One of my JLPT books, 総まとめ文法N2, uses the following examples to explain the grammar pattern ところだ:
お忙{いそが}しいところをすみません。(=忙{いそが}しいのに) → I am sorry to bother you at this busy time.
会{あ}いたいと思{おも}っていたところです。(=今{いま}ちょうど思{おも}っていました) → I was just thinking that I wanted to see you.
It also mentions that ところ could be followed by particles へ・に・を or nothing. But it does not give any example or any explanation on the difference between them.
I have a few questions:
Does ところを always imply the meaning of のに in the meaning of "although"?
What is the difference between ところに and ところへ? Is ところへ more elusive than ところに?
In another document (related with N3) I see the following explanations:
- ところを allows to use the whole sentence like a noun.
- ところへ something comes from the situation.
- ところに something happens in the current situation.
The given examples were:
これから寝{ね}ようとしたところへ友{とも}達{だち}が訪{たず}ねてきた。 → When I was trying to sleep, a friend came by.
こっそりタバコを吸{す}っているところを妹{いもうと}に見{み}られた。 → My sister saw me while I was smoking in secret.
According to my professor, ところに and ところへ are somewhat the same. But I am still wondering whether there is a difference or not?