Difference between revisions of "Expressing "about to happen" with "le""

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* 我们 <em>快</em> 吃完 <em>了</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>kuài</em> chīwán <em>le</em>.</span> <span class="trans">We are about to finish eating.</span>
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* 我们 <em>快 </em> <em>了</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>kuài </em> dào <em>le</em>.</span> <span class="trans">We're almost there.</span>
* �他们 <em>快</em> 下班 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>kuài</em> xiàbān <em>le</em>.</span> <span class="trans">�They're going to get off work soon.</span>
 
* 妈妈 <em>快 要</em> 到 家 <em>了</em> 。 <span class="pinyin"> Māma <em>kuài yào</em> dào jiā <em>le</em> ma?</span> <span class="trans">Mom is going to come home soon/He is almost home.</span>
 
 
* <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</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> , 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>
 
* <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>
 
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* 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>
 
 
* 这 个 老人 <em>快 要</em> 死 <em>了</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè ge lǎorén <em>kuài yào</em> sǐ <em>le</em>.</span> <span class="trans">This old person is going to die soon.</span>
 
* 我 <em> 快 要 </em> 过 生日 <em>了</em> 。 <span class="pinyin"> Wǒ <em>kuài yào</em>  guò shēngrì <em>le</em>.</span> <span class="trans">I‘m about to have my birthday.</span>
 
 
* <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>
 
* <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>
  

Revision as of 06:16, 4 November 2015

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).

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 Wǒmen kuài dào le. We're almost there.
  • 下雨 , 我们 走 吧 。 Kuài xiàyǔ le, wǒmen zǒu ba. It's going to rain soon. Let's go.
  • 快 要 过年 , 你 什么 时候 回家 ? Kuài yào guò nián le, nǐ shénme shíhou huíjiā? It's almost Chinese New Year, when are you going back to your hometown?
  • 我 女朋友 快 要 过 生日 Wǒ nǚpéngyoukuài yào guò shēngrì le. My girlfriend is about to have her birthday.
  • 下 车 , 你 再 等 一会儿 。 Kuài xià chē le, nǐ zài děng yīhuìr. 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

  • kuài hǎo le. I'm almost ready.
  • Ròu kuài shóu le. The meat is almost done [cooking].
  • 他 的 脏 袜子 Tā de zāng wàzi kuài chòu le. His dirty socks are about to smell bad.
  • Tiān kuài hēi le. It’s almost getting dark.
  • 你 的 咖啡 Nǐ de kāfēi kuài liáng le. Your coffee is almost cool.
  • 水果 Shuǐguǒ kuài huài le. The fruit is almost ruined.
  • 不 能 再 喝 了 , 我 Bù néng zài hē le, wǒ kuài zuì le. I don't want to drink more, I am almost drunk.
  • 迟到 kuài chídào le. I'm about to be late.
  • 衣服 Yīfu kuài gān le. The clothes are almost dry.
  • 杯子 Bēizi kuài mǎn le. The cup is almost filled up.

要......了 with Verbs

Structure

You can also just use 要 (yào) before the verb, without 快 (kuài) .

Subject + 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

  • 见 妈妈 , 高兴 吗 ? Yào jiàn māma le, gāoxìng ma? You're about to see your mom. Are you happy?
  • 我 觉得 下雨 Wǒ juéde yào xiàyǔ le. I think it's about to rain.
  • 生气 yào shēngqì le! I'm going to get angry!
  • 迟到 yào chídào le! I'm going to be late!
  • 他们 的 孩子 出生 Tāmen de háizi yào chūshēng le. Their child is about to be born.
  • 9 点 了 , 超市 关门 Jiǔ diǎn le, chāoshì yào guān mén le. It's 9 o'clock. The supermarket is about to close.
  • 圣诞节 , 你 有 什么 打算 ? Shèngdànjié yào dào le, nǐ yǒu shénme dǎsuàn? It's almost Christmas. What plans do you have?
  • 结婚 ! 哈哈 ! yào jiéhūn le! Hāhā! I'm about to get married! Ha ha!
  • 我 觉得 我 感冒 Wǒ juéde wǒ yào gǎnmào le. I think I'm about to get a cold.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites