Advanced: Lesson 5

overview:

In Advance lesson 5, we will be learning how to use the particle ところです to express about to do something,
be in the middle of something, just did something.

Then, we'll be looking at ばかりです to express just did something.

Lastly, we'll learn how to use はずです to express it is supposed to be, it should be.

Lesson overview

Using ところです

Using ばかりです

Using はずです

Usage of ところです

breakdown

ところです can be used to express that something is about to be done, doing or just done.

structure: about to do something

Verb (plain form) + ところです

例：飲むところです　消すところです　始めるところです

structure: doing something

Verb (te form) + いる + ところです

例：飲んでいるところです　勉強しているところです　歩いているところです

structure: just did something

Verb (ta form) + ところです

例：食べたところです　出かけたところです　読んだところです

examples

1. I am just about to go to work.
1. 私は仕事に行くところです。
About to go to work

2. I am about to make dinner.
2. 晩ご飯を使うところです。
About to make dinner.

3. Mr Kimura is currently swimming.
3. 木村さんは泳いでいるところです。
Currently swimming.

4. He is currently eating lunch.
4. 彼は寂しそうです。彼は昼ご飯を食べているところです。
Currently eating

5. He just went out.
5. 彼は出かけたところです。
Just went out

5. She just finished eating
5. 彼女は食べたところです。
Just finished eating

Usage of ばかりです

breakdown

Similar to ところです, we can also use ばかりです to express that something was just done. However, the difference is that た + ところです is used as a fact that something just happened, ばかりです is used at the speaker's perception of how little time has past.

For example, three months might be a short time if you're starting a new life in a new country. ばかりです is appropriate in this case. ところです can only be used for something that just happened.

structure

Verb (ta form) + ばかりです

examples

1. I came to Japan 3 months ago.
1. 私は３ヶ月前に日本へ来たばかりです。

2. I bought this book 2 weeks ago.
2. 二週間前にこの本を買ったばかりです。

3. I just moved here a year ago.
3. 一年前にここに引っ越したばかりです。

Things to note:

You can use ばかりです if it feels short to you.

Usage of はずです

breakdown

The usage of はずです is express the speaker's confidence in his judgement.

It can be translated to it's supposed to, it should be that.

structure

Verb (plain form) + はずです

i-adj (plain form) + はずです

na-adj + な + はずです

na-adj + ではない + はずです

na-adj + だった + はずです

na-adj + ではなかった + はずです

noun + の + はずです

noun + ではない + はずです

noun + だった + はずです

noun + ではなかった + はずです

examples

1. He is supposed to be asleep now.
1. 今、彼は寝たはずです。

2. Mr Tanaka should arrive anytime now.
2. 今にも田中さんは着くはずです。

3. Because he is fat, he should not be able to run fast.
3. 彼は太いから、速く走らないはずです。

はずでした

breakdown

We use はずでした to describe something that you thought was supposed to be but didn't turn out to be. You can think of it as a way to describe failed prediction.

examples

1. I thought the plane was supposed to arrive at 9AM but it was late.
1. 飛行機が空港に9時に着くはずでしたが、遅れてしまいました。

2. My friend was supposed to come to my house but he didn't come.
2. 友達が私の家に来るはずでしたが、来ませんでした。

3. I thought the test will be easy but it was difficult.
3. テストは簡単なはずでしたが、難しかったです。

はずがありません

breakdown

We use はずがありません to describe something that wasn't supposed to happen.

examples

1. He wasn't supposed to fall sick because he looked so healthy.
1. 元気そうですから、病気になるはずがありません。

Things to note:

We use はずでした to describe a failed prediction
We use はずがありません to describe something wasn't supposed to happen.
The difference between ないはずです and はずがありません is that the latter is a stronger expression.