after a dictionary-form verb means "about to": the action hasn't started yet, but it is going to start right now. In polite speech it is
, and words like
,
and
often come with it.
。
I'm just about to make a phone call.
、。
The film's about to start, so be quiet.
It covers the next few moments only. For something planned further ahead, use or .
- × 来年結婚するところです → 来年結婚する予定です
Before, during, after
after three verb forms marks three points in an action. The dictionary form is just before,
is in the middle, and
is just after. Mixing them up changes the meaning completely.
ところだった: "was about to", "almost"
In the past, ところだった says you were about to do something when something else happened. With or , it says something bad nearly happened but didn't.
、。
I was about to go to sleep when the phone rang.
Lingaku