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Grammar JLPT Level N4 - Lesson 25

Structure of ~た所(ところ)だ:

Verb[た](1) + ところ +

(1) Verb[ていた]

Details about ~た所(ところ)だ:

In a similar way to how ところ (sometimes shortened to とこ) means 'about to (A)', or 'on the verge of (A)', when following the non-past form of a verb, when following the auxiliary verb た, ところ will mean 'just did (A)'.
To use this structure, make the past tense of any verb, and then add ところ.
  • (いま)先生(せんせい)()たところ
    I just asked the teacher.
  • 仕事(しごと)(いま)()わったところ。もうすぐ(かえ)
    I just finished work. So I'll head home soon.
While this expresses 'just did (A)', ていた may be used when you would like to express that you were 'just doing (A)'.
  • (やす)(たの)しんでいたところ上司(じょうし)から電話(でんわ)()
    I got a call from my boss just as I was enjoying my day off.
~た所(ところ)だ

Usage Notes for ~た所(ところ)だ:

When the kanji form of (ところ) is used, it is often referring to an actual physical location, rather than a situation/standpoint. However, this is something that native speakers will sometimes mistake. Therefore, seeing the kanji form and the hiragana form are both relatively common.

Synonyms for ~た所(ところ)だ:

るところだ
About to, On the verge of
たばかり
Just did, Something just happened
たとたんに
The instant or moment, As soon as, Just as
たて
Freshly ~ed, Just ~ed

Example of ~た所(ところ)だ

(いま)()()わったところです

I just finished eating.

(ふく)()いでいたところ(はは)部屋(へや)(はい)ってきた

My mom came into the room just as I was taking my clothes off.

友達(ともだち)はたまたま友達(ともだち)():「(きみ)()いたい(いま)(おも)っていたところわ!」

Friend meets a friend by accident: 'I was just thinking that I want to see you!'

改札(かいさつ)(はい)たところ電車(でんしゃ)(とびら)()った

Just as I went through the ticket gate, the train doors closed.

いつも勉強(べんきょう)(はじ)たところ(なに)邪魔(じゃま)してくる

Whenever I have just started studying, something gets in the way.

Grammar same lesson

かい

Question marker
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と~と~どちらが

Between ~ which one
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ながら

While ~ing, During, As
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続(つづ)ける

To continue
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なければいけない

Must do, Have to do
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