Why is たform used before 方?

Question

I found this sentence on the Bunpro website and I found it very confusing.

疲れている割には、かなり動けた方だと思います

My understanding of this sentence is something like "Despite being tired, I think (person) is more on the side of being able to move"

Why doesn't it say 動ける方だと思います?

Is this related to the construction "た方がいい"?

The reading was ほう and not かた, therefore I believe that the meaning was ~direction~ as in comparing it with something. That is why I wrote ~is more on the side of...~ — Manab, Jan 30, 2022 at 23:26

aguijonazo · Accepted Answer · 2022-01-30 23:23:46Z

2

The た-form is used simply because the person was able to move on some concrete occasion such as a sports match.

If the sentence were describing the person's permanent quality as you supposed it did, it would say 動ける方.

answered Jan 30, 2022 at 23:23

aguijonazo

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So the meaning would be something like "Despite he being tired, I think (person) [was] more on the side of being able to move"? Is the tense still past even if the previous sentence isn't 疲れていた割には?
– Manab
Jan 30, 2022 at 23:34
Does the tense work as in 宿題をしている最中に、電話が鳴りました？
– Manab
Jan 30, 2022 at 23:35
1

@Manab - Yes, that's correct. Relative tense is used in the subordinate clause. 疲れていた割には means the same in this sentence, though.
– aguijonazo
Jan 30, 2022 at 23:39

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