２課

Question 1

〜最中だ

Answer 1

「ちょうど〜しているところだ。」
In the middle of doing something when something inconvenient happens.

Nの＋最中だ
Vている＋最中だ

Attached to verbs that take a comparatively short amount of time (test, writing, etc). It is followed by by a sentence where something unexpectedly happens that is getting in the way or otherwise inconvenient.

Question 2

〜うちに (two uses)

Answer 2

1) 「時間の制限があって、〜でなくなった後では実現が難しいから、その前にしてしまう。」
Do something within a period of time.

Nの＋うちに
V dict/ている／ない＋うちに
i-adj い＋うちに
na-adjな＋うちに
＊no past tense

Attach to words that suggest a limited period of time. Followed by a volitional/intentional action verb.

2)「〜している間に変化が現れる」
Something happening, CHANGING in a period of time.

V dict/ている／ない＋うちに

Attach to words that suggest a limited period of time. Followed a sentence that doesn’t contain and intention/volition and expresses a change.

Question 3

〜ばかりだ／〜一方だ

Answer 3

「〜という一方方向に変化が進んでいく。」
Just ________ keeps happening/things are moving in one specific direction

V dict ＋ばかりだ／一方だ

Attach to verbs that convey a change (increase, worsen, etc). 「〜ばかりだ」is used often with things that are moving in a particularly bad direction.

Question 4

〜（よ）うとしている

Answer 4

「〜という変化が起こる少し前だ・もうすぐ〜する。」（硬い言い方）
Just before something

Vう／よう＋としている

Attach to verbs that covey an action that takes just a moment (begin, the curtain opens, etc).

Question 5

〜つつある

Answer 5

「〜という変化が進行中だ。」（硬い言い方）
Some change is still in the process of happening at the moment.

Vますstem＋つつある

Attach to verbs expressing change (become warm, widen, etc).

Question 6

〜つつ

Answer 6

「〜ながら、あることをする。」（硬い言い方）
While continuing to do something, do something else.

Vますstem＋つつ

Attach to verbs that take some time (think, enjoy, talk with, etc). Same subject in the first and second halves of the sentence.