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

(Added "Adj." to the structure diagram because the next sentence says as much.)
(Replaced "The food are almost getting cold" with "The food is about to be cold.")
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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>
 
* 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>
 
* 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 are almost getting cold. </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>
 
* 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>
 
* 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>
 
* 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>

Revision as of 15:31, 15 March 2017

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).

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 / Verb Phrase + 了

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 guònián 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 nǚpéngyou kuài yào guò shēngrì le. My girlfriend is about to have her birthday.
  • 下车 ,你 再 等 一会儿。Kuài xiàchē le, nǐ zài děng yīhuìr. 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

  • Tiān kuài hēi le. It’s almost getting dark.
  • kuài hǎo le. I'm almost ready.
  • Fàn kuài liáng le. The food is about to be cold.
  • 这些 脏 衣服 Zhèxiē zāng yīfu kuài chòu le. These dirty clothes are about to smell bad.
  • 不 能 再 喝 了,我 Bù néng zài hē le, wǒ kuài zuì le. 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 / Verb Phrase / Adj. + 了

Note that occasionally you'll see adjectives (instead of verbs) in this pattern as well.

Examples

  • 生气 yào shēngqì le! I'm going to get angry!
  • 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 guānmén le. It's 9 o'clock. The supermarket is about to close.
  • 我 最好 的 朋友 结婚 Wǒ zuìhǎo de péngyou yào jiéhūn le! My best friend is about to get married!
  • 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?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites