Verb て いる ところ
Verb te iru tokoro
JLPT N4 Neutral
Formation
Verb-て form + いる ところ
Describes an action that is currently happening; 'in the middle of', 'in the process of'.
When to use
"In the middle of doing X" - pairs with an ongoing action verb, more explicit than bare ところ.
Explanation
The て いる ところ grammar point is used to express an action that is currently happening or taking place. It can be translated as 'in the middle of' or 'in the process of' in English. It is formed by using the て-form of a verb followed by いる and ところ.
Example sentences
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He is in the middle of doing his homework.
Kare wa shukudai wo shite iru tokoro desu.
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We were in the process of watching a movie.
Watashitachi wa eiga wo mite iru tokoro deshita.
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The kids are in the middle of playing in the park.
Kodomotachi wa kouen de asonde iru tokoro desu.
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She is in the process of making a cake and will come soon.
Kanojo wa keeki wo tsukutte iru tokoro de, sugu kimasu.
Stage Of An Action (About To / In The Middle Of / Just Did)
- Noun + 中Noun + ちゅうN4Express 'in the middle of', 'during', or 'in the process…
- ~ところ〜tokoroN2Express a specific point in time or state; 'when', 'just…
- Verb た ところVerb ta tokoroN4Expresses the situation right after an action has taken…
- ~かけ〜kakeN3Expresses the meaning of being in the middle of doing…
- ~最中に~saichuu niN3In the middle of / while doing something.
- ~たて~tateN3Indicates an action that has just been completed…
- ~つつある〜tsutsu aruN2Expresses an ongoing process or gradual change.
Corpus examples (60)
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The police are looking into the records of those people.
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I caught the man stealing the money.
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She was making tea.
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When he came, we were having dinner.
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I'm working hard trying to learn French.
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They caught him playing a trick on his sister.
ある日、ローザ・パークスという黒人女性が、一日のつらい仕事を終えて帰宅しているところだった。
One day, a black woman, Rosa Parks, was returning home after a hard day's work.
ロンドンは、私の住んでいるところだが、以前は霧で有名だった。
London, where I live, used to be famous for its fog.
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He was found lying unconscious on the kitchen floor.
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This is where we differ very much from Japanese workers.
ふたりとも、目指しているところは一緒で、ただ、そこへたどり着く方法が違うだけ。
They share the same aim; they just go about trying to achieve it in different ways.
医者は、そのひん死の男は、数時間前に普通なら死んでしまっているところだといっているが、その男は、いぜん、死に挑んでいる。
The doctors say the dying man would have kicked the bucket hours ago if he were an ordinary man, but he is still defying death.
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She was being carried to the hospital.
彼がそんなすばらしい車を運転しているところを想像できますか。
Can you imagine him driving such a splendid car?
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She saw him driving his new car.
私たちが訪ねたとき、彼は兄さんに英語を教えてもらっているところであった。
He was being taught English by his brother when we called on him.
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I am working hard trying to learn English.
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He is giving an address.
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He is crossing the street now.
まだテスト結果については何も報告がないので、みんな待っているところです。
We're all waiting because there's no news about the test results yet.
会社の中には、従業員が有給休暇を積極的に夏休みに使えるように制度を作り上げているところもある。
In some companies, employees use paid time off for their summer vacations.
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I was about to leave the house then.
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However, Lucy is about to leave her home.
トムが目を覚ましたとき、メアリーは自転車で彼の家に向かっているところだった。
When Tom woke up, Mary was on her bike heading over to his house.
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When I came home, my sister was playing the guitar.