{{Grammar Box}} 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]]. == 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 ===
快+ Verb / Verb Phrase + 了
快要 + Verb / Verb Phrase + 了
=== Examples ===
* 我们 快 到 了。Wǒmen kuài dào le.We're almost there. * 快 下雨 了，我们 走 吧。Kuài xiàyǔ le, wǒmen zǒu ba.It's going to rain soon. Let's go. * 快 要 过年 了，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 了。 Wǒ nǚpéngyou kuài yào guò shēngrì le.My girlfriend is about to have her birthday. * 快 下车 了 ，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 ===
* 天 快 黑 了。Tiān kuài hēi le.It’s almost getting dark. * 我 快 好 了。Wǒ kuài hǎo le.I'm almost ready. * 饭 快 凉 了。Fàn kuài liáng le.The food is about to be cold. * 这些 脏 衣服 快 臭 了。Zhèxiē zāng yīfu kuài chòu le.These dirty clothes are about to smell bad. * 不 能 再 喝 了，我 快 醉 了。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 [[adjective]]s (instead of verbs) in this pattern as well. === Examples ===
* 我 要 生气 了！Wǒ yào shēngqì le!I'm going to get angry! * 他们 的 孩子 要 出生 了。Tāmen de háizi yào chūshēng le.Their child is about to be born. * 9 点 了，超市 要 关门 了。Jiǔ diǎn le, chāoshì yào guānmén le.It's 9 o'clock. The supermarket is about to close. * 我 最好 的 朋友 要 结婚 了！Wǒ zuìhǎo de péngyou yào jiéhūn le!My best friend is about to get married! * 圣诞节 要 到 了，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== *[["Nearly" with "jihu"]] *[[Approximations with "chabuduo"]] *[[Expressing future with "jiang"]] == Sources and further reading == === Books === {{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|267-8}} * [[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] * [[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] * [[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] *[[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] === 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]] {{Basic Grammar|快|A2|快 + Verb / Adj. + 了|快 下班 了 吗？|grammar point|ASGNGEU8}} {{Rel char|了}} {{Rel char|要}} {{Similar|Expressing "be going to" with "yao"}} {{Similar|Auxiliary verb "yao" and its multiple meanings}} {{Used for|Expressing time and date}} {{Used for|Sequencing events in time}} {{Used for|Referring to changes of situation}} {{Structure|Sentence Patterns}} {{Translation|about}}