Difference between revisions of "Expressing "about to happen" with "le""
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− | * 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> | + | * 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> | + | * <em>快</em> 下雨 <em>了</em>,我们 走 吧。<span class="pinyin"><em>Kuài</em> xiàyǔ <em>le</em>, wǒmen zǒu ba. </span> <span class="trans">It's going to rain soon. Let's go. </span> |
− | * <em>快 要</em> 过年 <em>了</em> | + | * <em>快 要</em> 过年 <em>了</em>,你 什么 时候 回家?<span class="pinyin"><em>Kuài yào</em> guò nián <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> |
− | * 我 女朋友 <em> 快 要 </em> 过 生日 <em>了</em> 。 <span class="pinyin"> Wǒ nǚpéngyou <em>kuài yào</em> | + | * 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> | + | * <em>快</em> 下 车 <em>了</em> ,你 再 等 一会儿。<span class="pinyin"><em>Kuài</em> xià chē <em>le</em>, nǐ zài děng yīhuìr. </span> <span class="trans">You are soon getting out of the car, wait a moment. </span> |
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− | * 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> | + | * 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> |
− | * 我们 <em>快</em> 迟到 <em>了</em>。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>kuài</em> chídào <em>le</em>.</span> <span class="trans">We're about to be late.</span> | + | * 我们 <em>快</em> 迟到 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>kuài</em> chídào <em>le</em>. </span> <span class="trans">We're about to be late. </span> |
− | * 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> | + | * 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> |
− | * 这些 脏衣服 <em>快</em> 臭 <em>了</em>。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè xiē zāng yīfu <em>kuài</em> chòu <em>le</em>.</span> <span class="trans">The clothes are about to smell bad.</span> | + | * 这些 脏衣服 <em>快</em> 臭 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Zhè xiē zāng yīfu <em>kuài</em> chòu <em>le</em>. </span> <span class="trans">The clothes are about to smell bad. </span> |
− | * 不 能 再 喝 | + | * 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 don't want to drink more, I am almost drunk. </span> |
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− | * 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> | + | * 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> | + | * 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 | + | * 9 点 了,超市 <em>要</em> 关门 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Jiǔ diǎn le, chāoshì <em>yào</em> guān mén <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> | + | * 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> | + | * 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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Revision as of 04:06, 2 December 2015
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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) and/or a 要 (yào).
Contents
快(要)……了 with Verbs
When using "快(要)……了" (kuài (yào)... le) with verbs, it takes on a meaning similar to the English "just about to."
Structure
快(要) + Verb/Verb Phrase + 了
Examples
- 我们 快 到 了。We're almost there.
- 快 下雨 了,我们 走 吧。It's going to rain soon. Let's go.
- 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。You are soon getting out of the car, wait a moment.
Notice that for some translations, it's more natural to use the English word "almost" instead of "soon."
快……了 with Adjectives
In this structure, 快……了 (kuài…… le) is closer to the meaning of "almost" in English.
Structure
快 + Adj. + 了
Note that for adjectives, you don't normally add a 要 (yào) like you do for verbs (see above).
Examples
- 我 快 好 了。I'm almost ready.
- 我们 快 迟到 了。We're about to be late.
- 天 快 黑 了。It’s almost getting dark.
- 这些 脏衣服 快 臭 了。The clothes are about to smell bad.
- 不 能 再 喝 了,我 快 醉 了。I don't want to drink more, I am almost drunk.
要......了 with Verbs
Structure
You can also just use 要 (yào) before the verb, without 快 (kuài) .
Subj. + 要 + Verb/Verb Phrase + 了
Note that for adjectives, you don't normally use 要 (yào) like this, as you do for verbs (see above).
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
- Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇) (p.183)→buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 267-8) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (pp. 196-7) →buy
- 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册) (p. 271)→buy
Websites
- ChinesePod: Qing Wen - 了 (le): Something's About to Happen (free podcast content)