～かける、～かけの

Today’s Question

What is a 読よみかけの本ほん?

Today’s Grammar Point: ～かける、～かけの

～かける、～かけの is used when:

1. exerting the action of ～ on somebody else
2. an action has been started but not completed (“be in the middle of ～” or “be midway through ～”) if used with a verb whose action should take a while to complete
3. something was about to happen but it stopped just before too late (“nearly ～” or “be about to ～”) if used with a verb whose action should be completed in a moment

Connection

[verb stem] + かける
[verb stem] + かけの + [noun]
verb stem is the ます form verb without ます

Examples of Meaning No. 1

隣となりに座すわった女おんなの子こに話はなしかけた。
I spoke to the girl who sat next to me.

向むかいのおばあさんに微笑ほほえみかけた。
I smiled at the old lady across from me.

Examples of Meaning No. 2

ジョンさんは何なにか言いいかけてやめた。
John started to say something but stopped.

エイミーさんは立たちかけて、また腰こしを下おろした。
Amy started to stand up, but then sat down again.

これは父ちちの読よみかけの本ほんです。
This is the book my Dad has started to read but not yet finished.

食たべかけのサンドイッチがある。
There is a half-eaten sandwich.

Examples of Meaning No. 3

私わたしはインフルエンザの予防接種よぼうせっしゅで死しにかけた。
I nearly died with a flu shot.

弟おとうとはプールで溺おぼれかけた。
My brother nearly drowned in a swimming pool.

Variation

[verb stem] + かけだ = (something) is half way through ～.

レポートはまだ書かきかけだ。
My report is only partly written.

そのセーターはまだ編あみかけだ。
The jumper is still only half-knitted.

Answer to Today’s question

A 読よみかけの本ほん is a book that I started to read but not finished reading yet.