About to Do / In the Middle / Just Finished: ところ

Master ところ to describe three different stages of an action: just before it begins, while it is happening, and right after it ends.

Use dictionary form + ところ for actions that are about to begin.Use 〜ているところ for actions in progress.Use past plain form + ところ for actions that have just finished.

Guided study

Before an action: 辞書形 + ところ

Dictionary form + ところ describes a moment just before an action starts. It is useful when the speaker wants to show timing very precisely.

今から出かけるところです。

I am just about to go out now.

Dictionary form + ところ = just about to do.

ちょうど電話をかけるところでした。

I was just about to make a phone call.

ところでした can describe a point just before the action started.

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