ところだった ① (JLPT N3)

About ところだった ①

As explained in the ところ grammar point, ところ is a noun that is often used to highlight the situation within which a verb is 'about to' happen (when that verb appears in its non-past form). However when followed by だった, it emphasizes that the thing that was 'about to' happen never actually eventuated (or that another more important event happened at that moment). This can be translated as 'to almost (A)', or 'to be on the verge of (A)'.

The verb that ところ is paired with may also be seen grouped with the auxiliary verb ない. In this case, it implies that something was 'about not' to happen (but then did).

Examples

--:--

もう少(すこ)しで船(ふね)からおちるところだった。

I nearly fell off the ship (had I been a little closer to the edge).

ちょうど電車(でんしゃ)が発車(はっしゃ)するところだった。

It was right when the train was about to depart.

危(あや)うく遅刻(ちこく)するところだった。

I was on the verge of being late.

もう少(すこ)しで事故(じこ)が起(お)こるところだった。

I nearly had an accident.

好(す)きな声優(せいゆう)に会(あ)えないところだった。

I almost didn't meet my favorite voice actress.

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ところだった ① – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (7 in total)

mrnoone

English translation:
Almost・nearly
about to
on the verge of

Structure
Verb[る/ない] + ところだった

View on Bunpro
Arzar
I was wondering why is there two different grammar points about ところだった, one in N3 L3 and one in N2 L3 ? They seems to cover exactly the same ground. (They both describe it as meaning “was just about” with a slightly different nuance of almost/nearly when talking about a threat being avoided)
mrnoone
It is doubled grammar point, and one (most likely N2) will be deleted in the future.

Though it will be kept for the time being, since the more sentences the better
darkness_rising
もう少しで事故が起こるところだった 。
I have a question about the audio for this sentence… it sounds like to me that じこ is being pronounced more like じぇこ. Is that an accepted variation in this context?
ljoekelsoey
店は閉店する ところだった が、売ってくれました

Hello, I’m wondering if there’s any reason you couldn’t use 寸前だった here, as the nuance seems to be pretty identical as far as I understand it.

I feel I am regularly spamming poor @Pushindawood and perhaps it might be better to ask here
mrnoone
@ljoekelsoey

Hey
It works as well

I hope it helps,
Cheers
ljoekelsoey
Great! I wonder if that could be added as I keep getting tripped up by that in the reviews
mrnoone
@ljoekelsoey

Added as an alternative answer!
Cheers