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<p>Remember that 了 (le) is not only for the past! When something is
<em>about to happen,</em> 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 <a href=
"Change_of_state_with_&quot;le&quot;" title="wikilink">using 了 to
indicate a change of situation</a>.</p>
<h2 id="快了-kuài...-le-with-verbs">快⋯⋯了 (kuài... le) with Verbs</h2>
<p>When using "快 ⋯⋯了" (kuài... le) with <a href="verb" title=
"wikilink">verbs</a>, it takes on a meaning similar to the English
"just about to." Normally you can add 要 (yào) before the verb.</p>
<h3 id="structure">Structure</h3>
<div class="jiegou">
<p>快+ Verb / Verb Phrase + 了</p>
</div>
<div class="jiegou">
<p>快要 + Verb / Verb Phrase + 了</p>
</div>
<h3 id="examples">Examples</h3>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>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></li>
<li><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></li>
<li><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></li>
<li>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></li>
<li><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></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>Notice that for some translations, it's more natural to use the
English word "almost" instead of "soon."</p>
<h2 id="快了-kuài...-le-with-adjectives">快⋯⋯了 (kuài... le) with
Adjectives</h2>
<p>In this structure, 快⋯⋯了 (kuài... le) is closer to the meaning of
"<a href="almost" class="uri" title="wikilink">almost</a>" in
English.</p>
<h3 id="structure-1">Structure</h3>
<div class="jiegou">
<p>快 + Adj. + 了</p>
</div>
<h3 id="examples-1">Examples</h3>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>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></li>
<li>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></li>
<li>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></li>
<li>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></li>
<li>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></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="要了-yào...-le-with-verbs">要⋯⋯了 (yào... le) with Verbs</h2>
<h3 id="structure-2">Structure</h3>
<p>You can also just use 要 (yào) before the verb, without 快
(kuài).</p>
<div class="jiegou">
<p>Subj. + 要 + Verb / Verb Phrase / Adj. + 了</p>
</div>
<p>Note that occasionally you'll see <a href="adjective" title=
"wikilink">adjectives</a> (instead of verbs) in this pattern as
well.</p>
<h3 id="examples-2">Examples</h3>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>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></li>
<li>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></li>
<li>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></li>
<li>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></li>
<li>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></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><a href=
"Boya_Chinese_Elementary_Starter_1_(%E5%8D%9A%E9%9B%85%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%88%9D%E7%BB%8F%E8%B5%B7%E6%AD%A5%E7%AF%87)"
title="wikilink">Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)</a>
(p.183)<a href=
"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7301075294/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=allset-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=7301075294">→buy</a></li>
<li><a href="Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed)" title=
"wikilink">Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)</a> (pp.
267-8) <a href=
"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=allset-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=0887276385">
→buy</a></li>
<li><a href=
"New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_2_(%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%BE%E6%9C%AC2)"
title="wikilink">New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)</a> (pp.
196-7) <a href=
"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561911297/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=allset-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=7561911297">
→buy</a></li>
<li><a href=
"40_Lessons_for_Basic_Chinese_Course_(%E5%9F%BA%E7%A1%80%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD40%E8%AF%BE%E4%B8%8A%E5%86%8C%EF%BC%89"
title="wikilink">40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course
(基础汉语40课上册）</a> (p. 271)<a href=
"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=allset-20">→buy</a></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>
<p><a href="Category:A2_grammar_points" title=
"wikilink">Category:A2 grammar points</a></p>
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