Difference between revisions of "Potential complement"
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{{Grammar Box}}
 
{{Grammar Box}}
  
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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.
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Verbs can take potential complements to indicate whether or not an action is possible. Potential complements contain a 得 (de) or a 不 (bu) immediate after the verb being modified, and are quite common in everyday spoken Mandarin.
  
 
== Affirmative Form ==
 
== Affirmative Form ==
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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:
  
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* Verb + [[见]] e.g. 看见, 听见 (result complements)
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* Verb + [[见]] e.g. 看见, 听见 ([[result complement]]s)
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* Verb + [[懂]] e.g. 看懂, 听懂 (result complements)
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* Verb + [[懂]] e.g. 看懂, 听懂 ([[result complement]]s)
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* Verb + [[完]] e.g. 吃完, 做完, 用完, 花完 (result complements)
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* Verb + [[完]] e.g. 吃完, 做完, 用完, 花完 ([[result complement]]s)
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* Verb + [[Adjective|Adj.]] e.g. 看清楚, 听明白, 洗干净 (result complements)
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* Verb + [[Adjective|Adj.]] e.g. 看清楚, 听明白, 洗干净 ([[result complement]]s)
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* Verb + [[到]] e.g. 找到, 买到, 收到 (result complements)
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* Verb + [[到]] e.g. 找到, 买到, 收到 ([[result complement]]s)
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* Verb + Direction e.g. 上来, 下去, 进去, 起来, 走过去, 爬上去 (direction complements)
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* Verb + Direction e.g. 上来, 下去, 进去, 起来, 走过去, 爬上去 ([[direction complement]]s)
  
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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''.
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These forms will be our starting point for forming potential complements.
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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Verb + 得 + Complement
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Subj. + Verb + 得 + Complement
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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*你 听 <em>得</em> 懂 上海话 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ tīng <em>de</em> dǒng Shànghǎi-huà ma?</span><span class="trans">Can you understand Shanghai dialect?</span>
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*你 没 戴 眼镜 ，看 <em>得</em> <strong>清楚</strong> 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ méi dài yǎnjìng, kàn <em>de</em> <strong>qīngchu</strong> ma?</span><span class="trans">You didn't wear glasses. Can you see clearly?</span>
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*这本书 才 五十页 ，我 今晚 肯定 看 <em>得</em> 完 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè běn shū cái wǔshí yè, wǒ jīnwǎn kěndìng kàn <em>de</em> wán.</span><span class="trans">This book only has 50 pages. I can definitely finish reading it.</span>
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*他 这么 粗心 ，做 <em>得</em> <strong>好</strong> 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Tā zhème cūxīn, zuò <em>de</em> <strong>hǎo</strong> ma?</span><span class="trans">He'a so careless. Can he do it well?</span>
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*早上 五点 出发 ，孩子们 起 <em>得</em> 来 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Zǎoshang wǔdiǎn chūfā, háizi men qǐ <em>de</em> lái ma?</span> <span class="trans">We're leaving at five a.m.; will the kids be able to come?</span>
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*你 这么 聪明 ，肯定 学 <em>得</em> <strong>会</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhème cōngming, kěndìng xué <em>de</em> <strong>huì</strong>.</span><span class="trans">You're so smart. You can definitely learn this.</span>
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*这么 高 的 山 ，你 爬 <em>得</em> 上去 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Zhème gāo de shān, nǐ pá <em>de</em> shàngqù ma? </span><span class="trans">The mountain is so high. Can you make it to the top?</span>
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*早上 五点 出发 ，孩子们 起 <em>得</em> <strong>来</strong> 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Zǎoshang wǔdiǎn chūfā, háizi men qǐ <em>de</em> <strong>lái</strong> ma?</span> <span class="trans">We're leaving at five a.m.. Will the kids be able to get up?</span>
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*这么 高 的 山 ，你 爬 <em>得</em> <strong>上去</strong> 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Zhème gāo de shān, nǐ pá <em>de</em> <strong>shàngqù</strong> ma? </span><span class="trans">The mountain is so high. Can you climb to the top?</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
== Negative Form ==
 
