按时 · 尽快 · 即将 · 急忙 · 渐渐
on time · as soon as possible · about to · hurriedly · gradually
Structure
按时／尽快／即将／急忙 + 动词 · 渐渐（+ 地）+ 动词／形容词
What it means
Five adverbs of timing and speed: 按时 “on time”, 尽快 “as soon as possible”, 即将 “about to”, 急忙 “hurriedly” and 渐渐 “gradually”.
How it is built
All five go before the verb: subject + adverb + verb. 飞机即将起飞 (the plane is about to take off). 渐渐 can take 地: 天渐渐（地）黑了 (it gradually got dark).
When to use it
尽快 is for requests and promises: 请尽快回复. 急忙 describes what someone did in a hurry: 他急忙跑过去接. 即将 is formal and common in notices. 渐渐 describes a change, so its sentence usually has 了.
Watch out
急忙 never goes in a request: ✗ 请急忙来。 ✓ 请尽快来。 Keep these words before the verb, not at the end: ✗ 他交作业按时。 ✓ 他按时交作业。
Examples
快递没有按时送到，请你们尽快处理。
The parcel wasn’t delivered on time. Please deal with it as soon as possible.
飞机即将起飞，请大家关机。
The plane is about to take off. Please switch off your phones.
电话响了，他急忙跑过去接。
The phone rang and he hurried over to answer it.
秋天到了，天气渐渐地凉了。
Autumn is here, and the weather is gradually getting cooler.
Learn this in HSK 4 · Lesson 9: 寄快递 (Sending a parcel)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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