Lesson 100: ところが・すると・その上・そこで

N3 · Lesson 100 · 18 min — Unexpectedly, then, on top of that, so: tell what happened like a story

Last lesson you learned written-style である. This lesson goes back to conversation. You will learn four "storytelling" connectors: ところが・すると・その上うえ・そこで. Let's read the comic first!

After this lesson, you can:

• Use ところが to say "I thought ~, but unexpectedly ~"
• Use すると to say "I did ~, and then ~ happened" (also "in that case..." in talk)
• Use その上うえ・さらに・しかも to add one more reason in the same direction
• Use そこで to say "I had a problem, so I did something about it"

The Old New Year Cards

The shop in the photo is くまや. But where did はな go? Everyone searches the storeroom for clues. (Remember the Kyoto sweets box from the hotel in Lesson 74?) (町内会ちょうないかい = neighborhood association, 名簿めいぼ = list of names, 年賀状ねんがじょう = New Year card, 住所じゅうしょ = address)

ところが = but, surprisingly. すると = and then. その上うえ = on top of that. そこで = so (I take action). But first, find the right way to the station! Next: is はな really in Kyoto?

Words for this lesson: connectors and clues

• ところが (tokoroga): unexpectedly, however (the result is the opposite of what you expected)
• すると (suruto): and then, as a result; (in talk) in that case
• その上うえ (sono ue): on top of that, what's more
• さらに (sarani): even more, in addition, further
• しかも (shikamo): and what's more (with a feeling of "even!")
• そこで (sokode): so, therefore (you take action about a situation)
• 町内会ちょうないかい (chōnaikai): neighborhood association (a local residents' group)
• 名簿めいぼ (meibo): list of names, roster
• 年賀状ねんがじょう (nengajō): New Year card (a postcard sent for the new year)
• 住所じゅうしょ (jūsho): address
• 倉庫そうこ (sōko): storeroom, warehouse
• 字じ (ji): character, handwriting
• 駅員えきいん (ekiin): station staff
• 道みちに まよう (michi ni mayou): to get lost
• こむ (komu): to be crowded
• おくれる (okureru): to be late, to be delayed
• 無料むりょう (muryō): free of charge
• まずい (mazui): tastes bad

Grammar 1 / 4: ところが

ところが = unexpectedly, however: the first sentence is "what I thought would happen," the second is the opposite fact

• ところが = unexpectedly, but then: The first sentence is a situation where you thought "it will be ~." The second sentence is the opposite result. Put it at the start of the second sentence, followed by 「、」. It is usually one person telling what happened to them.
• Mostly about things that already happened: The second sentence is usually past tense: 〜ました／〜でした／〜て いました. It sounds like storytelling: "I rushed there, but unexpectedly..."
• No plans of your own after it: After ところが comes "what happened." You cannot use 〜ましょう, 〜て ください or 〜たい. To say "even so, I'll do it," use それでも.
• How is it different from でも・しかし?: でも (casual) and しかし (formal) are the plain "but." You can use them for any contrast. ところが always carries a feeling of "I didn't expect that." Also don't mix it up with ところで (by the way): ところで changes the topic.

• 名簿めいぼに 名前なまえが ある と 思おもいました。ところが、ありませんでした。 — I thought the list had the name. But unexpectedly, it didn't.
• 急いそいで 駅えきへ 行いきました。ところが、電車でんしゃは もう 出でて いました。 — I rushed to the station. But unexpectedly, the train had already left.
• 朝あさは はれて いました。ところが、午後ごごは 雨あめでした。 — The morning was sunny. But unexpectedly, it rained in the afternoon.
• 高たかい 店みせだと 思おもいました。ところが、とても 安やすかったです。 — I thought it was an expensive shop. But unexpectedly, it was very cheap.
• 日本語にほんごで 話はなしました。ところが、店員てんいんさんは 英語えいごで 話はなしました。 — I spoke in Japanese. But unexpectedly, the clerk answered me in English.

