ところだ (2) (B. 496)

Example sentences

(ksa). 
春江は晩ご飯を食べるところだ・です
Harue is just about to eat her supper.
(ksb). 
春江は晩ご飯を食べているところだ・です
Harue is in the midst of eating her supper.
(ksc). 
春江は晩ご飯を食べたところだ・です
Harue has just eaten her supper.
(ksd). 
春江は晩ご飯を食べていたところだ・です
Harue has been eating her supper.
(kse). 
私はもう少しで宿題を忘れるところだった・でした
I almost forgot (was about to forget) my homework.
(ksf). 
私は危ないところをジーンに助けてもらった・もらいました。
I was saved by Gene was I was in a crisis (literally: dangerous state).
(ksg). 
お仕事中のところをすみません。
I'm sorry to bother you in the midst of your work.
(a). 
僕は今出かけるところです
I'm just about to go out now.
(b). 
テリーと踊っているところをマーサに見られてしまった。
The state in which I was dancing with Terry was seen by Martha. / Martha saw me when I was dancing with Terry.
(c). 
ご飯を食べ終わったところにまり子が訪ねて来た。
Mariko came (to see me) at the state in which I had just finished my meal. / Mariko came to see me when I’d just finished my meal.
(d). 
三章まで読んだところで寝てしまった。
I fell asleep when I had read up to the third chapter (literally: in the state in which I had read it up to the third chapter).
(e). 
私は危なく溺れるところだった
I was almost drowned.
(f). 
お忙しいところをどうもありがとうございました。
Thank you very much (for helping me) in the state when you are busy. / Thank you very much for sparing your precious time with me.
(g). 
利男は一番大事なところでよく勉強しなかったから何も分からなくなってしまった。
Toshio has come to the point of not understanding anything because he didn’t study well in the state where (the class) was the most important. / Toshio has gotten totally lost because he didn’t study hard when it was most important.
(h). 
お休みのところをすみません。
I’m sorry (to disturb) the state in which you are off duty. / I’m sorry to bother you when you are off duty/on vacation.

Formation

(i) Vinformal ところだ  
  {話す /話した}ところだ Be just about to talk/have just talked
  {食べる /食べた}ところだ Be about to eat/have just eaten
(ii) Vて{いる /いた} ところだ  
  {話している /話していた}ところだ Be in the midst of talking/have been talking
  {食べている /食べていた}ところだ Be in the midst of eating/have been eating
(iii) Adjective い informal nonpast ところ  
  忙しいところ The state in which someone is busy
(iv) Adjective な stem なところ  
  大事なところ The state in which something is important
(v) Noun の のところ  
  休みのところ The state in which someone is off duty/on vacation