Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 4: 9/18

～所(ところ)にAt the time, When, While, Timing

Puts more emphasis on a state/scene than an action.

Structure

Verb［ている］+ ところ（に (1)）
Verb［ていた］+ ところ（に (1)）
(1) へ

Details

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About ～ところに・～ところへ

ところに will be used to highlight the time of (A), and can be interpreted as 'at the time of (A)', 'while (A)', or 'with the timing of (A)'. As it is a structure that makes use of the noun ところ 'place' or 'spot', it puts more emphasis on the scene or situation, rather than the action itself.

This pattern follows verbs in their ている or ていた forms. Also, rather than appearing with に, へ is sometimes used instead. Depending on the form of the verb, ところに may indicate being 'on the verge of (A)', 'partway through (A)', or having 'just finished (A)'.

Compared to other ところ based structures, the addition of に or へ will often precede a (B) statement indicating that 'at the precise moment of (A), (B) happened'. This may either be positive or negative.

Caution

In many cases, ところに will be used when (A) is either a 'situation' or an 'emotion', and will not often be used in relation to unimportant or trivial actions, unless expressing the 'precise moment' where something unexpected happened during that trivial action.

Caution

When appearing with nouns, な-Adjectives, or い-Adjectives, ところに, へ, で, and を simply highlight that 'state of (A)'.

  • お見苦(みぐる)しいところをお見(み)せして申(もう)し訳(わけ)ございません。
    I am terribly sorry that you had to see such a thing.
  • 正直(しょうじき)なところ、彼(かれ)の言(い)うことはあまり信(しん)じない方(ほう)がいい。
    To be honest, you shouldn't trust what he says.
  • 先輩(せんぱい)、お休(やす)みのところすみません。今(いま)お時間(じかん)大丈夫(だいじょうぶ)でしょうか。
    Senpai, I'm sorry to bother you on your break. Do you have some time right now?

Examples

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    犬(いぬ)を散歩(さんぽ)させているところにTさんに出(で)くわした。

    When I was walking the dog, I came across T-san.

    ちょうどジャガイモの皮(かわ)をむこうとしているところに電話(でんわ)が鳴(な)った。

    The telephone rang while I was trying to peel the potatoes.

    セメントを入(い)れているところへ猫(ねこ)がやって来(き)て足跡(あしあと)を付(つ)けた。

    A cat came by and left prints when the cement was being poured.

    店(みせ)を閉(し)めているところへお客(きゃく)さんが来(き)ちゃった。

    A customer came right when I was closing up the shop.

    車(くるま)を洗(あら)っていたところにウチの犬(いぬ)がやってきて、車(くるま)にオシッコをした。

    While I was washing the car, my dog came over and peed on it.

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