JLPT N4 grammar

〜ところmeaning and usage

Meaning

  1. About to A
  2. Be now A...ing (be in the middle of doing A)
  3. Just finished A; Have been A...ing
  4. After A is done, the results of A are B

This point is also listed at N3 · N2.

How to form it

  • verb (dictionary form)ところだ
  • verb (te-form)いるところだ
  • verb (ta-form)ところだ
  • verb (ta-form)ところ、〜

How it is used

Pins down the stage of an action: about to (dictionary form), in the middle of (「〜ているところ」), just done (た-form). 「〜たところ、〜」 means “when I did…, it turned out…”.

Examples

  1. しおりさんが発表するところだからよく聞きなさい。

    Shiori is about to present, so listen well.

  2. 今、晩ご飯を作っているところです。

    I'm in the middle of making dinner.

  3. 今、家に帰ってきたところです。

    I've just got home.