N3Chapter 45Unit 2 · Time, Change, and Plans

Actions in Progress

Learning objectives

  • Choose 〜るところ, 〜ているところ, or 〜たところ for an action's exact stage.
  • Use 〜たばかり for something that feels recent.
  • Use 〜て以来 for a continuing period since a past event.
  • Use 〜最中に to describe an interruption in the middle of an activity.
N3 context

Japanese can locate an action with impressive precision. Instead of only saying “I am studying,” you can say that you are about to study, are right in the middle of studying, have just finished, or have continued something since a particular event. These distinctions are especially useful in conversation and JLPT listening.

Vocabulary語彙
5 terms

  • ところ

    noun

    ところ

    tokoro

    point; stage; moment

  • 最中

    noun

    さいちゅう

    saichuu

    in the middle of

  • 以来

    noun

    いらい

    irai

    since; ever since

  • ちょうど

    adv

    ちょうど

    choudo

    just; exactly

  • 中断する

    verb

    ちゅうだんする

    chuudan suru

    to interrupt; suspend

1. About to, in the middle of, or just finished

Compare助詞

Three exact stages with ところ

V-るところjust about to begin

今から出かけるところです。

I am just about to go out now.

V-ているところin the middle of an action

今、食事をしているところです。

I am eating right now.

V-たところjust finished

今、駅に着いたところです。

I have just arrived at the station.

V-たばかりfeels recent to the speaker

日本語を習い始めたばかりです。

I have only just started learning Japanese.
Grammar文法
V-る / V-ている / V-た ところ

means Be just about to do / be in the middle of doing / have just done V.

Formation

Dictionary form, ている form, or plain past form + ところ.

Examples

これから会議が始まるところです。

kore kara kaigi ga hajimaru tokoro desu.

The meeting is just about to start.

部長と話しているところなので、後で電話します。

buchou to hanashite iru tokoro na node, ato de denwa shimasu.

I am in the middle of talking with the manager, so I will call later.

昼ご飯を食べたところです。

hirugohan o tabeta tokoro desu.

I have just eaten lunch.

〜たところ and 〜たばかり are not interchangeable

〜たところ means the action finished immediately before now. 〜たばかり means “recently” from the speaker’s perspective, so it can cover a longer period: 去年日本に来たばかりです can be natural when the speaker still feels new to Japan.

2. Since then, and in the middle of it

Grammar文法
V-て以来

means Since doing V, and continuing until now.

Formation

Verb て-form + 以来.

Examples

日本に来て以来、毎日電車を使っています。

nihon ni kite irai, mainichi densha o tsukatte imasu.

Since coming to Japan, I have used the train every day.

彼に会って以来、連絡を取っていない。

kare ni atte irai, renraku o totte inai.

Since meeting him, I have not been in contact.
Grammar文法
V-ている最中に / N の最中に

means While in the middle of V / N, something happened.

Formation

Verb ている + 最中に, or noun + の最中に.

Examples

映画を見ている最中に、電話が鳴った。

eiga o mite iru saichuu ni, denwa ga natta.

The phone rang while I was in the middle of watching a film.

会議の最中に、停電になりました。

kaigi no saichuu ni, teiden ni narimashita.

There was a power outage in the middle of the meeting.

最中に often introduces an unexpected interruption. For a neutral simultaneous action, ordinary 〜ているとき is usually a better choice.

3. Context dialogue: a call at the wrong moment

Calling a classmate会話
Noa

今、電話しても大丈夫？

ima, denwa shite mo daijoubu?

Is it okay to call now?

Riku

ごめん、これから授業に出るところなんだ。

gomen, kore kara jugyou ni deru tokoro nan da.

Sorry, I am just about to leave for class.

Noa

分かった。昨日のレポートはどうだった？

wakatta. kinou no repooto wa dou datta?

Okay. How was yesterday's report?

Riku

ちょうど出したところ。日本に来て以来、一番時間がかかったよ。

choudo dashita tokoro. nihon ni kite irai, ichiban jikan ga kakatta yo.

I just submitted it. It took the most time since I came to Japan.

4. Guided practice and reading

  1. “I am just about to leave.”
  2. “I am in the middle of writing an email.”
  3. “I have just started my new job.”
  4. “Since I met my tutor, I have studied regularly.”
  5. “The lights went out in the middle of the presentation.”
Check your answers
  1. 今から出かけるところです。
  2. メールを書いているところです。
  3. 新しい仕事を始めたばかりです。
  4. 先生に会って以来、定期的に勉強しています。
  5. 発表の最中に、電気が消えました。

私は三か月前にこの町へ引っ越してきたばかりです。最初は店や駅の場所が分かりませんでしたが、毎日散歩しているうちに慣れてきました。昨日は友達と夕食を食べている最中に、近くで花火が始まりました。食べ終わったところで外に出て、少し見ることができました。

Reading check: Which expression shows subjective recency? Which one marks an interruption? Which one means the meal had just ended?

Translation: “I moved to this town only three months ago. At first I did not know where the shops and station were, but I gradually got used to it while walking every day. Yesterday, fireworks began nearby while I was in the middle of eating dinner with a friend. We went outside just after finishing and were able to watch for a while.”

5. Communication and flashcard review

Describe your current day with 〜るところ, 〜ているところ, or 〜たところ. Then describe one habit you have continued 〜て以来 a past event.

Review flashcards: 〜るところ; 〜ているところ; 〜たところ; 〜たばかり; 〜て以来; 〜最中に.

Key takeawaysまとめ
  • 1ところ marks an exact stage: about to begin, in progress, or just finished.
  • 2〜たばかり expresses something the speaker considers recent, not necessarily immediate.
  • 3〜て以来 connects a past event to a continuing situation until now.
  • 4〜最中に highlights an event that interrupts an activity in progress.
  • 5Context decides whether a time expression is neutral, recent, or unexpectedly interrupted.

Knowledge Check

Practice quiz
1 / 5

Which phrase means 'I am just about to eat'?