Grammar Info
N4 Lesson 9: 5/15

~ている所(ところ)だ
in the process of doing ~ right now/at this moment

In this use ところ means "stage/level/situation"

Structure
Casual
Polite
Verb[ている]+ ところ +
Verb[ている]+ ところ + です
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
In the previous grammar point, we learned that たところ (or ていたところ) will mean ‘just did (A)’, or ‘was just doing (A)’. ているところ works in a similar way, but expresses that someone is right in the middle of doing something. It is regularly translated as ‘doing (A) right now’, or ‘in the process of (A)’.
  • 仕事(しごと)ているところ から後(あと)電話(でんわ)する
    I am in the middle of work right now, so I will call you later, okay?
  • 昨日(きのう)近所(きんじょ)泥棒(どろぼう)警察(けいさつ)から逃(に)げているところ 見(み)
    Yesterday, I saw a burglar running away from the police in my neighborhood.
Caution
Using ているところ will indicate that someone is ‘busy with (A)’, and would therefore not be used when changing actions suddenly. In these cases ているところ だった would be used, before the (B) phrase would further explain what happened next.
  • 映画(えいが)見(み)ているところ だったから電話(でんわ)に出(で)なかった
    I was in the middle of watching a movie, so I couldn’t answer the phone.
  • ギター弾(ひ)いているところ だったからメッセージに気付(きづ)かなかった
    I was in the middle of playing my guitar, so I didn’t notice your message.
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今(いま)映画(えいが)見(み)ているところです
I am in the process of watching a movie right now.
Play  
今(いま)お父(とう)さん富士山(ふじさん)登(のぼ)っているところです
My dad is in the process of climbing Mt. Fuji right now.
Play  
今(いま)先生(せんせい)聞(き)いているところです
I am in the process of asking the teacher right now.
Play  
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Books
みんなの日本語 II
Page 132 [CH 46]
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 496
[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
Page 14