Learn Romanian: După cum știți, gala are loc diseară. - As you know, the gala takes place tonight.

După cum știți, gala are loc diseară.

As you know, the gala takes place tonight.

Breakdown of După cum știți, gala are loc diseară.

as (according to how)

Questions & Answers about După cum știți, gala are loc diseară.

Why use după cum here instead of just cum or așa cum to mean "as"?

După cum and așa cum are both excellent choices for "as" when referring to prior knowledge, expectations, or statements (like "as you know" or "as we discussed"). They set a structured, polite tone. If you just used cum știți, it would sound closer to "how you know," which feels a bit colloquial or incomplete for this context.

Is știți here being used as a plural "you" or a formal singular "you"?

Without more context, it can be either! Știți is the standard "you all" (plural), but Romanian uses this exact form for the formal singular (polite "you"). When discussing a gala, the speaker could be addressing a crowd (plural) or speaking respectfully to an individual guest (formal singular).

Are loc translates to "takes place," but how does this phrase behave in other tenses?

The idiom is a avea loc (literally "to have place"). It behaves just like the English "to take place"—only the verb a avea conjugates. For a past event, you would say gala a avut loc (the gala took place), and for a future one, gala va avea loc (the gala will take place).

I've also seen astă-seară used for "tonight." Why use diseară here, and is there a difference in formality?