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  <h1>Expressing "about to happen" with "<span class="pinyinst">le</span>" "<span class="hanzist">了</span>"</h1>

  <p>Remember that <span class="hanzi">了</span> (<span class="pinyin">le</span>) is not only for the past! When something is about to happen, you can also indicate this using <span class="hanzi">了</span> (<span class="pinyin">le</span>). Normally it is paired with a <span class="hanzi">快</span> (<span class="pinyin">kuài</span>), <span class="hanzi">快要</span>(<span class="pinyin">kuàiyào</span>) or a <span class="hanzi">要</span> (<span class="pinyin">yào</span>). This is a special form of using 了 to indicate a change of situation.</p>

  <h2 id="快了-kuài...-le-with-verbs"><span class="hanzist">快⋯⋯了</span> (<span class="pinyinst">kuài... le</span>) with Verbs</h2>

  <p>When using "<span class="hanzi">快 ⋯⋯了</span>" (<span class="pinyin">kuài... le</span>) with verbs, it takes on a meaning similar to the English "just about to." Normally you can add <span class="hanzi">要</span> (<span class="pinyin">yào</span>) before the verb.</p>

  <h3 id="structure">Structure</h3>

  <div class="deux">
    <p><span class="hanzist">快</span> + Verb / Verb Phrase + <span class="hanzist">了</span></p>
  </div>

  <p></p>

  <div class="deux">
    <p><span class="hanzist">快要</span> + Verb / Verb Phrase + <span class="hanzist">了</span></p>
  </div>

  <h3 id="examples">Examples</h3>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">我们 快 到 了。</span><br/> <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen kuài dào le.</span> <br/> We're almost there.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">快 下雨 了，我们 走 吧。</span><br/> <span class="pinyin">Kuài xiàyǔ le, wǒmen zǒu ba.</span> <br/> It's going to rain soon. Let's go.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">快 要 过年 了，你 什么 时候 回家？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Kuài yào guònián le, nǐ shénme shíhou huíjiā?</span> <br/> It's almost Chinese New Year. When are you going back to your hometown?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 女朋友 快 要 过 生日 了。</span><br/> <span class="pinyin">Wǒ nǚpéngyou kuài yào guò shēngrì le.</span><br/> My girlfriend is about to have her birthday.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">快 下车 了 ，你 再 等 一会儿。</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Kuài xiàchē le, nǐ zài děng yīhuìr.</span><br/> We're about to get off. Just wait a little while.</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <p>Notice that for some translations, it's more natural to use the English word "almost" instead of "<b>soon</b>."</p>

  <h2 id="快了-kuài...-le-with-adjectives"><span class="hanzist">快⋯⋯了</span> (<span class="pinyinst">kuài... le</span>) with Adjectives</h2>

  <p>In this structure, <span class="hanzi">快⋯⋯了</span> (<span class="pinyin">kuài... le</span>) is closer to the meaning of "almost" in English.</p>

  <h3 id="structure-1">Structure</h3>

  <div class="deux">
    <p><span class="hanzist">快</span> + Adj. + <span class="hanzist">了</span></p>
  </div>

  <h3 id="examples-1">Examples</h3>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">天 快 黑 了。</span><br/> <span class="pinyin">Tiān kuài hēi le.</span> I<br/> t’s almost getting dark.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 快 好 了。</span><br/> <span class="pinyin">Wǒ kuài hǎo le.</span> <br/> I'm almost ready.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">饭 快 凉 了。</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Fàn kuài liáng le.</span> T<br/> he food is about to be cold.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">这些 脏 衣服 快 臭 了。</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Zhèxiē zāng yīfu kuài chòu le.</span> <br/> These dirty clothes are about to smell bad.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">不 能 再 喝 了，我 快 醉 了。</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Bù néng zài hē le, wǒ kuài zuì le.</span> <br/> I can't drink another, I am almost drunk.</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="要了-yào...-le-with-verbs"><span class="hanzist">要⋯⋯了</span> (<span class="pinyinst">yào... le</span>) with Verbs</h2>

  <h3 id="structure-2">Structure</h3>

  <p>You can also just use <span class="hanzi">要</span> (<span class="pinyin">yào</span>) before the verb, without <span class="hanzi">快</span> (<span class="pinyin">kuài</span>).</p>

  <div class="deux">
    <p>Subj. + <span class="hanzist">要</span> + Verb / Verb Phrase / Adj. + <span class="hanzist">了</span></p>
  </div>

  <p>Note that occasionally you'll see adjectives (instead of verbs) in this pattern as well.</p>

  <h3 id="examples-2">Examples</h3>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">我 要 生气 了！</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Wǒ yào shēngqì le!</span> <br/> I'm going to get angry!</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">他们 的 孩子 要 出生 了。</span><br/> <span class="pinyin">Tāmen de háizi yào chūshēng le.</span><br/> Their child is about to be born.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">9 点 了，超市 要 关门 了。</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Jiǔ diǎn le, chāoshì yào guānmén le.</span><br/> It's 9 o'clock. The supermarket is about to close.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 最好 的 朋友 要 结婚 了！</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Wǒ zuìhǎo de péngyou yào jiéhūn le!</span><br/> My best friend is about to get married!</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">圣诞节 要 到 了，你 有 什么 打算 ？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Shèngdànjié yào dào le, nǐ yǒu shénme dǎsuàn?</span><br/> It's almost Christmas. What plans do you have?</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>

  <ul>
    <li><a href="&quot;Nearly&quot;_with_&quot;jihu&quot;" title="wikilink">"Nearly" with "jihu"</a></li>

    <li><a href="Approximations_with_&quot;chabuduo&quot;" title="wikilink">Approximations with "chabuduo"</a></li>

    <li><a href="Expressing_future_with_&quot;jiang&quot;" title="wikilink">Expressing future with "jiang"</a></li>
  </ul>

  <h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further reading</h2>

  <h3 id="books">Books</h3>

  <ul>
    <li>Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (<span class="hanzi">博雅汉语初经起步篇</span>) (p.183)</li>

    <li>Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 267-8)</li>

    <li>New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (<span class="hanzi">新实用汉语课本2</span>) (pp. 196-7)</li>

    <li>40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (<span class="hanzi">基础汉语40课上册</span>） (p. 271)</li>
  </ul>

  <h3 id="websites">Websites</h3>

  <ul>
    <li>ChinesePod: <a href="http://chinesepod.com/lessons/%E4%BA%86-le-somethings-about-to-happen"> Qing Wen - 了 (le): Something's About to Happen</a> (free podcast content)</li>
  </ul>
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