ところ phases

Core meaning and form

Use dictionary form + ところだ for about to act, ているところだ for in progress, and past form + ところだ for just completed. Time adverbs such as 今 and ちょうど reinforce the intended phase.

• Form: Use dictionary form + ところだ for about to act, ているところだ for in progress, and past form + ところだ for just completed.
• Core use: The form zooms in on a phase around an event rather than simply marking grammatical tense.
• Context: Time adverbs such as 今 and ちょうど reinforce the intended phase.

Examples in context

Common errors

• Do not select this pattern from an English translation alone; check its attachment and discourse function.
• Keep the surrounding sentence in a consistent plain, polite, spoken, or written register.

Quick summary

• Use dictionary form + ところだ for about to act, ているところだ for in progress, and past form + ところだ for just completed.
• The form zooms in on a phase around an event rather than simply marking grammatical tense.
• Time adverbs such as 今 and ちょうど reinforce the intended phase.