Difference between revisions of "Potential complement"
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==Sources and Further Reading== | ==Sources and Further Reading== | ||
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| + | * [http://www.amazon.com/Integrated-Chinese-Level-Part-Textbook/dp/0887276881/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1312439599&sr=8-2Integrated Chinese, Level 2 Part 2] Lesson 12 '''no Amazon link''' | ||
===Websites=== | ===Websites=== | ||
Revision as of 06:43, 4 August 2011
- Also known as: 可能补语 (kěnéngbǔyǔ) and complements of potentiality .
Potential complements are a type of complement used to express the possibility of achieving an expected result in Mandarin.
Potential forms most commonly occur in negative statements. Affirmative statements using the potential form are somewhat uncommon, and, when they do occur, are usually answers to questions (or as rebuttals).
Contents
Formation of Potential Complements
For affirmative potential complements, 得 is placed between the action verb and the complement. For negative potential complements, 不 is placed between the action verb and complement. The structure of the potential form is:
V + 得/不 + complement
Putting 得 or 不 between an action verb and a result complement or direction complement changes them to potential complements.
| Resultative Complement | Directional Complement | Aff. Potential Complement | Neg. Potential Complement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 做 完 | 做 得 完 | 做 不 完 | |
| 听 懂 | 听 得 懂 | 听 不 懂 | |
| 起 来 | 起 得 来 | 起 不 来 | |
| 爬上来 | 爬 得 上来 | 爬 不 上来 |
Objects with potential complements
Objects in sentences with potential complements can occur either after the complement or at the beginning of a sentence
| Object | Subject | Complement Phrase |
|---|---|---|
| 这个汉堡 | 我 | 吃得完 |
| 山 | 他 | 爬不上来 |
| Subject | Complement Phrase | Object |
|---|---|---|
| 我 | 吃得完 | 这个汉堡 |
| 他 | 爬不上来 | 山 |
Contrasting Degree Complements with Potential Complements
Some sentences that contain adjective complements may be indistinguishable as degree or potential complements when they are taken out of context. For example 跑得快, 说得清楚. The following scenarios put these examples in a context and distinguish them as potential and degree complements.
| A:他跑得快，跑不快？ |
| B:他跑得快。 |
| A:她能说得清楚吗？ |
| B:他说不清楚。 |
| A: 我的朋友跑得很快，他呢？ |
| B:他跑得快。 |
| A:她说得清楚还是说得不清？ |
| B:她说得清楚。 |
Degree complements commonly are directly preceded by an adverb (他输得很清楚) distinguishing them from potential complements which never directly preceded by an adverb.
Potential Complements and 能 Constructions
Most potential complements can be expressed using a 能 construction.
他爬得上来 = 他能爬上来
Particles and Auxiliary Verbs with Potential Form
- Aspect particles 了, 着, and 过 never occur after a verb with a potential complement. subject predicate structure.
- Auxiliary verbs of possibility (可能, 可以, etc.) can be used in an affirmative potential complement statement and do not change the meaning of the sentence. They do not occur in negative potential complement sentences.
Sources and Further Reading
Books
- Chinese, Level 2 Part 2 Lesson 12 no Amazon link
Websites
- Centre for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, University of Oxford: Potential Verb Complement
- Mandarin Essential Grammar, Center for Language Study, Yale University: The Potential Complement
