Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 4: 10/21

ところだった ①Almost, Nearly, About to, On the verge of

Structure

Verb［る］+ ところだった
Verb［ない］+ ところだった

Details

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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).

Related

Examples

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    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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