Minna no Nihongo (New Edition) Grammar Lesson 46: Stages of actions (About to, in progress, just completed).

Lesson 46: Stages of actions (About to, in progress, just completed).

Beginner 2 (N4)
Minna no Nihongo (New Edition) • 6 key grammar patterns
6 key grammar patterns
#1L46_G1

Part 1: ~ところ : just about to/in the middle of/just finished ~

Sentence Pattern
〜ところ
Emphasizes the specific point in time of an action.
ところ is treated as a noun.
#2L46_G2

Part 2: ~Vるところ : Just about to ~

Sentence Pattern
〜るところ
Indicates the point in time right before an action begins.
Often used with adverbs like これから, いまから...
Example Sentences (2)
今いまから かみを 切きるところです。

→ I'm just about to get a haircut now.

A: 昼ひるごはんは もう 食たべましたか。
B: いいえ、これから 食たべるところです。

→ A: Have you had lunch yet? B: No, I'm just about to eat now.

#3L46_G3

Part 3: ~Vているところ : In the middle of ~ing

Sentence Pattern
〜ているところ
Indicates that an action is currently in progress.
Often used with いま (now).
Example Sentences (2)
今いま かみを 切きっているところです。

→ I am in the middle of getting a haircut right now.

A: ナムさん、今いま 暇ひま?
B: すみません。 今いま 子供こどもと 昼ひるごはんを たべているところなんです。

→ A: Nam, are you free right now? B: I'm sorry. I'm in the middle of eating lunch with my child right now.

#4L46_G4

Part 4: ~Vたところ : Just finished ~

Sentence Pattern
〜たところ
Indicates that something has just finished.
Often used with the adverb たったいま (just now).
Example Sentences (2)
たった今いま かみを 切きったところです。

→ I just finished getting a haircut.

A: ナムさん、一緒いっしょに 昼ひるごはんを行 いきませんか。
B: すみません、さっき 食たべたところなので、また今度 こんどね。

→ A: Nam, would you like to go get lunch together? B: I'm sorry, I just ate a little while ago, so maybe next time.

#5L46_G5

Part 5: ~Vたばかり : Just ~

Sentence Pattern
〜たばかり
Indicates that an action or event occurred not long ago, according to the speaker's perception.
Vたところ: The event actually just happened.
Vたばかり: The speaker feels the event just happened, regardless of the actual time elapsed.
Often used in combinations like:
Vたばかりなのに、~ Even though just V-ed, ~
Vたばかりなので、~ Because just V-ed, ~
Example Sentences (2)
A: 田中たなかさんは 結婚けっこんしていますか。
B: ええ、去年きょねん 結婚けっこんしたばかりです。

→ A: Is Tanaka married? B: Yes, he just got married last year.

A: 田中たなかさんは 離婚りこんしたのを 知しっていますか。
B: いいえ、知しりませんでした。結婚けっこんしたばかりなのに、。。。

→ A: Do you know that Tanaka got divorced? B: No, I didn't know. Even though he just got married...

#6L46_G6

Part 6: ~はず : It is expected that ~ / should ~

Sentence Pattern
〜はず
A confident judgment that something will happen based on some objective evidence.
Example Sentences (2)
A: カリナさんは 絵えが 上手じょうずですか。
B: 美術びじゅつを 勉強べんきょうしていますから 上手じょうずなはずです。

→ A: Is Karina good at drawing? B: Since she is studying art, she should be good.

書類しょるいは 速達そくたつで だしましたから、あした 着つくはずです。

→ I sent the documents by express delivery, so they should arrive tomorrow.