小さいとき
When I was little

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USING とき (toki) ー 'THE TIME WHEN...' TO CONVEY IDEAS ABOUT THE TIME WHEN AN ACTION TOOK PLACE (OR WHEN A CERTAIN SITUATION EXISTED)

• とき means 'a (point in) time'. ​

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After a noun : :  e.g. こども  の  とき - (the time) when I was a child
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• noun ＋ の ＋ とき
• NOTE: the "とき" phrase is in the NON-PAST, even though the sentence as a whole might be in the past tense.

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こどもの  とき、よく  プールで  あそびました。

• When I was a child, I often played in the pool.

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がくせいの  とき、あまり　べんきょうしませんでした。

• When I was a student, I didn't study much.

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After an い-adjective : :  e.g. ちいさい  とき - (the time) when I was little
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• adjective-い ＋ とき
• Note again that the "とき" phrase with an adjective is in the non-past. The overall tense of the sentence is determined by the final verb (at the end of the sentence).

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Here's a past tense (determined by the final verb) example:

私が  ちいさい  とき、やさいは  すきじゃ  なかったです。

• When I was little, I didn't like vegetables.

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Here's a non-past (determined by the final verb) example:

てんきが　いい  とき、おてらの  けんぶつが  できます。

• When the weather is good, we can go sightseeing at the temple.

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After a な-adjective : :  e.g. ひまな  とき - when I have/ when I had free time
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• adjective-な ＋ とき
• ​Again, the "とき" phrase is in the non-past. 

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Here's a non-past (determined by the final verb) example:

ははが　ひまな  とき、よく　テレビを　みます。

• When my mother has free time, she often watches TV.

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Here's a past tense (determined by the final verb) example:

まちが　にぎやかな  とき、とても  たのしかった  です。

• When the town was lively, it was lots of fun.

PRACTISE MAKING NOUN AND ADJECTIVE PHRASES WITH "TOKI"

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After a verb : :  e.g. でかけるとき - when we go out
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• plain form verb in non-past tense ＋ とき ＝ around the time before the action, regardless of whether the rest of the sentence is past or present tense
• plain form verb in past tense ＋ とき ＝ around the time after the action

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でかける  とき、いつも  ぼうしを  かぶります。

• When I go out, I always put on a hat.

The putting on of the hat happens before going out, so the verb ＋ とき phrase is in the non-past tense

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いえに  ついた  とき、いつも  くつを　ぬぎます。

• When we arrive at the house, we always take our shoes off.　
  (i.e. When we have arrived...)

NB. the taking off of the shoes happens after arriving at the house, so the verb ＋とき phrase  is in the past tense.

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いえに  入る  とき、いつも  くつを　ぬぎます。

• When we enter the house, we always take our shoes off.　
  (i.e. Before we enter ...)

NB. the taking off of the shoes happens before entering the house, so the verb ＋とき phrase  is in the non-past tense.

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​日本に  くる  とき、にもつが  おおかった  です。

• When I came to Japan, I had so much luggage!　

NB. this was before coming to Japan, so the verb ＋とき phrase is in
the non-past tense.

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​日本に  きた  とき、いつも  おんせんに 行きます。

• When I come to Japan, I always go to a hot spring resort.　

NB. going to the onsen only happens after coming to Japan, so the 
​​verb ＋とき phrase is in the past tense 

PRACTISE MAKING VERB PHRASES WITH "TOKI"