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Dear Grace,

I have a few questions about the lesson "Night Cat" :

1- some phrases are ended with "de". In the dialogue, they explain it to show the past time. Can you explain it better to me + difference between "de" and "le"

2- hua1 qia2n means "spend money" ?

Kindest regards,

Karine

Dear Karine,
Here are the answers:
1.的and了
Both of them can be used for past tense， but 的 is used to stress some elements of the action.Actually we are talking about this pattern"是……的", but we often leave "是" away.
Here are the sentences with the pattern from "Night Cat":
和一帮哥们儿一起去的。(是和一帮哥们儿一起去的。)
你怎么回家的？（你是怎么回家的？）
他们送你的？（是他们送你回家的？）
我自己打车的。（是我自己打车回家的。）
Here 的 is used to stress "how"(和一帮哥们儿一起；怎么；他们送你；我自己打车).
Other examples:
这件衣服在上海买的。
我在大学学的中文。
Here 的 is used to stress "where".
这本书是他给我的。
今天的饭是爸爸做的。
Here 的 is used to stress "subject".
你什么时候去的北京？
我昨天晚上给他打的电话。
Here 的 is used to stress "when".

You cannot replace 的 with 了 in the above sentences. 了 only indicates an action is finished or some change happened.

2.hua1qian2 means "spend money"; hua1shi2jian1=spend time

Hope it's helpful.

Grace

Thanks a lot!

Karine

Dear Grace,

Sorry for not being able to make the lesson review yesterday. As I had understood, the phone all would be on Friday from January 08th again, I had not learned all the lessons and was not ready.

There might snow a lot tonight in France. As a consequence, maybe I cannot go to work tomorrow. Thus, if I don't answer at the usual phone number, you can call me at th enumber : +33 619.331.494

Best regards,

Karine

Ok, Karine. Let's keep the weekly call on Friday from this week.

Hi Grace,

What's the difference between yong4 and shi3yong4?

What's the difference between ke3yi3 and néng?

Many thanks in advance,

Kindest regards. Karine

Hi Karine, both of yong4 and shi3yong4 are to use, but shi3yong4 is formal than yong4.

Both of ke3yi3 and neng2 can be used as "can" or "may", but ke3yi3 also can be "ok". The most important difference beween them is neng2 also means be capable(ta1 hen3 neng2.=She's very capable.) and possibility(zhe4me wan3 le, ta1 neng2 lai2 ma?=It's so late, can he possibly come?).

Hi Grace,

Just to inform you I won't be free for our lesson on next Friday. Can we have our next lesson on April 16th again?

Best regards, Karine

Hi Karine,

That's ok. Talk to you on April 16th.

Grace

Hi Grace,

My office will be closed on Fridays from now on.

Can you please call +33 491 482 779 or +33 619 331 494 for our Friday's lessons? Thanks a lot. Karine