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All About Japanese Particles: ところが (tokoro ga)

[Serie: All About Japanese Particles]

Note: Tokoro ga is always used after the -ra form of a verb. The tense of this verb, however, is not necessarily past, but is determined by the tense of the verb in the main clause.

1. Used between two clauses to indicate that they are opposed in meaning; the result is often unexpected (a. bad result; b. good result): “but, although, when.”

a) Indicating a bad result.

銀行へ行ってところが、もう閉まっていた。
Ginkō e itta tokoro ga, mō shimatte ita.
I went to the bank, but it was already closed. / When I got to the bank, it was already closed.

あの人に会いに行ったところが、会議中で会えなかった。
Ano hito ni ai ni itta tokoro ga, kaigi-chū de aenakatta.
I went to see her, but I couldn’t because she was in a meeting.

b) Indicating a good result.

K大学には合格できないと思っていたところが、合格通知が来た。
K daigaku ni wa gōkaku dekinai to omotte ita tokoro ga, gōkaku tsūchi ga kita.
Although I thought I wouldn’t pass [the entrance exam to] K University, I received a notice that I had.

あまり期待していなかったところが、そのコンサートはすばらしかった。
Amari kitai shite inakatta tokoro ga, sono konsāto wa subarashikatta.
Although I hadn’t really been expecting much, the concert was fabulous.

– Source: All about particles – A handbook of Japanese function words


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