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

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
Remember that 了 (le) is not only for the past! When something is ''about to happen'', you can also indicate this with a 了.  Normally it is paired with a 快 (kuài) and/or a 要 (yào), however.
+
Remember that 了 (le) is not only for the past! When something is ''about to happen,'' you can also indicate this using (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]].
  
== 快……了 with Verbs ==
+
== 快⋯⋯了 (kuài... le) with Verbs ==
  
When using "快...了" with verbs, it takes on a meaning similar to the English "just about to".
+
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/Verb Phrase + 了
+
<div class="jiegou">
 
+
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 going to get off work soon?</span>
+
 
* 这 些 工作 <em></em> 做 完 <em></em> <span class="trans">I am almost finished with work.</span>
+
*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">Are you going to come home soon/ are you almost home?</span>
+
*<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 觉得 <em></em> 下雨 <em></em> ,我们 走 吧。 <span class="trans">I think it's going to rain soon. Let's go.</span>
+
*<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>
* <em>快</em> 过年 <em>了</em> ,你 什么 时候 回家? <span class="trans">It's almost Chinese New Year, when are you going back to your hometown?</span>
+
*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>
* 小李 <em></em> <em></em> ,你 别 开 玩笑 了。 <span class="trans">XiaoLi is almost crying, stop joking around.</span>
+
*<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>
* 我们 <em>快</em> <em>了</em>。<span class="trans">We are about to arrive.</span>
 
* 这 个 老人 <em></em> <em></em><span class="trans">This old person is going to die soon.</span>
 
* 你们 <em>快</em> 结婚<em>了</em><span class="trans">Are you soon getting married?</span>
 
<em></em> 下车<em></em>,你 再 等 一会儿。<span class="trans">You are soon getting out of the car, wait a moment.</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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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."
  
== 快 + 要……了 with Verbs ==
+
== 快⋯⋯了 (kuài... le) with Adjectives ==
  
Another way you will see this same pattern used is in conjunction with the [[Auxiliary verbs|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.
+
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/Verb Phrase + 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">Will you be getting off work soon?</span>
 
* 这 些 工作 <em>快 要</em> 做 完 <em>了</em> ,我 晚点 下班。 <span class="trans">I will almost finish this work, I'll get off work a little late.</span>
 
* 你 <em>快 要</em> 到 家 <em>了</em> 吗? <span class="trans">Will you be coming home soon?</span>
 
* 我 觉得 <em>快 要</em> 下雨 <em>了</em> ,我们 走 吧。 <span class="trans">I think it will start raining soon. Let's go.</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">XiaoLi will soon be crying, stop joking around.</span>
 
* 我们 <em>快 要</em> 到<em>了</em>。<span class="trans">We will arrive soon.</span>
 
* 这 个 老人 <em>快 要</em> 死<em>了</em>。<span class="trans">This old person will die soon.</span>
 
* 你们 <em>快 要</em> 结婚<em>了</em>?<span class="trans">Will you soon be getting married?</span>
 
*  <em>快 要</em> 下车<em>了</em>,你 再 等 一会儿。<span class="trans">You will soon get out of the car, wait a moment.</span>
 
</div>
 
 
These examples are the same as some of the ones above, with a "要" added.  The addition of the "要" does not change the meanings.
 
 
== 快……了 with Adjectives ==
 
 
In this structure, 快 is closer to the meaning of "almost" in English.
 
  
=== Structure ===
+
* 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>
<div class="jiegou">
+
* 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>
+ Adjective +
+
* 不 能 再 喝 了,我 <em></em> 醉 <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>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
Note that for adjectives, you don't normally add a 要 like you do for verbs (see above).
+
== 要⋯⋯了 (yào... le) with Verbs ==
 
 
=== Examples ===
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
* 我 <em>快</em> 好 <em>了</em> 。 <span class="trans">I'm almost ready.</span>
 
* 肉 <em>快</em> 熟 <em>了</em> 。 <span class="trans">The meat is almost done [cooking].</span>
 
* 他 的 脏 袜子 <em>快</em> 臭 <em>了</em>。 <span class="trans">His dirty socks are about to smell bad.</span>
 
* 天 <em>快</em> 黑 <em>了</em> 。 <span class="trans">It’s almost getting dark.</span>
 
* 你 的 咖啡 <em>快</em> 凉 <em>了</em>。 <span class="trans">Your coffee is almost cool.</span>
 
* 水果 <em>快</em> 坏 <em>了</em>。<span class="trans">The fruit is almost ruined.</span>
 
* 不 能 再 喝 了,我 <em>快</em> 醉 <em>了</em>。<span class="trans">I don't want to drink more, I am almost drunk.</span>
 
* 我 <em>快</em> 迟到 <em>了</em>。<span class="trans">I was almost late.</span>
 
* 衣服 <em>快</em> 干 <em>了</em>。<span class="trans">The clothes are almost clean.</span>
 
* 杯子 <em>快</em> 满 <em>了</em>。<span class="trans">The cup is almost filled up.</span>
 
</div>
 
 
 
== 要... 了 with Verbs ==
 
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
  
You can also just use 要 (yào) before the verb, without 快 (kuài) .
+
You can also just use 要 (yào) before the verb, without 快 (kuài).
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
Subject + 要 + Verb/Verb Phrase + 了
+
Subj. + 要 + Verb / Adj. + 了
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
Note that for adjectives, you don't normally use 要 like this, as you do for verbs (see above).
+
Note that occasionally you'll see [[adjective]]s (instead of verbs) in this pattern as well.
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* <em>要</em> 见 妈妈 <em>了</em>,高兴 吗? <span class="trans">You're about to see your mom. Are you happy?</span>
+
 
* 我 觉得 <em></em> 下雨 <em></em><span class="trans">I think it's about to rain.</span>
+
*<em>要</em> 生气 <em>了</em><span class="pinyin"><em>yào</em> shēngqì <em>le</em>!</span><span class="trans">I'm going to get angry! </span>
* <em>要</em> 生气 <em>了</em><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>
* 我 <em></em> 迟到 <em></em><span class="trans">I'm going to be late!</span>
+
*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>
* 他们 的 孩子 <em>要</em> 出生 <em>了</em>。 <span class="trans">Their child is about to be born.</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>
* 9 点 了, 超市 <em></em> 关门 <em></em><span class="trans">It's 9 o'clock. The supermarket is about to close.</span>
+
*圣诞节 <em>要</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>
* 圣诞节 <em>要</em> <em>了</em>,你 有 什么 打算? <span class="trans">It's almost Christmas. What plans do you have?</span>
 
* 我 <em></em> 结婚 <em></em> !哈哈! <span class="trans">I'm about to get married! Ha ha!</span>
 
* 我 觉得 我 <em>要</em> 感冒 <em>了</em><span class="trans">I think I'm about to get a cold. / I think I'm coming down with a cold.</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
==See also==
+
== See also ==
  
*[["Nearly" with "jihu"]]
+
*[[Expressing "nearly" with "jihu"]]
 
*[[Approximations with "chabuduo"]]
 
*[[Approximations with "chabuduo"]]
 
*[[Expressing future with "jiang"]]
 
*[[Expressing future with "jiang"]]
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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]
+
{{Source|HSK Standard Course 2|116}}
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 267-8) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
+
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|267-8}}
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)]] (pp. 196-7) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561911297/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561911297 →buy]
+
{{Source|Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)|183}}
*[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册)]] (p. 271)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20 →buy]  
+
{{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}}
+
{{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}}
 
{{Rel char|要}}
 
{{Rel char|要}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing "be going to" with "yao"}}
 
{{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}}

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