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

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{{Grammar Box}}
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{{Grammar Box}}  
  
“快...了” (kuài... le) expresses that in a short time or relatively short time something is going to happen. Sometimes you can remove the middle part, and just say "快了" by itself (meaning "soon"). 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]].
  
== Basic Usage with Verbs ==
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== 快⋯⋯了 (kuài... le) with Verbs ==
  
When using "快...了" with verbs, it takes on a meaning similar to the English "just about to".
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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>
  
+ Verb (+ Object) + 了
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<div class="jiegou">
 
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快要 + Verb + 了
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* <em>快</em> 下班 <em>了</em> 吗? <span class="trans">Are you getting off work soon?</span>
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* 这 些 工作 <em></em> 做 完 <em></em> ,我 晚点 下班。 <span class="trans">I'll be finished with this work soon, so I'll get off work a little late.</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>
* <em>快</em> 到 家 <em>了</em> 吗? <span class="trans">Will you arrive at home soon?</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>
* 我 <em></em> <em></em> ,你 开始 做 饭 吧。 <span class="trans">I'll be there soon. Go ahead and get started making dinner.</span>
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*<em>快 </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 觉得 <em>快</em> 下雨 <em>了</em> ,我们 <em>快</em> 走 吧。 <span class="trans">I think it's going to rain soon. Let's go.</span>
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*我 女朋友 <em>快 </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></em> 过年 <em></em> ,你 什么 时候 回家? <span class="trans">It'll be Chinese New Year soon. When are you going back to your hometown?</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>
* 小李 <em>快</em> <em>了</em> ,你 别 开 玩笑 了。 <span class="trans">Xiao Li is about to cry. Stop joking around.</span>
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* <em>快</em> <em>了</em> 。 <span class="trans">He's about to die.</span>
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
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."
  
== Usage with 快 + 要 ==
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== 快⋯⋯了 (kuài... le) with Adjectives ==
  
Another way you will see this same pattern used is in conjunction with the [[modal verb]] 要 (yào).  [[Auxiliary verb "yao" and its multiple meanings|要 can have multiple meanings]], one of which is "will" (referring to the future).  You can insert it into the basic pattern, right before the verb.
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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 + 要 + Verb + 了
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 你 <em>快 要</em> 下班 <em>了</em> 吗? <span class="trans">Are you getting off work soon?</span>
 
* <em>快 要</em> 过年 <em>了</em> ,你 什么 时候 回家? <span class="trans">It'll be Chinese New Year soon. When are you going back to your hometown?</span>
 
* 小李 <em>快 要</em> 哭 <em>了</em> ,你 别 开 玩笑 了。 <span class="trans">Xiao Li is about to cry. Stop joking around.</span>
 
</div>
 
  
These examples are the same as some of the ones above, with a "" added. The addition of the "" does not change the meanings.
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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>
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* 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>
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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>
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* 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>
  
== Usage with Adjectives ==
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</div>
  
In this structure, 快 is closer to the meaning of "almost" in English.
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== 要⋯⋯了 (yào... le) with Verbs ==
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== 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>
 +
 +
Note that occasionally you'll see [[adjective]]s (instead of verbs) in this pattern as well.
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 我 <em></em> <em>了</em> <span class="trans">I'm almost ready.</span>
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* <em></em> <em>了</em> 。 <span class="trans">The meat is almost done [cooking].</span>
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*我 <em></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>
* <em></em> <em>了</em> ,他 怎么 还 没 回来? <span class="trans">It's almost dark. Why isn't he back yet?</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></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></em> <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"]]
 +
*[[Expressing future with "jiang"]]
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)]] (p.183)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7301075294/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7301075294 →buy]
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{{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 /Adjective + 了|<em>快</em> 下班 吗?|grammar point|ASGNGEU8}}
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{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
 +
{{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"}}
 +
{{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}}
{{POS|Sentence Patterns}}
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{{Used for|Sequencing events in time}}
 +
{{Used for|Referring to changes of situation}}
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{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
 
{{Translation|about}}
 
{{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