秋天了

Qiūtiān le

Autumn Has Arrived

Pattern 1

[New State/Situation] + 了

[Zhuàngtài/Xīn qíngkuàng] + le

The modal particle '了' at the end of a sentence indicates a change in state or the emergence of a new situation ('has become...', 'it is now...').

Examples

秋天了，天气凉了，山上的树叶都红了。

Qiūtiān le, tiānqì liáng le, shān shang de shùyè dōu hóng le.

Autumn has arrived, the weather has turned cool, and the leaves on the hills have all turned red.

Pattern 2

(快 / 就) + 要 + [Event/Action] + 了

(Kuài / Jiù) + yào + [Shìwù/Xíngdòng] + le

Indicates that an event or change is about to happen in the very near future ('about to / going to...'). Note: specific time nouns can precede '就要……了', but NOT '快要……了'.

Examples

现在十一点五十了，要下课了。

Xiànzài shíyī diǎn wǔshí le, yào xià kè le.

It is 11:50 now; class is about to finish.

Pattern 3

能 / 可以 + [Action] (Ability / Possibility / Permission)

Néng / Kěyǐ + [Hángdòng]

Both express capability or possibility. '可以' and '能' also express permission depending on circumstances. In the negative: '不能' means unable or not permitted; '不可以' expresses strict prohibition.

Examples

病人正在休息，你们不能进去。

Bìngrén zhèngzài xiūxi, nǐmen bù néng jìnqu.

The patient is resting; you cannot go in.

Pattern 4

看上去 + [Adjective/Remark]

Kàn shangqu + [Tìngxíngcí/Rènxuǎn]

Used to express an impression based on visual observation ('it looks like...', 'appears to be...').

Examples

最近他有点儿瘦了，不过看上去更帅了。

Zuìjìn tā yǒudiǎnr shòu le, búguò kàn shangqu gèng shuài le.

He has gotten a bit thinner recently, but he looks even more handsome.