Level 2 Lesson 29.1 – The Guests Are Coming Very Soon.

GRAMMAR

Grammar 1: Adverb 就 (I) · HSK 2

The Adverb 就 can be used to suggest “(for an action or a state to happen) very soon in a short time”, the structure goes like this:

就 +  a Verb (Phrase), or an Adjective (Phrase)

就  + [Verb/Adjective (Phrase)]

Usually there is a word or phrase that indicates time in the sentence. And with 就 it suggests that the time indicated is only “in a short while”.

For example,

• wǒ míngtiān jiù hé tā fēnshǒu
  我明天就和他分手！
  I （will) break up with from "very soon" tomorrow!
• línjū yí ge xiǎoshí yǐhòu jiù lái bāng wǒmen
  邻居一个小时以后就来帮我们。
  (The) neighbor (will) help us "very soon" (in) one hour.
• diànyǐng hái yǒu shí fēnzhōng jiù kāishǐ le
  电影还有十分钟就开始了。
  (The) movie (will) "very soon" start (in) additionally 10 minutes.

Grammar 2: The 就(快)要……了 Structure · HSK 2

In Lesson 24, we have learned the (快)要……了 structure, which suggest "soon will". This structure can also be used together with the Adverb 就 as well, following this structure:

就(快/要) + Predicate + 了 

For example,

• chāoshì jiù yào guānmén le
  超市就要关门了。
  (The) supermarket "very soon will" close (door).
  
• kérén jiù kuài lái le
  客人就快来了。
  (The) customer "very soon will" come (here).
• tiān jiù kuài yào qíng le
  天就快要晴了。
  (The) sky "very soon will" (become) sunny.

Grammar 3: Approximate Number 约数 in Chinese · HSK 2

See also Approximate Number 约数(yuēshù) in Chinese (II).

There are a few ways to say Approximate Number in Chinese. In today's lesson we have two ways:

(1) N(N+1) 

(2) 几

N(N+1) suggests the approximate number that is around n and n+1, and 几 means "a few" in Chinese.

• tāmen fēnshǒu fēn le liǎngsān cì le
  他们分手分了两三次了。
  They broke up broke (for) two or three times (already).
• tāmen fēnshǒu fēn le jǐcì le
  他们分手分了几次了。
  They broke up broke (for) a few times (already).

• zhè jiàn yùndòngfú 'èr sān shí kuài qián
  这件运动服二三十块钱。
  This "jian" (of) sportswear (is) 20 (or) 30 "kuai" (of) money.
• zhè jiàn yùndòngfú jǐ shí kuài qián
  这件运动服几十块钱。
  This "jian" (of) sportswear (is) [a few 10s/20 to 90] money.