What is the meaning 大概多少分钟能到？
Please Look at this conversation:

- 大概多少分钟能到？
- 不堵车的话一个小时。

1- What is the meaning of 能到 in the question and when should we use it?? Please give simple examples if you can.
2- What is the meaning of 话 in the answer?? Is it a single independent word here OR is it related to 不 ?? I mean like this: (不... 话) Can you explain it and also give simple examples please??

Thanks a lot for your comprehensive answers!!

Question

What is the meaning 大概多少分钟能到？
Please Look at this conversation:

- 大概多少分钟能到？
- 不堵车的话一个小时。

1- What is the meaning of 能到 in the question and when should we use it?? Please give simple examples if you can.
2- What is the meaning of 话 in the answer?? Is it a single independent word here OR is it related to 不 ?? I mean like this: (不... 话)   Can you explain it and also give simple examples please??

Thanks a lot for your comprehensive answers!!

Answer

Sorry, My Chinese is not good enough for examples, but since most of those competent to answer are asleep, maybe a quick answer for now.
 大概多少分钟能到？
能到 is really to get there. = can arrive
How long till we get there?

- 不堵车的话一个小时。

的话 = assumed
Assuming no traffic jams ...1 hour

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E7%9A%84%E8%AF%9D  - the last %XX are 的话
says  
的话 (dehuà) may be used with or without 如果 (rúguǒ) or 要是 (yàoshi) at the beginning of the sentence.

Answer

1.能到 is not a phrase exactly,you can split it into 能 and 到 to understand better.  能=can,can be   到=arrive,reach......
2.In this sentence, the correct phrase should be "不.....的话" or "....的话", 
  不堵车的话一个小时= It will take one hour if there is no traffic jams.
  堵车的话一个小时= It will take one hour if there is traffic jams.

hope this can help =]

Answer

PS. 如果, 要是 My wife, a Chinese native speaker, says she considers " 的话" a softer more girly thing to say. Maybe others would disagree.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn a language from the comfort of your own home. Browse our selection of experienced language tutors and enroll in your first lesson now!