ところだ focuses on the point an action has reached.
The idea
Use dictionary form + ところです just before an action, ている + ところです while it is underway, and た-form + ところです immediately after it ends. 今から, 今 and たった今 can clarify the timing.
| Form | Stage |
|---|---|
| 食べるところです | Just before |
| 食べているところです | In progress |
| 食べたところです | Just after |
Examples
- 今から家を出るところです。I am just about to leave home.
- 会議がもうすぐ始まるところです。The meeting is just about to begin.
- 今、夕飯を作っているところです。I am in the middle of cooking dinner.
- 田中さんは資料を読んでいるところです。Tanaka is in the middle of reading the document.
- 電車がたった今、着いたところです。The train has just arrived.
- 宿題をちょうど終えたところです。I have just finished my homework.
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Watch out
食べたところです means just finished, not merely that you ate sometime in the past. 食べているところです focuses on an action in progress; ている alone can also describe a resulting state.
Try it yourself
これから食べます → 食べ＿＿ところです。
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る
る — Dictionary form 食べる marks the moment before eating.
今、読んでいます → 読んで＿＿ところです。
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いる
いる — 読んでいる marks reading in progress.
たった今、帰りました → 帰っ＿＿ところです。
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た
た — 帰った marks a return that has just happened.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
これから食べます → 食べ＿＿ところです。
今、読んでいます → 読んで＿＿ところです。
たった今、帰りました → 帰っ＿＿ところです。
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Keep your progress
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Describe one action at each of the three stages, then change the verb form to shift its timing.