Difference between revisions of "Potential complements"
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== Basic Potential Complement == | == Basic Potential Complement == | ||
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Structurally, potential complements are closely related to both [[result complement]]s and [[direction complement]]s, so it helps to be familiar with those first. The most important and commonly used potential complements are derived from other complements such as the following: | Structurally, potential complements are closely related to both [[result complement]]s and [[direction complement]]s, so it helps to be familiar with those first. The most important and commonly used potential complements are derived from other complements such as the following: | ||
| − | * Verb | + | * Verb + [[见]] e.g. 看见, 听见 (result complements) |
| − | * Verb | + | * Verb + [[懂]] e.g. 看懂, 听懂 (result complements) |
| − | * Verb | + | * Verb + [[完]] e.g. 吃完, 做完, 用完, 花完 (result complements) |
| − | * Verb | + | * Verb + [[Adjective|Adj.]] e.g. 看清楚, 听明白, 洗干净 (result complements) |
| − | * Verb | + | * Verb + [[到]] e.g. 找到, 买到, 收到 (result complements) |
| − | * Verb | + | * Verb + direction e.g. 上来, 下去, 进去, 起来, 走过去, 爬上去 (direction complements) |
==== Structure ==== | ==== Structure ==== | ||
Revision as of 09:52, 11 April 2017
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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
Basic Potential Complement
Structurally, potential complements are closely related to both result complements and direction complements, so it helps to be familiar with those first. The most important and commonly used potential complements are derived from other complements such as the following:
- Verb + 见 e.g. 看见, 听见 (result complements)
- Verb + 懂 e.g. 看懂, 听懂 (result complements)
- Verb + 完 e.g. 吃完, 做完, 用完, 花完 (result complements)
- Verb + Adj. e.g. 看清楚, 听明白, 洗干净 (result complements)
- Verb + 到 e.g. 找到, 买到, 收到 (result complements)
- Verb + direction e.g. 上来, 下去, 进去, 起来, 走过去, 爬上去 (direction complements)
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).
Examples
- 你 的 声音 太 小 了 ， 我们 听 不 见 。
- 他 一个人 吃 得 完 这么 多 饭 吗 ？
- 我 找 不 到 我 的 手机 了 。
- 我 没 戴 眼镜 ， 看 不 清楚 。
- 这 件 衣服 太 脏 了 ， 我 洗 不 干净 。
- 在 上海 买 不 到 这 个 牌子 的 手表 。
- 我 总是 收 不 到 你 的 邮件 。
- 门 太 小 了 ， 我 的 车 进 不 去 。
- 前面 的 车 都 停 了 ， 我们 开 不 过去 。
- 这么 高 的 山 ， 你 爬 得 上去 吗 ？
More Advanced Potential Complement
Verb with 不了 and 得了
Structure
This is used to talk about whether or not you are able to do something." It is subtly different from using 不能 because 不了 usually suggests some external factor out of one's control.
Verb + 得 / 不 + 了
Examples
- 这么 多 饭 ， 你 吃 得 了 吗 ？
- 今晚 我 有 事 ， 去 不 了 。
- 这 件 衣服 太 小 了 ， 我 穿 不 了 。
- 这 件 事情 只 有 你 帮 得 了 我 。
- 明天 的 会议 老板 参加 不 了 。
Verb with 不下 and 得下
Structure
This is used to talk about whether or not something will fit or go somewhere. 经常搭配的动词是"放、坐、拿、吃、住"等。
Verb + 得 / 不 + 下
Examples
- 我 的 车 太 小 ，坐 不 下 五 个 人 。 My car is too small. Five people can't fit in here.
- 她 拿 得 下 那么 多 东西 吗 ？
- 你 家 住 得 下 这么 多 人 吗 ？
- 我 吃 饱 了 ， 真的 吃 不 下 了 。
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
