Time and sequence

～たところ

when I did ...; upon doing ... (a discovery)

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How to form it

  • Verb (た-form) + ところ

Register: Neutral; reporting results

Explanation

Reports what you found, noticed or what happened as a result of doing something.

The first action is a purposeful one such as asking or checking. The second clause reports a result that was not predicted.

Examples

  1. 先生に相談したところ、親切に教えてくれた。

    せんせいにそうだんしたところ、しんせつにおしえてくれた。

    When I consulted my teacher, he kindly advised me.

  2. 店に電話したところ、もう閉まっていた。

    みせにでんわしたところ、もうしまっていた。

    When I phoned the shop, it was already closed.

  3. 調べたところ、間違いが見つかった。

    しらべたところ、まちがいがみつかった。

    When I looked into it, I found a mistake.

Compare with

  • ～たところで: たところで means 'even if' and goes with a negative result; たところ reports a discovery.

Common mistakes

  • Following it with a command or a plan. The second clause reports a result.