Difference between revisions of "Expressing "about to happen" with "le""
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| − | Remember that 了 (le) is not only for the past! When something is ''about to happen'' | + | Remember that 了 (le) is not only for the past! When something is ''about to happen,'' you can also indicate this using 了 (le). Normally it is paired with a 快 (kuài), 快要(kuàiyào) or a 要 (yào). This is a special form of [[Change of state with "le"|using 了 to indicate a change of situation]]. |
| − | == | + | == 快⋯⋯了 (kuài... le) with Verbs == |
| − | When using | + | When using 快 ⋯⋯了 (kuài... le) with [[verb]]s, it takes on a meaning similar to the English "just about to." Normally you can add 要 (yào) before the verb. |
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| + | 快+ Verb + 了 | ||
| + | </div> | ||
| − | + | <div class="jiegou"> | |
| − | + | 快要 + Verb + 了 | |
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * | + | |
| − | + | *我们 <em>快</em> 到 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>kuài</em> dào <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">We're almost there.</span> | |
| − | * | + | *<em>快</em> 下雨 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Kuài</em> xiàyǔ <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">It's going to rain soon.</span> |
| − | + | *<em>快 要</em> 过年 <em>了</em>，你 什么 时候 回家？<span class="pinyin"><em>Kuài yào</em> guònián <em>le</em>, nǐ shénme shíhou huíjiā? </span><span class="trans">It's almost Chinese New Year. When are you going back to your hometown?</span> | |
| − | * <em>快</em> 过年 <em>了</em> ，你 什么 时候 回家？ <span class=" | + | *我 女朋友 <em>快 要</em> 过 生日 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin"> Wǒ nǚpéngyou <em>kuài yào</em> guò shēngrì <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">My girlfriend is about to have her birthday.</span> |
| − | + | *<em>快</em> 下车 <em>了</em> ，你 再 等 一会儿 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Kuài</em> xiàchē <em>le</em>, nǐ zài děng yīhuìr.</span><span class="trans">We're about to get off. Just wait a little while.</span> | |
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</div> | </div> | ||
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Notice that for some translations, it's more natural to use the English word "almost" instead of "soon." | Notice that for some translations, it's more natural to use the English word "almost" instead of "soon." | ||
| − | == | + | == 快⋯⋯了 (kuài... le) with Adjectives == |
| − | + | In this structure, 快⋯⋯了 (kuài... le) is closer to the meaning of "[[almost]]" in English. | |
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | + | 快 + Adj. + 了 | |
| − | 快 + | ||
| − | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
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| − | === | + | * 天 <em>快</em> 黑 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tiān <em>kuài</em> hēi <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">It’s almost getting dark.</span> |
| − | + | * 我 <em>快</em> 好 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>kuài</em> hǎo <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I'm almost ready.</span> | |
| − | < | + | * 饭 <em>快</em> 凉 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Fàn <em>kuài</em> liáng <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">The food is about to be cold.</span> |
| − | + | * 这些 脏 衣服 <em>快</em> 臭 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Zhèxiē zāng yīfu <em>kuài</em> chòu <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">These dirty clothes are about to smell bad.</span> | |
| − | 快 | + | * 不 能 再 喝 了，我 <em>快</em> 醉 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Bù néng zài hē le, wǒ <em>kuài</em> zuì <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I can't drink another, I am almost drunk.</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | + | == 要⋯⋯了 (yào... le) with Verbs == | |
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=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
| − | You can also just use 要 (yào) before the verb, without 快 (kuài) . | + | You can also just use 要 (yào) before the verb, without 快 (kuài). |
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | + | Subj. + 要 + Verb / Adj. + 了 | |
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | Note that | + | Note that occasionally you'll see [[adjective]]s (instead of verbs) in this pattern as well. |
=== Examples === | === Examples === | ||
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * <em>要</em> | + | |
| − | + | *我 <em>要</em> 生气 <em>了</em>！<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yào</em> shēngqì <em>le</em>!</span><span class="trans">I'm going to get angry! </span> | |
| − | * | + | *他们 的 孩子 <em>要</em> 出生 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen de háizi <em>yào</em> chūshēng <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">Their child is about to be born.</span> |
