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Action Phases

Learn how to express 'about to,' 'in the middle of,' and 'just finished' in Japanese using ところ with different verb forms.

Action Phases

The word ところ (literally 'place') is used with verbs to pinpoint which phase of an action someone is in: about to start, currently in progress, or just completed. Think of it as zooming in on a specific moment in the timeline of an action.

The verb form before ところ determines the phase:
  • Dictionary form + ところ → about to do (pre-action)
  • ている + ところ → in the middle of doing (mid-action)
  • た form + ところ → just finished doing (post-action)

This pattern is distinct from ている alone. While ている describes an ongoing state or action in general, ところ emphasizes that you are at that exact point right now. It often pairs with words like ちょうど (just/exactly) and 今 (now) to reinforce the sense of timing.

するところ — About to Do

Dictionary form + ところ indicates that an action is about to begin — you're at the point right before doing it.

Formation:
  • 出かける + ところ → 出かけるところ (about to go out)
  • 食べる + ところ → 食べるところ (about to eat)
  • 始まる + ところ → 始まるところ (about to begin)

This captures the moment of intention or preparation, just before the action starts. It's often used with です for politeness or だ in casual speech.

You'll frequently see it with ちょうど (just now) or 今から (from now): ちょうど出かけるところです (I'm just about to head out).

Examples

  • 今から出かけるところです。

    I'm about to go out now.

  • ちょうど電話しようとしていたところだ。

    I was just about to call you.

  • お風呂に入るところだったのに、電話が鳴った。

    I was about to take a bath when the phone rang.

  • これから食べるところなんですが、一緒にどうですか。

    I'm about to eat — would you like to join me?
しているところ — In the Middle of Doing

ている + ところ indicates that an action is currently in progress — you're right in the middle of it.

Formation:
  • 宿題をしている + ところ → 宿題をしているところ (in the middle of doing homework)
  • 話し合っている + ところ → 話し合っているところ (in the middle of discussing)
  • 作っている + ところ → 作っているところ (in the middle of making)

This emphasizes the present moment more strongly than ている alone. It signals that the action is actively underway right now, often implying the listener should wait or not interrupt.

How is this different from plain ている? Consider: 今、料理をしています (I'm cooking — general statement) vs. 今、料理をしているところです (I'm right in the middle of cooking — emphasizes 'right now at this moment'). ところ adds temporal precision and often implies 'so please wait' or 'so I can't do something else right now.'

Examples

  • 今、宿題をしているところです。

    I'm in the middle of doing my homework right now.

  • ちょうど話し合っているところだ。

    We're right in the middle of a discussion.

  • 今、資料を作っているところなので、少し待ってください。

    I'm working on the documents now, so please wait a moment.

  • 彼女は今、着替えているところです。

    She's in the middle of getting changed right now.
したところ — Just Finished

た form + ところ indicates that an action was just completed — you're at the point right after finishing.

Formation:
  • 帰ってきた + ところ → 帰ってきたところ (just got back)
  • 食べた + ところ → 食べたところ (just ate)
  • 起きた + ところ → 起きたところ (just woke up)

The emphasis is on recency — the action finished moments ago, and the result is still fresh. This is stronger than simply using the past tense, which doesn't convey how recently it happened.

Compare: ご飯を食べました (I ate — could be any time) vs. ご飯を食べたところです (I just finished eating — moments ago).

Examples

  • 今、帰ってきたところです。

    I just got home.

  • ちょうどご飯を食べたところだ。

    I just finished eating.

  • さっき起きたところで、まだ眠い。

    I just woke up, so I'm still sleepy.

  • レポートを書き終わったところです。

    I just finished writing the report.
ところだった — Almost / Nearly

Dictionary form + ところだった expresses a near miss — something almost happened but didn't. It often carries a sense of relief or close call.

Formation:
  • 遅刻する + ところだった → 遅刻するところだった (almost was late)
  • 転ぶ + ところだった → 転ぶところだった (almost fell)
  • 忘れる + ところだった → 忘れるところだった (almost forgot)

This is conceptually different from the other ところ patterns — it's not about the current phase of an action but about a hypothetical outcome that was narrowly avoided.

It frequently appears with もう少しで (a little more and...), 危うく (narrowly), or あと一歩で (one more step and...).

Examples

  • もう少しで遅刻するところだった。

    I was almost late.

  • 危うく転ぶところだった。

    I nearly fell over.

  • あと一歩で事故になるところだった。

    It was one step away from being an accident.

  • もう少しで忘れるところだった。

    I almost forgot.
ところに / ところへ — Just When

ところに or ところへ expresses that something happened right at the moment of the action described by ところ — an interruption or coincidence.

Formation:
  • 出かけようとしたところに → just as I was about to go out
  • 寝ようとしていたところに → just as I was about to sleep
  • 食べ終わったところへ → right after I finished eating
The に or へ marks the timing of the interrupting event. This pattern works with all three phases:
  • 出かけるところに (just as I was about to leave...)
  • 食べているところに (right while I was eating...)
  • 食べたところに (right after I finished eating...)

The interrupting event is typically unexpected or noteworthy — a visitor arriving, a phone call, etc.

Examples

  • 出かけようとしたところに、友達が来た。

    Just as I was about to go out, a friend came over.

  • 寝ようとしていたところに、電話がかかってきた。

    Just as I was about to go to sleep, the phone rang.

  • 食べ終わったところへ、デザートが出てきた。

    Right after I finished eating, dessert came out.

  • 帰ろうとしたところに、上司に呼ばれた。

    Just as I was about to leave, my boss called me.
Action Phases | 2hongo