JLPT N4 grammar
〜ところだ — Meaning & Examples
Marks the phase of an action. Dictionary + ところ = about to; 〜ている + ところ = in the middle of; た-form + ところ = just finished.
〜ところだ — Where You Are in the Action
ところ literally means "place," but with a verb it marks a place in time — exactly which phase of an action you are in.
Three forms, three moments:
Dictionary form + ところだ = about to do
今から出かけるところです。
= I am just about to head out.
〜ている + ところだ = in the middle of doing
今、宿題をしているところです。
= I am in the middle of my homework right now.
た-form + ところだ = just finished
今、駅に着いたところです。
= I have just arrived at the station.
Picture it as a film strip 🎞️ — 出かけるところ is the frame before, しているところ is the frame during, 出かけたところ is the frame immediately after.
Very common in phone calls, because people constantly explain what they are in the middle of:
今、電車に乗るところです。 = I am just about to board the train.
今、食べているところです。 = I am eating right now.
Practice questions
Try these 2 questions on 〜ところだ. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. 出かけるところです means?
- I am in the middle of going out
- I am just about to go out
- I just went out
- I go out often
Show answer
Answer: I am just about to go out
Dictionary form + ところだ = about to do. 出かけるところ = just about to head out.
2. To say "I am in the middle of doing my homework," you use?
- 宿題をするところです
- 宿題をしたばかりです
- 宿題をしたところです
- 宿題をしているところです
Show answer
Answer: 宿題をしているところです
〜ている + ところだ = in the middle of. 宿題をしているところです = I am doing homework right now.
Practise 〜ところだ in the free app
This point is part of the “⏱️ Timing — 〜ところだ・〜間に・〜うちに” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N4 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N4 grammar points
From the same lesson: ⏱️ Timing — 〜ところだ・〜間に・〜うちに
- 〜たところ vs 〜たばかりところ = objectively seconds/minutes ago.
- 〜間 (no に)"The whole time." Both actions span the same interval: 寝ている間、本を読んでいた = I read the entire…
- 〜間に (with に)"At some point during." A one-off event inside the window: 寝ている間に買い物に行った = I went shoppin…
- 〜うちに"While it lasts" — do it before the situation changes.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜ところだ mean?
Marks the phase of an action. Dictionary + ところ = about to; 〜ている + ところ = in the middle of; た-form + ところ = just finished.
Is 〜ところだ on the JLPT N4 test?
〜ところだ is taught in the JLPT N4 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “⏱️ Timing — 〜ところだ・〜間に・〜うちに”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise 〜ところだ?
Open the “⏱️ Timing — 〜ところだ・〜間に・〜うちに” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N4 mock exams, with no ads.