Lesson 100 of 126

The lesson

10.2 ～ところだ — Before, During, and After an Action

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Overview

This lesson covers ～ところだ, which expresses precise timing relative to an action. The meaning shifts depending on the verb form: dictionary form means "about to do," ～ている form means "in the middle of doing," and past form means "just finished."

～ところだ is used to describe the timing of an action. It shows exactly where you are relative to the action — before it starts, while it is happening, or just after it finished.

The meaning depends on the verb form used before ところだ.

～ところだ (after the dictionary form) — about to do

Verb (dictionary) + ところ + だ / です

Used when an action is just about to begin.

。

I’m about to go out.

。

I’m just about to eat.

～ているところだ — in the middle of doing

Verb (～ている) + ところ + だ / です

Used to say an action is currently in progress, often emphasizing that the speaker is busy with it.

。

We’re in a meeting right now.

。

I’m in the middle of writing a report.

～たところだ — just finished

Verb (past) + ところ + だ / です

Used when an action was completed very recently.

。

I just arrived.

。

I just finished.

The timing has a tendency to be objective and immediate, unlike ～たばかり, which is subjective.

Result of an action

～たところ is also used to describe a result discovered after an action.

Verb (past) + ところ + Phrase

、。

When I arrived at the station, it was raining.

、。

When I checked, it was wrong.

、。

When I tried asking, it was already over.

Sometimes ～たところで is used to say that even if you do something, it won’t help.

、。

Even if you hurry, you won’t make it.

Summary

Pattern	Focus	Nuance
～ところだ	Near future
～ている	Ongoing action	Neutral description
～ているところだ	Ongoing action	Emphasis on “right now”
～たばかり	Recent past	Speaker’s feeling
～たところだ	Just finished	Immediate, objective

Compare:

。

I’m about to eat lunch.

。

I’m eating lunch.

。

I’m in the middle of eating lunch (right now).

。

I just ate (recently).

。

I just finished eating.

Dialogue

いま今からひるごはん昼ごはんをたべる食べるところです。ちょうどでかける出かけるところでした。れぽうとレポートをかいている書いているところです。いま今かいぎ会議をしているところなので、あと後でかけなおしますかけ直します。いま今ついた着いたところです。さっきしゅくだい宿題がおわった終わったところです。でんわ電話しようとしたところ、ばってりいバッテリーがきれていた切れていた。しらべて調べてみたところ、ぜんぶ全部うりきれ売り切れでした。きいて聞いてみたところ、もうしめきり締め切りがすぎていました過ぎていました。いそいだ急いだところで、まにあいません間に合いません。えき駅についた着いたところ、ちょうどでんしゃ電車がしゅっぱつ出発したところでした。いま今からふろ風呂にはいる入るところなので、すこし少しまって待ってください。

I'm just about to eat lunch. I was just about to go out. I'm in the middle of writing a report. I'm in a meeting right now, so I'll call back later. I just arrived. I just finished my homework. Just when I was about to call, the battery died. When I looked into it, everything was sold out. When I tried asking, the deadline had already passed. Even if you hurry, you won't make it in time. When I arrived at the station, the train had just departed. I'm just about to take a bath, so please wait a moment.

10.1 ～たばかり — “just did”

10.3 On the Verge of Action

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