Learn N3 Grammar – Week 6 Day 3

Learn N3 Grammar – Week 6 Day 3
A roundup of the most commonly used N3 grammar.
Below is the most commonly used N3 grammar for anyone taking the JLPT

I. Pattern ~たところ (~ta tokoro)
* Meaning: after ~ (after doing that, the result is such and such)
* Usage: V た + ところ

Examples
1. 新しいワープロを使ってみたところ、とても使いやすかった。
Atarashii waapuro (word processor) wo tsukatte mita tokoro, totemo tsukai yasukatta.
Only after trying the new computer did I find out how easy it is to use.

2. コンピューターが動かず、どうして い いか困っていたところ、山田さんが助けてくれ た。
Konpyuutaa ga ugokazu, doushite ii ka komatte ita tokoro, Yamada-san ga tasukete kureta.
My computer froze and I was at my wits’ end, and then Mr Yamada helped me.

II. Pattern ~ところだった (~ tokoro datta)
* Meaning: very nearly~
* Usage: V る + ところだった. Often used with words such as もうちょっとで, 危なく, もう少しで, あと少しで…

Examples
1. その老人は危うく車に引かれるところだった。
Sono roujin wa ayauku kuruma ni hikareru tokoro datta.
That old man was very nearly run over by a car.

2. その猫は危うく水死するところだった。
Sono neko wa ayauku suishi suru tokoro datta.
That cat very nearly drowned.

3. 小学校のとき、もう少しでおぼれるところだった。
Shougakkou no toki, mou sukoshi de oboreru tokoro datta.
At primary school I very nearly drowned.

III. Pattern ~てはじめて (~te hajimete)
* Meaning: only when action V1 happens do you notice or do action V2.
* Usage: V1 て + はじめて + V2

Examples
1. 先生に注意されてはじめて、漢字の間違いに気が付いた。
Sensei ni chuui sarete hajimete, kanji no machigai ni ki gatsuita.
I only noticed my kanji mistake when the teacher pointed it out.

2. 歌舞伎を見てはじめて、日本文化に興味を持った。
Kabuki wo mite hajimete, Nihon bunka ni kyoumi wo motta.
I only became interested in Japanese culture after seeing kabuki.

IV. Pattern ~うちに (~uchi ni)
* Meaning: while… (doing something before that state changes); during… (within that time, something happens that was not there at first)
* Usage: V る/ V ない/ V ている/ A い/ A な/ N の ＋うちに

Examples
1. 花がきれいなうちに、花見に行きたい。
Hana ga kirei na uchi ni, hanami ni ikitai.
I want to go and see the flowers while they are still beautiful.

2. 冷めないうちに、どうぞ召し上がってください。
Samenai uchi ni, douzo meshiagatte kudasai.
Please eat it before it gets cold.

3. 彼女の話を聞いているうちに、涙が出てきました。
Kanojo no hanashi wo kiite iru uchi ni, namida ga dete kimashita.
While I was listening to her story, I found myself in tears.