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

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“快...了” expresses something that has not happened yet, but in a short time or relatively short time it will. In certain contexts, you can remove the middle part, and just say 快了. Using this structure is like say "going to. . .real soon."
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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]].
  
== Structure ==
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== 快⋯⋯了 (kuài... le) with Verbs ==
 +
 
 +
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 ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
快+ Verb + 了
 +
</div>
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 +
快要 + Verb + 了
 +
</div>
 +
 +
=== Examples ===
 +
 +
<div class="liju">
  
+ Verb (+ Object) +
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*我们 <em></em> 到 <em></em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>kuài</em> dào <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">We're almost there.</span>
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*<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>
 +
*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>
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*<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>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Examples ==
+
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 ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
快 + Adj. + 了
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* <em>快</em> 下班 吗?
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* 这 些 工作 <em>快</em> 做 完 了,我 晚点 下班。
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* <em>快</em> 黑 <em></em>。<span class="pinyin">Tiān <em>kuài</em> hēi <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">It’s almost getting dark.</span>
* <em>快</em> 到 家 吗?
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* <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>
* <em>快</em> 到 了,你 开始 做 饭 吧。
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* <em>快</em> 凉 <em></em>。<span class="pinyin">Fàn <em>kuài</em> liáng <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">The food is about to be cold.</span>
* 我 觉得 <em>快</em> 下雨 了,我们 <em></em> 走 吧。
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* 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>
* <em></em> 过年 了,你 什么 时候 回家?
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* 不 能 再 喝 了,我 <em>快</em> <em></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>
* 小李 <em></em> 哭 了,你 别 开 玩笑 了。
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</div>
 
</div>
  
== Structure ==
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== 要⋯⋯了 (yào... le) with Verbs ==
 +
 
 +
=== Structure ===
 +
 
 +
You can also just use 要 (yào) before the verb, without 快 (kuài).
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
+ Ajective + 了
+
Subj. + 要 + Verb / Adj. + 了
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Examples ==
+
Note that occasionally you'll see [[adjective]]s (instead of verbs) in this pattern as well.
 +
 
 +
=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* <em></em> 黑 了,他 怎么 还 没 回来?
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* <em></em> 死 了。
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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>
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*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>
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*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>
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*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>
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*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>
 +
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
==See also==
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== See also ==
  
*[["Nearly" with "jihu"]]
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*[[Expressing "nearly" with "jihu"]]
 
*[[Approximations with "chabuduo"]]
 
*[[Approximations with "chabuduo"]]
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*[[Expressing future with "jiang"]]
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
=== Dictionaries ===
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 2|116}}
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|267-8}}
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{{Source|Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)|183}}
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)|196-7}}
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{{Source|40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册)|271}}
  
 
=== Websites ===
 
=== 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 /Adjective + 了|<em>快</em> 下班 吗?|grammar point|ASGNGEU8}}
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{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
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{{Basic Grammar|快|A2|快 + Verb / Adj. + 了|<em>快</em> 下雨 <em></em> 。|grammar point|ASGNGEU8}}
 
{{Rel char|了}}
 
{{Rel char|了}}
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{{Rel char|要}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "be going to" with "yao"}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "nearly" with "jihu"}}
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{{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}}
{{POS|Sentence Patterns}}
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{{Used for|Sequencing events in time}}
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{{Used for|Referring to changes of situation}}
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{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
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{{Translation|about}}

Latest revision as of 08:56, 21 April 2021

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.

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 Wǒmen kuài dào le.We're almost there.
  • 下雨 Kuài xiàyǔ le.It's going to rain soon.
  • 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 / 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