JLPT N4 Grammar – The difference between “〜ところ” and “〜ばかり”

Table of Contents

1. The difference between “〜ところ” and “〜ばかり”
2.〜ところ
3. 〜ばかり
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comments

Q: Is there a difference between how “〜ところ” and “〜ばかり” are used?

A: Both expressions describe actions that happened recently, but the perspective is different.

・〜ところ: Focuses on the timing of the action (just before, during, or just after it happens).
・〜ばかり: Strongly emphasizes that the action has just been completed.

In other words, “〜ところ” is used to describe the current situation, while “〜ばかり” places emphasis on the nuance of being immediately after completion.

〜ところ (JLPT N4)

[Meaning]
Indicates the “time position” of an action (just before, in progress, or just after)

[Rules]
Future (Just before something happens): Verb dictionary form＋ところ
Present (While something is happening): Verb ている form＋ところ
Past (Immediately after something has finished): Verb past form＋ところ

[Examples]
もうすぐ家いえを出でるところです。(未来みらい)
I’m about to leave the house soon. (Future)

今いま向むかっているところです。(現在げんざい)
I’m on my way now. (Present)

さっき家いえを出でたところです。(過去かこ)
I just left the house.(Past)

〜ばかり (JLPT N4)

[Meaning]
Expressing that not much time has passed since an action was completed

[Rule]
Past (Immediately after something has finished): Verb past form＋ばかり

[Examples]　　　　
さっき夜よるご飯はんを食たべたばかりです。
I just had my dinner.

新あたらしいスマートフォンを買かったばかりで、まだ使つかい方かたに慣なれていません。
I just bought a new smartphone, so I’m not used to how it works yet.

さっき家いえを出でたばかりです。
I just left the house.

Let’s Compare

Now, let’s take a look at the differences.

① For future and present actions, only “〜ところ” can be used

First, “〜ばかり” cannot be used to describe future actions or actions that are currently happening.

[Examples]　
◯ もうすぐ家いえを出でるところです。(future)
I am about to leave the house.

× もうすぐ家いえを出でるばかりです。(future)

◯ 今いま向むかっているところです。(present)
I am on my way now.

× 今いま向むかっているばかりです。(present)

② Differences in nuance when describing past actions

Next, let’s look at how the two expressions differ when talking about past events.
Both can describe actions that happened recently, but what they emphasize is different.

“〜ところ” focuses on the timing of the action, while “〜ばかり” emphasizes that the action has just been completed.
Although both indicate that something happened recently, “〜ばかり” places stronger emphasis on the feeling of “just now” immediately after completion.

[〜ところ]

“〜たところ” indicates that an action has just finished, but it does not strongly emphasize the completion itself.
It is mainly used to explain where you are in the timing of the action.
For that reason, it conveys that the action was completed a moment ago, but it does not include a strong emotional nuance or a strong sense of the resulting state.

[Example]　
さっき家いえを出でたところです。
I just left the house.

[〜ばかり]

“〜ばかり” cannot be used for future actions or actions that are currently in progress. It is an expression used only to indicate that an action has just been completed.
It strongly conveys the feeling that the action finished only a moment ago, both in terms of time and psychological impression, and it clearly emphasizes that the action was completed very recently.
In this sense, it is characterized by a strong nuance that focuses on the immediacy of the completion.

[Example]　
さっき家いえを出でたばかりです。
I just left the house.

Also, both expressions are often used together with adverbs that indicate a point in time, so it is helpful to remember them as a set.

• Future: 今いまから, これから, もうすぐ + dictionary form + ところ
• Present: 今いま, ちょうど + ているところ
• Past: 今いま, ちょうど, さっき + たところ / たばかり

Summary

[〜ところ]

• It describes the moment just before, during, or immediately after an action.
• Even when it expresses “right after,” the focus is mainly on explaining the timing of the action.
• It does not strongly emphasize emotion or the feeling of “just finished.”

[〜ばかり]

• It expresses only the moment immediately after an action has been completed.
• It strongly conveys the nuance of “having finished only a moment ago.”
• It can be used only for past actions and cannot be used for future or present situations.

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.

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