～ところ

At a glance

～ところ shows which stage an action is at: about to start, in the middle, or just finished. The verb form before ところ tells you which stage.

Verb (dictionary form) + ところです   about to do
Verb (ている form)     + ところです   in the middle of doing
Verb (た form)         + ところです   just did

今いまから出でかけるところです。 I'm just about to go out.

---

How to form it

The verb form changes. ところ stays the same:

After ところ, add です (polite) or だ (casual). In casual speech, ところ can also end the sentence alone. For a past moment, use ところでした / ところだった: 食たべるところでした "I was just about to eat."

Note: 来きている means "is here", so for "on the way" people usually use another verb, such as 向むかっているところ.