ところ & たばかり — precision timing

About to start · in progress · just finished · only recently

'I was just about to go out.' 'I'm right in the middle of studying.' 'I just finished eating.' 'I only arrived recently.' — ところ and たばかり capture exactly where in time an action is.

What you'll learn

• するところ = about to start (the moment before)
• しているところ = in progress (right now)
• したところ = just finished (the moment of completion)
• たばかり = recently (elapsed time is short / still fresh)

JLPT N3 Japanese self-study — interactive practice, instant feedback, completely free.