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](Change_of_state_with_"le" "wikilink").

快⋯⋯了 (kuài... le) with Verbs
------------------------------

When using "快 ⋯⋯了" (kuài... le) with [verbs](verb "wikilink"), 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 / Verb Phrase + 了

</div>
<div class="jiegou">
快要 + Verb / Verb Phrase + 了

</div>
### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   我们 <em>快</em> 到 <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> 下雨 <em>了</em>，我们 走
    吧。<span class="pinyin"><em>Kuài</em> xiàyǔ <em>le</em>, wǒmen zǒu
    ba.</span><span class="trans">It's going to rain soon. Let's
    go.</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>
-   <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>
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](almost "wikilink")" in English.

### Structure

<div class="jiegou">
快 + Adj. + 了

</div>
### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   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>
-   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>
-   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>

</div>
要⋯⋯了 (yào... le) with Verbs
-----------------------------

### Structure

You can also just use 要 (yào) before the verb, without 快 (kuài).

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 要 + Verb / Verb Phrase / Adj. + 了

</div>
Note that occasionally you'll see [adjectives](adjective "wikilink")
(instead of verbs) in this pattern as well.

### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   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>
-   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>
-   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>
-   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>
-   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>
See also
--------

-   ["Nearly" with "jihu"]("Nearly"_with_"jihu" "wikilink")
-   [Approximations with
    "chabuduo"](Approximations_with_"chabuduo" "wikilink")
-   [Expressing future with
    "jiang"](Expressing_future_with_"jiang" "wikilink")

Sources and further reading
---------------------------

### Books

-   [Boya Chinese Elementary Starter
    1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)](Boya_Chinese_Elementary_Starter_1_(博雅汉语初经起步篇) "wikilink")
    (p.183)[→buy](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)
-   [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1
    (3rd ed)](Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed) "wikilink") (pp.
    267-8)
    [→buy](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)
-   [New Practical Chinese Reader
    2 (新实用汉语课本2)](New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_2_(新实用汉语课本2) "wikilink") (pp.
    196-7)
    [→buy](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)
-   [40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course
    (基础汉语40课上册）](40_Lessons_for_Basic_Chinese_Course_(基础汉语40课上册） "wikilink") (p.
    271)[→buy](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)

### Websites

-   ChinesePod: [Qing Wen - 了 (le): Something's About to
    Happen](http://chinesepod.com/lessons/%E4%BA%86-le-somethings-about-to-happen)
    (free podcast content)

[Category:A2 grammar points](Category:A2_grammar_points "wikilink")