メアリーは何時間もじっと座って海を眺めていることがある。

topic marker particle; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis

what; how many; you-know-what; that; whatsit; what's the expression; what do you call them; what?; hey!

time; hours

too; also; in addition; as well; (not) either (in a negative sentence); both A and B; A as well as B; neither A nor B (in a negative sentence); even; as much as; as many as; as far as; as long as; no less than; no fewer than; even if; even though; although; in spite of; further; more; again; another; the other

motionlessly (e.g. stand, wait); (be) still; fixedly (e.g. gaze, stare); intently (e.g. listen, think); patiently (endure); stoically; firmly (e.g. hold); restrained

to sit; to squat; to assume (a position); to hold steady; to hold still

sea; ocean; waters

indicates direct object of action; indicates subject of causative expression; indicates an area traversed; indicates time (period) over which action takes place; indicates point of departure or separation of action; indicates object of desire, like, hate, etc.

to view; to gaze at

thing; matter; incident; occurrence; event; something serious; trouble; crisis; circumstances; situation; state of affairs; work; business; affair; after an inflectable word, creates a noun phrase indicating something the speaker does not feel close to; nominalizing suffix; pretending to ...; playing make-believe ...; alias; aka; nickname; alternative name; also known as

indicates sentence subject (occasionally object); indicates possessive (esp. in literary expressions); but; however; still; and

to be (usu. of inanimate objects); to exist; to live; to have; to be located; to be equipped with; to happen; to come about