| − | + | *9 点 了，超市 <em>要</em> 关门 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Jiǔ diǎn le, chāoshì <em>yào</em> guānmén <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">It's 9 o'clock. The supermarket is about to close.</span> | |
| − | * | + | *我 最好 的 朋友 <em>要</em> 结婚 <em>了</em>！<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zuìhǎo de péngyou <em>yào</em> jiéhūn <em>le</em>!</span><span class="trans">My best friend is about to get married! </span> |
| − | + | *圣诞节 <em>要</em> 到 <em>了</em> ，你 有 什么 打算 ？<span class="pinyin">Shèngdànjié <em>yào</em> dào <em>le</em>, nǐ yǒu shénme dǎsuàn?</span><span class="trans">It's almost Christmas. What plans do you have?</span> | |
| − | * | ||
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</div> | </div> | ||
| − | ==See also== | + | == See also == |
| − | *[[" | + | *[[Expressing "nearly" with "jihu"]] |
*[[Approximations with "chabuduo"]] | *[[Approximations with "chabuduo"]] | ||
*[[Expressing future with "jiang"]] | *[[Expressing future with "jiang"]] | ||
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=== Books === | === Books === | ||
| − | + | {{Source|HSK Standard Course 2|116}} | |
| − | + | {{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|267-8}} | |
| − | + | {{Source|Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)|183}} | |
| − | + | {{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)|196-7}} | |
| + | {{Source|40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册）|271}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Websites === | ||
| + | |||
| + | * ChinesePod: [http://chinesepod.com/lessons/%E4%BA%86-le-somethings-about-to-happen Qing Wen - 了 (le): Something's About to Happen] (free podcast content) | ||
[[Category:A2 grammar points]] | [[Category:A2 grammar points]] | ||
| − | {{Basic Grammar|快|A2|快 + Verb / | + | {{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}} |
| + | {{Basic Grammar|快|A2|快 + Verb / Adj. + 了|<em>快</em> 下雨 <em>了</em> 。|grammar point|ASGNGEU8}} | ||
{{Rel char|了}} | {{Rel char|了}} | ||
{{Rel char|要}} | {{Rel char|要}} | ||
{{Similar|Expressing "be going to" with "yao"}} | {{Similar|Expressing "be going to" with "yao"}} | ||
| + | {{Similar|Expressing "nearly" with "jihu"}} | ||
| + | {{Similar|Expressing "about to" with "jiuyao"}} | ||
{{Similar|Auxiliary verb "yao" and its multiple meanings}} | {{Similar|Auxiliary verb "yao" and its multiple meanings}} | ||
{{Used for|Expressing time and date}} | {{Used for|Expressing time and date}} | ||
Latest revision as of 08:56, 21 April 2021
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Level
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Used for
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Keywords
Remember that 了 (le) is not only for the past! When something is about to happen, you can also indicate this using 了 (le). Normally it is paired with a 快 (kuài), 快要(kuàiyào) or a 要 (yào). This is a special form of using 了 to indicate a change of situation.
Contents
快⋯⋯了 (kuài... le) with Verbs
When using 快 ⋯⋯了 (kuài... le) with verbs, it takes on a meaning similar to the English "just about to." Normally you can add 要 (yào) before the verb.
Structure
快+ Verb + 了
快要 + Verb + 了
Examples
- 我们 快 到 了。We're almost there.
- 快 下雨 了 。It's going to rain soon.
- 快 要 过年 了，你 什么 时候 回家？It's almost Chinese New Year. When are you going back to your hometown?
- 我 女朋友 快 要 过 生日 了。My girlfriend is about to have her birthday.
- 快 下车 了 ，你 再 等 一会儿 。We're about to get off. Just wait a little while.
Notice that for some translations, it's more natural to use the English word "almost" instead of "soon."
快⋯⋯了 (kuài... le) with Adjectives
In this structure, 快⋯⋯了 (kuài... le) is closer to the meaning of "almost" in English.
Structure
快 + Adj. + 了
Examples
- 天 快 黑 了。It’s almost getting dark.
- 我 快 好 了。I'm almost ready.
- 饭 快 凉 了。The food is about to be cold.
- 这些 脏 衣服 快 臭 了。These dirty clothes are about to smell bad.
- 不 能 再 喝 了，我 快 醉 了。I can't drink another, I am almost drunk.
要⋯⋯了 (yào... le) with Verbs
Structure
You can also just use 要 (yào) before the verb, without 快 (kuài).
Subj. + 要 + Verb / Adj. + 了
Note that occasionally you'll see adjectives (instead of verbs) in this pattern as well.
Examples
- 我 要 生气 了！I'm going to get angry!
- 他们 的 孩子 要 出生 了。Their child is about to be born.
- 9 点 了，超市 要 关门 了。It's 9 o'clock. The supermarket is about to close.
- 我 最好 的 朋友 要 结婚 了！My best friend is about to get married!
- 圣诞节 要 到 了 ，你 有 什么 打算 ？It's almost Christmas. What plans do you have?
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- HSK Standard Course 2 (pp. 116) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 267-8) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇) (pp. 183) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (pp. 196-7) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册） (pp. 271) [ →buy]
Websites
- ChinesePod: Qing Wen - 了 (le): Something's About to Happen (free podcast content)
