(がつ)までの間(あいだ)に日本(にほん)に行(い)きたいと思(おも)います。
  I think I want to go to Japan sometime between January and April.
• 13時(じ)から15時(じ)までの間(あいだ)に連絡(れんらく)をください。
  Please give us a call from the period of between 1pm and 3 pm.

With 間(あいだ)に, the (B) action/location is usually something that can or did happen/exist at a 'specific' point during (A), and does/did not take up the whole time-frame/space of (A). In this way, it can translate more literally as 'in the span of (A)'. This comes from the kanji 間(あいだ)'s common meaning as 'an interval'.

• 彼女(かのじょ)は冬休(ふゆやす)みの間(あいだ)に地元(じもと)へ帰(かえ)った。
  She went back to her home town during winter break.
• コンタクトと目(め)の間(あいだ)にゴミが入(はい)って、目(め)がとても痛(いた)い。
  My eye is extremely sore because I got something between my contact and my eye.