ISORI

〜たところ

JLPT N4:

when I did

Reports what you found or what happened after doing something: "when I did X, Y".

How to form it

  • Put the verb in the た-form and add ところ, then give the result: 電話(でんわ)したところ、留守(るす)だった (when I called, nobody was in).
  • The second half is a past result or discovery, often something you did not know beforehand.

Examples

電話(でんわ)したところ、留守(るす)だった。

When I called, nobody was home.

調(しら)べたところ、問題(もんだい)が見(み)つかった。

When I looked into it, I found a problem.

Notes

  • It sounds a little formal and is common in reports. In conversation, 〜たら does the same job: 電話(でんわ)したら、留守(るす)だった.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing it with 〜たところだ (have just done). たところ followed by a result means "when I did".

Similar meaning

  • 〜たらif / when

    With a past result, たら also means "when I did"; more conversational.

Same form, different meaning