Japanese from zero · N4 Lesson 15
Starting, finishing, just now
〜出す ・ 〜始める / 〜終わる / 〜続ける ・ 〜たばかり ・ 〜たところ
In this lesson, you will learn to say that something suddenly started (〜出す), that you start, finish or keep doing something (〜始める, 〜終わる, 〜続ける), that you did something only a short time ago (〜たばかり), and that you finished it this very moment (〜たところ). On New Year's Day, the friends share their plans for the year, and Tanaka surprises Lisa.
By the end you will be able to say
雨が 降り出しました。It started to rain.
毎日 日記を 書き続けたい。I want to keep writing my diary every day.
この 本、やっと 読み終わった。I finally finished reading this book.
この お守りは 買った ばかりです。I just bought this charm.
今 駅に 着いた ところです。I've just this moment arrived at the station.
The grammar in this lesson
- Suddenly start: 〜出す — A verb's ます stem + 出す says something suddenly starts, often by itself.
- Start, finish, keep doing: 〜始める, 〜終わる, 〜続ける — A verb's ます stem + 始める, 終わる or 続ける says you start, finish or keep doing it.
- Only just did: 〜た ばかり — The た form + ばかり says you did something only a short time ago, and it still feels new.
- Just this moment: 〜た ところ — The た form + ところ says you finished something this very moment.