Difference between revisions of "Expressing "be going to" with "yao""

Line 17: Line 17:
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
 
+
* 我 <em>要</em> 买 一 个  iPhone。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yào</em> mǎi yī gè iPhone.</span><span class="trans">I am going to buy an iPhone.</span>
 +
* 你们 <em>要</em> 出去 吗? <span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>yào</em> chūqù ma?</span><span class="trans">Are you going out?</span>
 +
*我们 <strong>今年</strong> <em>要</em> 去 美国。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <strong>jīnnián</strong> <em>yào</em> qù měiguó.</span><span class="trans">We are planning to go to America this year.</span>
 +
* 他 <strong>下 个 月</strong> <em>要</em> 来 中国 工作。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>xià gè yuè</strong> <em>yào</em> lái Zhōngguó gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans">He is coming to China to work next month.</span>
 
* 我 <em>要</em> 去 你家 吃 晚饭。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yào</em> qù  nǐ jiā chī wǎnfàn.</span><span class="trans">I'm going to your place to have dinner.</span>
 
* 我 <em>要</em> 去 你家 吃 晚饭。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yào</em> qù  nǐ jiā chī wǎnfàn.</span><span class="trans">I'm going to your place to have dinner.</span>
*我们 <strong>今 年</strong> <em>要</em> 去 美国。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <strong>jīnnián</strong> <em>yào</em> qù měiguó.</span><span class="trans">We are planning to go to America this year.</span>
 
* 他 <strong>下 个 月</strong> <em>要</em> 来 中国 工作。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>xià gè yuè</strong> <em>yào</em> lái Zhōngguó gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans">He is coming to China to work next month.</span>
 
 
* 这 个 <strong>星期天</strong> 你 <em>要</em> 做 什么?<span class="pinyin">Zhè ge <strong>xīngqītiān</strong> wǒ <em>yào</em> zuò shénme?</span> <span class="trans">What are you going to do this Sunday?</span>
 
* 这 个 <strong>星期天</strong> 你 <em>要</em> 做 什么?<span class="pinyin">Zhè ge <strong>xīngqītiān</strong> wǒ <em>yào</em> zuò shénme?</span> <span class="trans">What are you going to do this Sunday?</span>
 
* 我 <strong>晚上</strong><em>要</em> 给 妈妈 打电话。  <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong> wǎnshàng</strong> <em>yào</em> gěi māma dǎ diànhuà.</span> <span class="trans">I am going to call my mom this evening.</span>
 
* 我 <strong>晚上</strong><em>要</em> 给 妈妈 打电话。  <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong> wǎnshàng</strong> <em>yào</em> gěi māma dǎ diànhuà.</span> <span class="trans">I am going to call my mom this evening.</span>
* 你们 <em>要</em> 出去 吗? <span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>yào</em> chūqù ma?</span><span class="trans">Are you going out?</span>
 
* 我 <strong>明天</strong> <em>要</em> 买 一 个 iPhone。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>míngtiān</strong> <em>yào</em> mǎi yī gè iPhone.</span><span class="trans">I am going to buy an iPhone tomorrow.</span>
 
 
* <strong>下班 以后</strong> 你 <em>要</em> 回家 吗? <span class="pinyin"><strong>Xiàbān yǐhòu</strong> nǐ <em>yào</em> huíjiā ma?</span> <span class="trans">Are you planning to go back home after work?</span>
 
* <strong>下班 以后</strong> 你 <em>要</em> 回家 吗? <span class="pinyin"><strong>Xiàbān yǐhòu</strong> nǐ <em>yào</em> huíjiā ma?</span> <span class="trans">Are you planning to go back home after work?</span>
 
*  <strong>下午</strong> 老师 <em>要</em>  来 我家。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>Xiàwǔ</strong> lǎoshī<em>yào</em>  lái wǒ jiā.</span> <span class="trans">The teacher is coming to my place this afternoon.</span>
 
*  <strong>下午</strong> 老师 <em>要</em>  来 我家。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>Xiàwǔ</strong> lǎoshī<em>yào</em>  lái wǒ jiā.</span> <span class="trans">The teacher is coming to my place this afternoon.</span>

Revision as of 06:36, 18 September 2015

The auxiliary verb 要 (yào) has several different meanings, and here we'll tackle the "be going to" meaning. You'll use this when you are discussing your plans with someone.

Structure

The idea behind this usage of 要 (yào) is that someone is "planning to" or "going to" or "preparing to" do something. It's not that they just want to, or have to, it's that they fully expect to do it. It's in their plan. This usage of 要 (yào) typically includes a time-indicating expression, which may be placed before or after the subject.

Subj. + 要 + Verb

Examples

  • 买 一 个 iPhone。 yào mǎi yī gè iPhone.I am going to buy an iPhone.
  • 你们 出去 吗? Nǐmen yào chūqù ma?Are you going out?
  • 我们 今年 去 美国。 Wǒmen jīnnián yào qù měiguó.We are planning to go to America this year.
  • 下 个 月 来 中国 工作。 xià gè yuè yào lái Zhōngguó gōngzuò.He is coming to China to work next month.
  • 去 你家 吃 晚饭。 yào qù nǐ jiā chī wǎnfàn.I'm going to your place to have dinner.
  • 这 个 星期天 做 什么?Zhè ge xīngqītiānyào zuò shénme? What are you going to do this Sunday?
  • 晚上 给 妈妈 打电话。 wǎnshàng yào gěi māma dǎ diànhuà. I am going to call my mom this evening.
  • 下班 以后 回家 吗? Xiàbān yǐhòuyào huíjiā ma? Are you planning to go back home after work?
  • 下午 老师 来 我家。 Xiàwǔ lǎoshīyào lái wǒ jiā. The teacher is coming to my place this afternoon.
  • 老板 明天 见 客户 吗? Lǎobǎn míngtiānyào jiàn kèhù? Are they going back to the U.S. tomorrow?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Dictionaries