Lesson article
Spot the signal, compare it, then read it in context
Read all 3 sections in order. Notice the target form, compare it with the nearby alternative, then use the reading and practice below to check the meaning in context.
Section 1 of 3
Nouns and adjectives before とき
とき means “when” or “at the time of.” Nouns usually take の before とき, な-adjectives take な, and い-adjectives connect directly.
Target signal
子どものとき、図書館へ行った。
When I was a child, I went to the library.
Noun + の + とき is a very common time phrase.
Vocabulary notes
- 子どものとき
- when [someone] was a child
- 図書館
- library
- 子ども
- child; children
Compare in context
ひまなとき、本を読む。
When I have free time, I read books.
な-adjectives take な before とき.
Vocabulary notes
- とき
- when; time
- ひま
- quiet; not busy; free
- 読む
- to read
Compare in context
忙しいとき、料理しない。
When I am busy, I do not cook.
い-adjectives connect directly to とき.
Vocabulary notes
- 忙しい
- busy
- とき
- when; time
- ない
- not; there is not
Section 2 of 3
Verb form changes the time meaning
With verbs, the form before とき matters. Dictionary form often points to a time before or during the action, while past form can point to a moment after the action is completed.
Target signal
うちへ帰るとき、水を買う。
When I go home, I buy water.
帰るとき means “when going home,” before the going-home action is complete.
Vocabulary notes
- うち
- home; our place
- とき
- when; time
- 帰る
- to return; to go home
Preview
うちへ帰ったとき、母がいた。
When I got home, my mother was there.
帰ったとき points to the time after arriving home.
Vocabulary notes
- いた
- was there
- うち
- home; our place
- とき
- when; time
Preview
寝るとき、テレビを消す。
When I go to bed, I turn off the TV.
寝るとき is a natural time phrase for routines.
Vocabulary notes
- テレビ
- TV; television
- とき
- when; time
- 寝る
- to sleep; to go to bed
Section 3 of 3
Read the whole とき phrase as one chunk
Do not stop after the noun or verb. Read the whole phrase before とき as one unit, then move to the rest of the sentence.
Target signal
雨のとき、バスで行く。
When it rains, I go by bus.
雨のとき is the full time chunk here.
Vocabulary notes
- とき
- when; time
- バス
- bus
- 行く
- to go
Preview
学生のとき、毎日図書館で勉強した。
When I was a student, I studied in the library every day.
学生のとき uses a noun phrase before とき.
Vocabulary notes
- 図書館
- library
- した
- did
- とき
- when; time
Preview
日本語を勉強するとき、音楽を聞かない。
When I study Japanese, I do not listen to music.
The learner should read 勉強するとき as one chunk before the rest of the sentence.
Vocabulary notes
- 勉強する
- to study
- すると
- then; when that happens
- 日本語
- Japanese language