Difference between revisions of "Potential complements"
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{{Grammar Box}} | {{Grammar Box}} | ||
| − | Verbs can take potential | + | Verbs can take [[potential complement]]s that indicate whether or not the action is actually possible. They are useful in Chinese to say if an action can take place. |
== Structure == | == Structure == | ||
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</div> | </div> | ||
| − | Here | + | Here the [[complement]] is the second part of the potential complement after 得 (positive) or 不 (negative). |
== Examples == | == Examples == | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * | + | * 我 听 <em>得</em> 懂。<span class="trans">I can understand.</span> |
| − | * | + | * 我 听 <em>不</em> 懂。<span class="trans">I can't understand.</span> |
| − | * | + | * 我 买 <em>不</em> 起 那 套 房子 。<span class="trans">I can't afford (to buy) that apartment.</span> |
| − | + | * 我 都 吃 <em>得</em> 完。<span class="trans">I can finish eating it all.</span> | |
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | Note that the potential complement and [[degree complement]] can | + | Note that the potential complement and [[degree complement]] can sometimes appear to be the same; the difference can usually be seen from context. |
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 08:00, 23 July 2013
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Verbs can take potential complements that indicate whether or not the action is actually possible. They are useful in Chinese to say if an action can take place.
Contents
Structure
Potential complements can be positive or negative. What this means is fairly intuitive - potential complements can be used to express that something can happen or that it can't.
Verb + 得 / 不 + [complement]
Here the complement is the second part of the potential complement after 得 (positive) or 不 (negative).
Examples
- 我 听 得 懂。I can understand.
- 我 听 不 懂。I can't understand.
- 我 买 不 起 那 套 房子 。I can't afford (to buy) that apartment.
- 我 都 吃 得 完。I can finish eating it all.
Note that the potential complement and degree complement can sometimes appear to be the same; the difference can usually be seen from context.
See also
Sources and and further reading
Books
- Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 71) →buy
- Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 191) →buy
- Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇) (pp. 197) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (pp. 291) →buy
- Practicing HSK Grammar (语法精讲精炼) (pp. 125) →buy
- Contemporary Chinese 2 (当代中文2) (pp. 63) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 99) →buy
Websites
Yale
