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Table of Contents
- Verb Dictionary-form + ところです
- Verb Te-form + いるところです
- Verb Ta-form + ところです
- Verb Ta-form + ばかりです
☀️ 22. Expressions Related to Time
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Check the brief grammar notes and examples below for your review.

Grammar Note
⚫️ Verb Dictionary-form ところです
meaning : about to do“ところです” is an expression to say what ”time point” it is at.
“Dictionary Form ところです” means “immediately before”. It will happen very soon.
shiai [wa] ima hajimaru-tokorodesu.
( The game is about to start. )
It is not used when you expect that something will happen.
ima [kara] ame [ga] furu-deshō.
( It will start raining from now. )
Verb Dictionary-form ところです
⚫️ Verb Te-form いるところです
meaning : It’s happening right now.“te Form いるところです” means “in progress”.
It is used when you emphasize what you’re doing right now.
ima hirugohan [o] tabete-iru-tokorona-node, ato-de kake-naoshite-morae-masuka?
( I’m eating lunch right now, so can you call me back later? )
It is not used with the verbs that refer to the “state”.
- います: i-masu
( living things exist )
- あります: ari-masu
( things exist )
- できます: deki-masu
( can do )
- しっています: shitte i-masu
( to know )
watashi [wa] ima tōkyō [ni] i-masu.
( I’m in Tokyo right now. )
Verb Te-form いるところです
⚫️ Verb Ta-form ところです
meaning : I just did …“ta Form ところです” means “immediately after”.
It is used when you want to say it’s finished only a short time ago.
hirugohan [o] tabe-mashitaka?
( Did you eat lunch? )
B : はい、さっき たべたところです。
hai, sakki tabeta-tokoro-desu.
( Yes, I just ate a minute ago. )
Verb Ta-form ところです
⚫️ Verb ta Form ばかりです
meaning : I just did …“ta Form ばかりです” is also used when you want to say it’s finished a while ago.
sakki hirugohan [o] tabeta-bakarina-node, onaka [ga] ippai-desu.
( I just had lunch a while ago, so I’m full. )
Compared to “ta Form ところです”, “ta Form ばかりです” has broader range of time.

kono kuruma [wa] kyonen katta-bakari-desu.
( This car, I just bought last year. )
It was a year ago, but I feel it a short period of time.
patternVerb Ta-form ばかりです

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Look at the English sentences and try to say them in Japanese. Click “answer” to check the correct sentence and practice with the audio.
I’m about to go out now.
My friend is coming later, so I’m cleaning up my room right now.
I just got home a minute ago.
I just came to Japan last year.
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