Grammar JLPT Level N3 - Lesson 13

As explained in the ところ grammar point, ところ is a noun that is often used to highlight the situation within which a verb is 'about to' happen (when that verb appears in its non-past form). However when followed by だった, it emphasizes that the thing that was 'about to' happen never actually eventuated (or that another more important event happened at that moment). This can be translated as 'to almost (A)', or 'to be on the verge of (A)'.

• やばい、大事(だいじ)な書類(しょるい)を捨(す)てるところだった。
  Oh shoot, I was just about to throw away an important document.
• 毒(どく)キノコを食(た)べるところだったが、きのこに詳(くわ)しい友達(ともだち)が止(と)めてくれた。
  I was about to eat a poisonous mushroom, but a friend that is very knowledgeable about mushrooms stopped me.

The verb that ところ is paired with may also be seen grouped with the auxiliary verb ない. In this case, it implies that something was 'about not' to happen (but then did).

• この電車(でんしゃ)に間(ま)に合(あ)ってよかった。もう少(すこ)しで待(ま)ち合(あ)わせ時間(じかん)に間(ま)に合(あ)わないところだった。
  I am so glad that we made this train. I was about to be late for the meet up.
• 現金(げんきん)が足(た)りなくて家賃(やちん)が払(はら)えないところだった。
  I was about to not be able to pay my rent because I didn't have cash.