〜かけだ／かける／かけの

Meaning

This grammar pattern describes actions that are starting, in progress, incomplete, or about to occur. With continuous verbs (like 食べる), it shows an action in progress or not yet finished. With instantaneous verbs (like 死ぬ), it indicates being on the verge of something happening. The form varies: 〜かけだ (state of being), 〜かける (progressive action), and 〜かけの＋noun (modifying a noun).

Formation

Examples

1. 食べかけのケーキを冷蔵庫に入れて、また宿題をやり始めた。
   I put the half-eaten cake in the refrigerator and started doing my homework again.

2. 温かい春が来て、花が開きかけている。
   As warm spring arrived, the flowers began to bloom.

3. 公園で死にかけていた猫を拾って、動物病院に連れていった。
   I found a cat that was dying in the park and took it to an animal hospital.

Summary

• Use with continuous verbs to show incomplete or ongoing actions (e.g., 食べかけ = half-eaten)
• Use with instantaneous verbs to express being on the verge of something (e.g., 死にかけ = nearly dying)
• Three forms exist: 〜かけだ (descriptive), 〜かける (active), 〜かけの＋noun (attributive modifier)