== Negative Form ==
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 +
The only difference between the affirmative and negative forms is swapping a 得 for a 不.
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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Verb + 不 + Complement
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Subj. + Verb + 不 + Complement
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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*你 的 声音 太 小 了 ，我们 听 <em>不</em> 见 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de shēngyīn tài xiǎo le, wǒmen tīng <em>bu</em> jiàn.</span><span class="trans">Your voice is too soft. We can't hear you.</span>
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*你 的 声音 太 小 了 ，我们 听 <em>不</em> <strong>见</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de shēngyīn tài xiǎo le, wǒmen tīng <em>bu</em> <strong>jiàn</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Your voice is too soft. We can't hear you.</span>
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*我 没 戴 眼镜 ，看 <em>不</em> 清楚 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ méi dài yǎnjìng, kàn <em>bu</em> qīngchu.</span><span class="trans">When I don't wear glasses, I can't see clearly.</span>
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*这里 太 暗 了 ，我 看 <em>不</em> <strong>清楚</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ tài àn le, wǒ kàn <em>bu</em> <strong>qīngchu</strong>.</span><span class="trans">It's too dim here. I can't see clearly.</span>
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*这 件 衬衫 太 脏 了 ，我 洗 <em>不</em> 干净 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn chènshān tài zāng le, wǒ xǐ <em>bu</em> gānjìng.</span><span class="trans">This shirt is too dirty, I can't clean it.</span>
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*这个 自行车 太 破 了 ，谁 都 修 <em>不</em> <strong>好</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège zìxíngchē tài pò le, shéi dōu xiū <em>bu</em> <strong>hǎo</strong> .</span><span class="trans">This bike is so beaten up. Nobody can fix it.</span>
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*门 太 小 了 ，我 的 车 进 <em>不</em> 去 。<span class="pinyin">Mén tài xiǎo le, wǒ de chē jìn <em>bu</em> qù.</span><span class="trans">The door is too small. My car can't go through it.</span>
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*她 的 腿 受伤 了 ，站 <em>不</em> <strong>起来</strong> 了 。<span class="pinyin">Tā de tuǐ shòushāng le, zhàn <em>bu</em> <strong>qǐlái</strong>  le.</span><span class="trans">Her leg is injured. She can't stand.</span>
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*包 太 小 了 ，手机 放 <em>不</em> <strong>进去</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Bāo tài xiǎo le, shǒujī fàng <em>bu</em> <strong>jìnqù</strong>.</span><span class="trans">The bag is too small. I can't fit the cell phone in it.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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== Used with Objects ==
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== Potential Complement with Objects ==
  
 
Objects in sentences with potential complements can occur either after the complement or at the beginning of a sentence.
 
Objects in sentences with potential complements can occur either after the complement or at the beginning of a sentence.
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
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*我 听 <em>不</em> 见 你 说 的 话 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ tīng <em>bu</em> jiàn nǐ shuō de huà.</span><span class="trans">I can't hear what you said.</span>
 
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*你 说 的 话 我 听 <em>不</em> 见 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ shuō de huà wǒ tīng <em>bu</em> jiàn.</span><span class="trans">I can't hear what you said.</span>
 
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</div>
 
  
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<div class="liju">
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*你 听 <em>得</em> <strong>懂</strong> 上海话 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ tīng <em>de</em> <strong>dǒng</strong> Shànghǎi-huà ma?</span><span class="trans">Can you understand Shanghai dialect?</span>
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*你 吃 <em>得</em> 完 这 一 大 碗 面 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ chī <em>de</em> wán zhè yī dà wǎn miàn ma?</span><span class="trans">Can you finish eating this big bowl of noodles?</span>
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*她 这么 小 ，看 <em>得</em> <strong>懂</strong> 这 本 书 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Tā zhème xiǎo, kàn <em>de</em> <strong>dǒng</strong> zhè běn shū ma?</span><span class="trans">She's so young. Can she really understand this book?</span>
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*这 一 大 碗 面 你 吃 <em>得</em> 完 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Zhè yī dà wǎn miàn nǐ chī <em>de</em> wán ma?</span><span class="trans">Can you finish eating this big bowl of noodles?</span>
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*我怕 我 做 <em>不</em> <strong>好</strong> 这份 工作 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ pà wǒ zuò <em>bu</em> <strong>hǎo</strong> zhè fèn gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans">I'm afraid that I can't do this job well.</span>
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</div>
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*这 种 手机 现在 买 <em>不</em> <strong>到</strong> 了 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè zhǒng shǒujī xiànzài mǎi <em>bu</em> <strong>dào</strong> le.</span><span class="trans">You can't buy this type of cell phone now.</span>
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*这本书 我 一个星期 肯定 看 <em>得</em> <strong>完</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè běn shū wǒ yī gè xīngiqī kěndìng kàn <em>de</em> <strong>wán</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I can definitely finish reading this book within one week.</span>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
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*你 在 上海 吃 <em>不</em> 到 这样 的 小吃 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zài Shànghǎi chī <em>bu</em> dào zhèyàng de xiǎochī.</span><span class="trans">You can't eat this kind of street food in Shanghai.</span>
 
