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Grammar JLPT Level N3 - Lesson 13

Structure of ところだった ①:

Verb[る]+ ところだった
Verb[ない]+ ところだった

Details about ところだった ①:

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)書類(しょるい)()てるところだった
    Oh shoot, I was just about to throw away an important document.
  • (どく)キノコ()べるところだった、きのこ(くわ)しい友達(ともだち)()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)()()てよかったもう(すこ)()()わせ時間(じかん)()()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)()なくて家賃(やちん)(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.
ところだった ①

Usage Notes for ところだった ①:

Synonyms for ところだった ①:

ところだった ②
Was just about to do something, Was in the middle of...
るところだ
About to, On the verge of

Example of ところだった ①

もう(すこ)(ふね)からおちるところだった

I nearly fell off the ship (had I been a little closer to the edge).

ちょうど電車(でんしゃ)発車(はっしゃ)するところだった

It was right when the train was about to depart.

(あや)うく遅刻(ちこく)するところだった

I was on the verge of being late.

(ねむ)りに(はい)ところだったのに、電話(でんわ)()こされた。

I was just about to go to sleep, but was woken up by a phone call.

発見(はっけん)(おく)れたら、(あや)うく()ところだった

I would have been on the verge of dying had they not found me sooner.

Grammar same lesson

訳(わけ)だ

For that reason, No wonder, As you'd expect, Naturally, Thus, This is why
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訳(わけ)ではない

It doesn't mean that, It is not the case, It's not like
See detailsreport

関係(かんけい)がある

(Not) involved with, (Not) concerned with, (No) connection with, (No) relationship with, (Not) related to
See detailsreport

余(あま)りに

So much...that, (Way) too...
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くらい ②

To the extent that, So…that, About the only thing that...
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