Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 9: 5/16

~ている(ところ)

In the process of doing ~ right now/at this moment

In this use ところ means "stage/level/situation"

Structure

Verb[ている]+ ところ +

Details

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    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About ているところだ

In the previous grammar point, we learned that たところ (or ていたところ) will mean 'just did (A)', or 'was just doing (A)'. ているところ works in a similar way, but expresses that someone is right in the middle of doing something. It is regularly translated as 'doing (A) right now', or 'in the process of (A)'.
  • 仕事(しごと)ているところから(あと)電話(でんわ)する
    I am in the middle of work right now, so I will call you later, okay?
  • 昨日(きのう)近所(きんじょ)泥棒(どろぼう)警察(けいさつ)から()ているところ()
    Yesterday, I saw a burglar running away from the police in my neighborhood.
Caution
Using ているところ will indicate that someone is 'busy with (A)', and would therefore not be used when changing actions suddenly. In these cases ているところだった would be used, before the (B) phrase would further explain what happened next.
  • 映画(えいが)()ているところだったから電話(でんわ)()なかった
    I was in the middle of watching a movie, so I couldn't answer the phone.
  • ギター()ているところだったからメッセージに気付(きづ)なかった
    I was in the middle of playing my guitar, so I didn't notice your message.

Synonyms

Examples

  • (いま)映画(えいが)()ているところです

    I am in the process of watching a movie right now.

  • (いま)(とう)さん富士山(ふじさん)(のぼ)ているところです

    My dad is in the process of climbing Mt. Fuji right now.

  • (いま)先生(せんせい)()ているところです

    I am in the process of asking the teacher right now.

  • (ぼく)(いま)日本語(にほんご)勉強(べんきょう)ているところだけど

    I am in the process of studying Japanese right now. (Annoyed that he is being interrupted)

  • (かれ)スターバックス(はい)って()(とき)(わたし)コーヒー()でいるところだった

    When he came into Starbucks, I was in the process of drinking coffee (at that moment).

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ているところだ – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (6 in total)

  • matt_in_mito

    matt_in_mito

    About 3 years ago

    払っていたところ is also acceptable but generally in Japanese the tense of a sentence only comes at the end.
    The same can be said for levels of politeness - i.e. use plain form throughout a long sentence and stick ます on the end to make it polite.

  • mrnoone

    mrnoone

    About 3 years ago

    Hey and welcome on the community forums @Jl45

    Like @matt_in_mito said, usually in Japanese tense of the sentence is determined at the end. Like in this case, whether you use ている and ていた the meaning is the same, the interlocutor picks the tense from the context.

    Though there are cases when you are forced to use certain forms, like past form before あと or
    non-past before 前,

    By the way, read this post:

  • Scyamntic

    Scyamntic

    About 3 years ago

    Indeed it does!
    いつも手伝ってくれてありがとうな!

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