「～が早いか」- As Soon As

Explanation

Grammar: 動詞どうし辞書じしょ形けい＋が早いか / 動詞どうした形＋が早いか
Meaning: Indicates that the second action occurs immediately after the first action.

Grammar Pattern

Grammar Point	Connection	Explanation
動詞どうし辞書じしょ形けい＋が早いか	Verb Dictionary Form	Indicates that the second action occurs immediately after the first action.
動詞どうした形＋が早いか	Verb Ta-Form	Indicates that the second action occurs immediately after the first action.

Basic Usage

• 動詞どうし辞書じしょ形けい＋が早いか
• 動詞どうした形＋が早いか

Examples

• チャイムちゃいむが鳴なるが早いか、生徒せいとたちは教室きょうしつを飛とび出だしていった。
• Chaimu ga naru ga hayai ka, seito-tachi wa kyoushitsu o tobidashite itta.
• As soon as the bell rang, the students rushed out of the classroom.
  

• 電話でんわが来くるが早いか、緊張きんちょうで手てが震ふるえ出だした。
• Denwa ga kuru ga hayai ka, kinchou de te ga furue dashita.
• As soon as the phone rang, my hands started trembling from nervousness.
  

• そのその言葉ことばを聞きくが早いか、嬉うれしさのあまり泣なき出だしてしまった。
• Sono kotoba o kiku ga hayai ka, ureshisa no amari naki dashite shimatta.
• As soon as I heard those words, I was so happy that I started crying.
  

Deep Dive

When using 「～が早いか」, keep the following points in mind:

• The second clause often ends with the past tense 「た」, describing something that has already happened.
• The second clause cannot include expressions of determination, intention, desire, or commands.

This structure emphasizes the close relationship between the two actions and is often used to depict quick reactions or sudden events.

Real-Life Scenarios

• Used to describe emergency situations or quick reactions, such as in classrooms or phone conversations.
• When narrating stories or events, it highlights the timing between actions, making the narrative more vivid.

Summary

「～が早いか」 is a grammatical structure used to express that two actions occur almost simultaneously. It is often used to describe past events and emphasizes the close connection between the actions. When using this structure, be mindful of its differences from similar grammar points to ensure accurate expression.