Grammar 2 / 4: すると

すると = then, as a result: after you do A, B happens; in conversation it can also mean "in that case ~"

• すると = and then, as a result: The first sentence is something you did. The second is "what happened next," often a surprising discovery: すると、古ふるい 年賀状ねんがじょうが ありました。
• A relative of 〜と: 〜と in Lesson 64 is one sentence: 押おすと、開あきます。 Split it into two sentences about something that already happened, and use すると: 押おしました。すると、開あきました。
• No plans of your own after it: After すると comes something that happens naturally. You cannot use 〜ましょう, 〜たい or 〜て ください. For something you decide to do, use the 4th grammar point, そこで.
• In conversation: "in that case": You hear the other person and draw your own conclusion. A「明日あしたは 日曜日にちようびです。」B「すると、学校がっこうは 休やすみですね。」

• はこを 開あけました。すると、古ふるい 年賀状ねんがじょうが ありました。 — I opened the box. Then there were old New Year cards inside.
• ボタンを 押おしました。すると、ドアが 開あきました。 — I pressed the button. Then the door opened.
• 窓まどを 開あけました。すると、ねこが 入はいって きました。 — I opened the window. Then a cat jumped in.
• 右みぎへ 曲まがりました。すると、大おおきい 神社じんじゃが 見みえました。 — I turned right. Then I saw a very big shrine.
• A：テストは 来週らいしゅうの 金曜日きんようびです。B：すると、テストまで 一週間いっしゅうかんですね。 — A: The test is next Friday. B: In that case, there's still a week before the test.

Grammar 3 / 4: その上うえ・さらに・しかも

その上うえ・さらに・しかも = on top of that: pile one more thing in the "same direction" onto the first

• その上うえ = on top of that: その (that) + 上 (top): you pile one more thing in the same direction on top of the first. Good + good and bad + bad are both fine: 雨あめが ふって きました。その上うえ、かさも わすれました。
• さらに = even more, one step further: "One more layer" beyond what came before. It can also sit inside a sentence as an adverb to show a higher degree: さらに 安やすく なりました (It became even cheaper).
• しかも = and what's more: What follows is often a point that makes people even more surprised, with a feeling of "and even!": 近ちかいです。しかも、無料むりょうです！
• How is it different from それに? Keep the same direction: それに (Lesson 96) is the most casual and relaxed. その上うえ and さらに are more formal, and fine in a report. All four only take a thing in the "same direction." For the opposite direction, use でも.

• この 店みせは 安やすいです。その上うえ、おいしいです。 — This shop is cheap. On top of that, it's delicious.
• 雨あめが ふって きました。その上うえ、かさも わすれました。 — It started to rain. On top of that, I forgot my umbrella.
• 電車でんしゃが おくれました。さらに、バスも 来きませんでした。 — The train was delayed, and on top of that, the bus didn't come.
• この ホテルは 駅えきから 近ちかいです。しかも、朝あさごはんが 無料むりょうです。 — This hotel is very close to the station. On top of that, breakfast is free.
• はなさんの 字じです。その上うえ、住所じゅうしょは 京都きょうとです。 — It's はな's handwriting. On top of that, the address is Kyoto.

Grammar 4 / 4: そこで

そこで = so, therefore: the first sentence is a problem or situation, the second is "because of it, I (we) decided to do this"

• そこで = so (finding a way): The first sentence is a problem or situation. The second is the action you take to solve it. そこ (there) + で: "in that situation, I ~."
• An action you choose to do: Most common are 〜ことに しました (decided) and 〜ました (did): そこで、京都きょうとへ 行いく ことに しました。 It can also take 〜ましょう (a suggestion): そこで、京都きょうとへ 行いきましょう！ (This is what Neko-sensei says in the comic.)
• How is it different from すると?: After すると comes "what happens next" (the door opened, a cat jumped in). After そこで comes "what I (we) decide to do" (ask someone, change shops).
• How is it different from だから?: だから can lead to any result: a judgment, a natural result, or an intention. そこで only takes "a measure you thought up for the situation." So "It snowed, so the train was delayed" cannot use そこで.

• 道みちに まよいました。そこで、駅員えきいんさんに 聞ききました。 — I got lost. So I asked the station staff.
• 店みせが こんで いました。そこで、となりの 店みせに 入はいりました。 — The shop was crowded. So we went into the shop next door.
• かさを わすれました。そこで、コンビニで 買かいました。 — I forgot my umbrella. So I bought one at a convenience store.
• 日本語にほんごが 上手じょうずに なりたいです。そこで、毎日まいにち 日記にっきを 書かく ことに しました。 — I wanted to get better at Japanese. So I decided to write a diary every day.
• 住所じゅうしょは 京都きょうとでした。そこで、京都きょうとへ 行いく ことに しました。 — The address was Kyoto. So we decided to go to Kyoto.