Put とき after a verb in plain form. Compare the examples, then use the table to make your own sentence.
The idea
Put とき after a verb in plain form. Non-past 出るとき locates the main event before departure; past 帰ったとき locates it after arrival. Use noun + のとき and な-adjective + なとき; い-adjectives attach directly.
| Starting form | Form or example |
|---|---|
| 出る | 出るとき |
| 帰った | 帰ったとき |
| 子供 | 子供のとき |
| 暇 | 暇なとき |
| 寒い | 寒いとき |
Examples
- 家を出るとき、電気を消します。I turn off the light when I leave home.
- 家に帰ったとき、電気をつけました。I turned on the light when I got home.
- 子供のとき、よく海で遊びました。When I was a child, I often played by the sea.
- 暇なとき、本を読みます。When I have free time, I read books.
- 寒いとき、温かいお茶を飲みます。When it is cold, I drink warm tea.
- 日本語がわからないとき、先生に聞きます。When I do not understand Japanese, I ask my teacher.
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Watch out
The verb before とき expresses time relative to the main event, not the tense of the whole sentence. Past-tense main clauses can follow a non-past form.
Try it yourself
Complete the sentence using とき; choose the appropriate form. 家を＿とき、電気を消します。（出る／出た） I turn off the light when I leave home. The action happens before leaving.
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出る
「出る」 — I turn off the light when I leave home. Put とき after a verb in plain form. Non-past 出るとき locates the main event before departure; past 帰ったとき locates it after arrival. Use noun + のとき and な-adjective + なとき; い-adjectives attach directly.
Complete the sentence using とき; choose the appropriate form. 家に＿とき、電気をつけました。（帰った／帰る） I turned on the light when I got home. The action happens after arriving home.
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帰った
「帰った」 — I turned on the light when I got home. Put とき after a verb in plain form. Non-past 出るとき locates the main event before departure; past 帰ったとき locates it after arrival. Use noun + のとき and な-adjective + なとき; い-adjectives attach directly.
Complete the sentence using とき; choose the appropriate form. 子供＿、よく海で遊びました。（のとき／なとき） When I was a child, I often played by the sea.
Show answer or example answer
のとき
「のとき」 — When I was a child, I often played by the sea. Put とき after a verb in plain form. Non-past 出るとき locates the main event before departure; past 帰ったとき locates it after arrival. Use noun + のとき and な-adjective + なとき; い-adjectives attach directly.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
Complete the sentence using とき; choose the appropriate form. 家を＿とき、電気を消します。（出る／出た） I turn off the light when I leave home. The action happens before leaving.
Complete the sentence using とき; choose the appropriate form. 家に＿とき、電気をつけました。（帰った／帰る） I turned on the light when I got home. The action happens after arriving home.
Complete the sentence using とき; choose the appropriate form. 子供＿、よく海で遊びました。（のとき／なとき） When I was a child, I often played by the sea.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write two new sentences using とき; explain your choices and check them against the table.