🇺🇸 English
HSK 2

Lesson 10 · 就要考试了

What you'll learn

Use subject-predicate predicate sentences, choice questions, and `就要...了` for something about to happen.

About 30 min
A student at a desk organizing a blank schoolbag, pens, and practice paper before an exam.
1

Listen and Read

Get ready before an exam while practicing `就要...了` and choice questions.

爸爸
明天就要考试了，你准备好了吗？
Míng tiān jiù yào kǎo shì le, nǐ zhǔn bèi hǎo le ma?
The exam is tomorrow. Are you ready?
小雨
爸爸，这本书你帮我拿来了吗？
Bà ba, zhè běn shū nǐ bāng wǒ ná lái le ma?
Dad, did you get this book for me?
爸爸
拿来了，在书包里。笔在桌子上。
Ná lái le, zài shū bāo lǐ. Bǐ zài zhuō zi shàng.
I brought it. It is in the schoolbag. The pen is on the table.
小雨
我先做题还是先看书？
Wǒ xiān zuò tí hái shì xiān kàn shū?
Should I do practice questions first or read first?
爸爸
先看书吧，再自己做题。
Xiān kàn shū ba, zài zì jǐ zuò tí.
Read first, then do the questions by yourself.
2

Core Words

These words support the dialogue, grammar, and practice in this lesson.

考试
kǎo shì
exam
准备
zhǔn bèi
to prepare
题
tí
question; problem
笔
bǐ
pen
书包
shū bāo
schoolbag
自己
zì jǐ
oneself
3

Core Words

Recognize these for context; they are not the main practice focus.

门后面
mén hòu miàn
behind the door
笑
xiào
to smile; laugh
4

Learning Note

`笑` means to smile or laugh. Before an exam, you can relax with a quick smile, then do the questions yourself.

5

Pattern: `话题 + 谁/什么 + 怎么样`

话题 + 谁/什么 + 怎么样

Say the topic first, then the comment about it. Grammar books call this a subject-predicate predicate sentence, but for learning, remember it as `topic + comment`.

这本书你看完了吗？
Zhè běn shū nǐ kàn wán le ma?
Have you finished reading this book?
这个电影我觉得很好看。
Zhè ge diàn yǐng wǒ jué de hěn hǎo kàn.
I think this movie is very good.
6

Pattern: `A 还是 B？`

A 还是 B？

Use `还是` to connect choices in a question.

你喝茶还是喝咖啡？
Nǐ hē chá hái shì hē kā fēi?
Do you drink tea or coffee?
我们坐地铁还是打车？
Wǒ men zuò dì tiě hái shì dǎ chē?
Should we take the subway or a taxi?
7

Pattern: `就要 + 动词/事情 + 了`

就要 + 动词/事情 + 了

`要`, `快`, `快要`, and `就要...了` can all show that something is about to happen.

电影就要开始了。
Diàn yǐng jiù yào kāi shǐ le.
The movie is about to start.
我们快要下课了。
Wǒ men kuài yào xià kè le.
Class is almost over.
8

Quick Practice

Recognize the choice question.

Which sentence asks `Do you want tea or coffee?`

Do you want tea or coffee?

9

Quick Practice

Recognize topic and comment order.

Which sentence means `As for this movie, I think it is good.`

As for this movie, I think it is good.

10

Quick Practice

Recognize `就要...了`.

Which sentence means `The class is about to start.`

The class is about to start.