Japanese grammar · ≈ JLPT N4 · Beginner 3
〜ところです~tokoro desu
action stage right now
Use 「〜ところです」 to report whether an action is about to start, in progress, or just finished.
How it works
Look at the same exit: what stage is the person at now? ところ divides the action into three stages.
辞書形＋ところです: the action has not started yet; it is just about to begin.
て形＋いるところです: the action is in progress. Look at the moment in the middle.
た形＋ところです: the action has just ended. Look at the moment right after completion.
When giving an update on the phone, use this pattern to say what stage the action is at now.
In the example, 「出る」 means the person has not left yet and is about to leave the station now, rather than leaving every day.
In the example, 「出た」 refers to having just left the station and crossed the exit now, rather than recalling yesterday.
Example sentences
- 今駅imaekiをo出るderuところtokoroです（まだdesumadaでdeてteいない）・inai出たdetaところtokoroです。（いまdesuima
In a conversation
Check yourself
Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
I'm just about to leave the bus stop.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
今駅を出る 。
I'm just about to leave the station now.
More grammar in this theme
- 〜ところですaction stage right now