Lesson 16

Video and text
Listening and speaking
Vocabulary
Grammar exercises

Question: Ask your friend politely if s/he would wash your clothes for you..

Hint 1   Use 劳 驾
Hint 2   Use the co-verb 给
Answer  劳 驾, 请 你 给 我 洗 一 下 衣 服 好 吗 ？ Listen
Comments  Alternatively: 对 不 起 你 能 不 能 给 我 洗 一 下 衣 服 duì bu qǐ, nǐ néng bu néng gěi wǒ xǐ yí xià yīfu? The colloquial expression 劳 驾 láojià is used in Beijing, but is not commonly used in southern China. 对 不 起  duì bu qǐ is more widely accepted. The co-verb clause 给 我 gěi wǒ is placed before 洗 xǐ, the main verb. The expression 一 下 yí xià serves as an action measure, and also softens the tone of voice. The alternative is a bald choice type question 你 能 不 能 给 我 洗 衣 服 nǐ néng bu néng gěi wǒ xǐ  yīfu, which sounds very abrupt.
Index