about to / in the middle of / just did

ところだ pinpoints a stage of an action by the form before it: dictionary form + ところ (about to), ている + ところ (in the middle of), past + ところ (just finished). It frames exactly where in time the action sits.

Examples

• 今いまから出でかけるところです。

  Ima kara dekakeru tokoro desu.

  I'm just about to head out.

• ちょうど食たべ終おわったところだ。

  Choudo tabeowatta tokoro da.

  I've just finished eating.

Vocabulary in these examples

• 今 now
• 出かける to go out
• ちょうど exactly; just
• 食べる to eat
• 終わる to end

Related patterns · Time and change

• 〜うちに while; before (a state changes)
• 〜たびに every time; whenever
• 〜まま as it is; leaving (a state unchanged)