Learn Hardcore Chinese: Zài gōngyuán fùjìn de kāfēi hěn guì, wǒ huā le hěn duō qián. - Coffee near the park is expensive; I spent a lot of money.

在公园附近的 is an attributive phrase modifying 咖啡. 的 links a modifier to a noun, so 在公园附近的咖啡 literally means “the coffee that is (located) near the park.” Without 的, the modifier cannot attach to the noun.

Examples:
- 在学校附近的饭店 = restaurants near the school
- 在桌子上的书 = the book on the table Avoid forms like 在公园附近咖啡 (missing 的), which are ungrammatical in normal speech.

Do I need 在 here? Can I just say 公园附近的咖啡?

Yes, 公园附近的咖啡 is also natural. Both 在公园附近的咖啡 and 公园附近的咖啡 are acceptable. The version with 在 makes the location feel a bit more like a full prepositional phrase; the meaning difference is minimal in everyday speech. Avoid 在公园的附近的咖啡—adding 的 after 公园 before 附近 is unnecessary here.

Why is 很 before 贵? Does it really mean “very”?

In predicate adjectives, Chinese usually adds a degree adverb like 很 to sound natural. 咖啡很贵 often reads as simply “the coffee is expensive,” not necessarily “very expensive.” When you truly mean “very,” context and intonation help; you can also use stronger words like 非常 or 太…了.

Neutral: 咖啡很贵。
Strong: 咖啡非常贵。/ 太贵了。 Omitting 很 (咖啡贵) can sound contrastive or abrupt unless you’re emphasizing a contrast.

Why isn’t 是 used (why not 咖啡是很贵)?

Adjectives in Chinese function as stative verbs, so 咖啡很贵 is complete without 是. 咖啡是很贵 is used for emphasis or contrast, e.g., 咖啡是很贵，但是环境很好。 Use it when you’re setting up a contrast, not as the default.

What does 了 do in 我花了很多钱? Could I omit it or put 了 at the end?

The 了 after 花 marks a completed event.

我花了很多钱。 = I spent a lot of money (completed event).
我花很多钱。 = I (generally) spend a lot of money (habit).
我花很多钱了。 = I have spent a lot already (up to now) — sentence-final 了 marks a new situation/change and often implies “already.”

What’s the difference between 花, 付, and 花费?

花: to spend (money/time). Natural and common.
- 我花了很多钱买咖啡。
付: to pay (an amount). Focuses on the act of payment.
- 我付了五十块钱。
花费: cost/expenditure (formal; noun/verb).
- 这次旅行花费很高。 You can also say: 这杯咖啡花了我四十块。 (It cost me 40 RMB.)

What exactly does 附近 mean, and how do I use it?

附近 means “nearby” or “in the vicinity.” It behaves like a location word (a noun-like place):

Location phrase: 在公园附近 = near the park
Modifier to a noun (needs 的): 公园附近的咖啡店
Existential pattern: 附近有一家咖啡店。 Don’t add 里 after 附近: say 在附近, not 在附近里.

Is 的 after 附近 always necessary when modifying a noun?

Yes. When 附近 directly modifies a noun, insert 的: 附近的超市, 公园附近的咖啡. When 附近 is just part of a location phrase, you don’t: 我住在附近.

Does the comma imply cause and effect? Should I add 因为 or 所以?

Chinese often uses a comma to connect related statements, and readers infer cause-effect. To make it explicit, you can add connectors:

公园附近的咖啡很贵，所以我花了很多钱。
因为公园附近的咖啡很贵，我花了很多钱。 All are acceptable; adding 因为/所以 just makes the logic overt.

Does 咖啡 mean the beverage or the shop here?

咖啡 is the beverage. The sentence means the coffee sold near the park is expensive. If you want to say the shops are expensive, use:

公园附近的咖啡店/咖啡馆很贵。 If you mean the coffee sold by those shops, say:
公园附近的咖啡店的咖啡很贵。

Can I say 我花了多钱 to mean “I spent a lot of money”?

No. Use 很多钱 (a set phrase meaning “a lot of money”) or alternatives:

我花了很多钱。
我花了不少钱。 (quite a bit)
我花了一大笔钱。 (a large sum) For “this much/that much,” use 这么/那么多钱.

Where would a time word like 昨天 go?

Time words usually come before the predicate or right after the topic/subject:

昨天公园附近的咖啡很贵，我花了很多钱。 More natural for describing your own spending:
昨天我在公园附近买了咖啡，花了很多钱。 Both are grammatical; choose based on what you want to foreground (the price vs. your action).

How do I say “too/quite/a bit expensive,” or soften the tone?

Too expensive: 太贵了。
Quite/relatively expensive: 比较贵。
Even more expensive: 更贵。
A bit (slightly negative): 有点儿贵。
Euphemistic: 不便宜。

Why are there two instances of 很? Are they the same?

They look the same but function differently:

In 很贵, 很 is a degree adverb commonly used with predicate adjectives (often neutral “is”).
In 很多钱, 很多 is a fixed quantifier meaning “a lot of.” You cannot say 多钱 by itself in this meaning.