Structure
Verb［る］(1) + が早いか + Phrase［た］
(1) Verb［た］
Details
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Formal
About が早いか
が早いか is an expression in Japanese that groups with verbs, for the purpose of indicating an action which is immediately followed by a second, often unexpected action. It is a combination of the case-marking particle が, the い-Adjective 早い 'soon', and the adverbial particle か. It is often translated as 'no sooner than (A), (B)', or 'the instant that (A), (B)'. The more literal translation, taking into account the use of か, is '(A), or possibly sooner, (B)'. This just illustrates the instantaneousness of the (B) action in that (A) was unable to be determined as actually completed before (B) started.
This grammar pattern is formal, and will follow verbs in their dictionary or past tense forms. The verb that comes in the (B) phrase will always be in the past tense.
(A) will tend to be actions that happen momentarily, or having a clearly defined finish point. For actions that don't have a clearly defined finish point, 終わる 'to finish' will often be linked to the stem form, in order to specify the end. Additionally, while the (B) action will often be unexpected, it will also usually be volitional, that is to say something done intentionally.
Caution
Due to が早いか always expressing something in the past, it cannot be used to express wishes or intentions for the future. Additionally, it will not highlight the speaker's own actions.
Examples
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お母さんがケーキを焼き上げるが早いか、お父さんが食べ始めた。
As soon as mom had baked the cake, dad started eating it.
黒ずくめの男は探偵を見つけたが早いか、疾風のごとく駆け出した。
As soon as the man dressed completely in black noticed the detective, he dashed off like the wind.
夜、幼い魔法使いが窓を開けるが早いか、白フクロウが飛び込んできた。
At night, as soon as the young wizard opened the window, a white owl flew in.
自動ドアが開くが早いか、まもなく人々は電車に乗り込んだ。
As soon as the automatic doors opened, people promptly entered the train.
小説：「田中は目が覚めたが早いかベッドから飛び起きた。」
Novel: 'As soon as Tanaka opened his eyes, he jumped out of bed.'
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が早いか – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (1 in total)
Ktinjapan
In the end of the grammar explanation, the paragraph about 終わる is a bit confusing. Could you add an example to explain this?
“(A) will tend to be actions that happen momentarily, or having a clearly defined finish point. For actions that don’t have a clearly defined finish point, 終わる ‘to finish’ will often be linked to the stem form, in order to specify the end. Additionally, while the (B) action will often be unexpected, it will also usually be volitional, that is to say something done intentionally.”
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