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*这样 的 小吃 你 在 上海 吃 <em>不</em> 到 。<span class="pinyin">Zhèyàng de xiǎochī nǐ zài Shànghǎi chī <em>bu</em> dào.</span><span class="trans">You can't eat this kind of street food in Shanghai.</span>
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
== Advanced Potential Complements ==
 
== Advanced Potential Complements ==
  
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There are actually quite a few potential complements out there, and this article touches on some of the simplest and most common ones. Be aware that there are many more, but they all follow the same basic pattern outlined here. You can also see our article on [[advanced potential complements]].
+
There are actually quite a few potential complements out there, and this article touches on some of the simplest and most common ones. Be aware that there are many more, but they all follow the same basic pattern outlined here. You can also refer to our article on [[advanced potential complements]].
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
  
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* [[The "-bu dong" (don't understand) Potential Complement]]
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* [[Result complements]]
 
* [[Advanced potential complements]]
 
* [[Advanced potential complements]]
  
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== Sources and and further reading ==
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== Sources and further reading ==
  
 
=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
 +
{{Source|HSK Standard Course 3|49}}
 +
{{Source|HSK Standard Course 4下|118}}
 
{{Source|Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar|71}}
 
{{Source|Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar|71}}
 
{{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|191}}
 
{{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|191}}
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[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK3}}
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{{HSK|HSK4}}
 
[[Category:Potential complement]]
 
[[Category:Potential complement]]
  

Latest revision as of 04:50, 9 March 2019

Verbs can take potential complements to indicate whether or not an action is possible. Potential complements contain a 得 (de) or a 不 (bu) immediate after the verb being modified, and are quite common in everyday spoken Mandarin.

Affirmative Form

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:

These forms will be our starting point for forming potential complements.

Structure

Subj. + Verb + 得 + Complement

Examples

  • 你 没 戴 眼镜 ，看 得 清楚 吗 ？Nǐ méi dài yǎnjìng, kàn de qīngchu ma?You didn't wear glasses. Can you see clearly?
  • 他 这么 粗心 ，做 得 好 吗 ？Tā zhème cūxīn, zuò de hǎo ma?He'a so careless. Can he do it well?
  • 你 这么 聪明 ，肯定 学 得 会 。Nǐ zhème cōngming, kěndìng xué de huì.You're so smart. You can definitely learn this.
  • 早上 五点 出发 ，孩子们 起 得 来 吗 ？Zǎoshang wǔdiǎn chūfā, háizi men qǐ de lái ma? We're leaving at five a.m.. Will the kids be able to get up?
  • 这么 高 的 山 ，你 爬 得 上去 吗 ？Zhème gāo de shān, nǐ pá de shàngqù ma? The mountain is so high. Can you climb to the top?

Negative Form

The only difference between the affirmative and negative forms is swapping a 得 for a 不.

Structure

Subj. + Verb + 不 + Complement

Examples

  • 你 的 声音 太 小 了 ，我们 听 不 见 。Nǐ de shēngyīn tài xiǎo le, wǒmen tīng bu jiàn.Your voice is too soft. We can't hear you.
  • 这里 太 暗 了 ，我 看 不 清楚 。Zhèlǐ tài àn le, wǒ kàn bu qīngchu.It's too dim here. I can't see clearly.
  • 这个 自行车 太 破 了 ，谁 都 修 不 好 。Zhège zìxíngchē tài pò le, shéi dōu xiū bu hǎo .This bike is so beaten up. Nobody can fix it.
  • 她 的 腿 受伤 了 ，站 不 起来 了 。Tā de tuǐ shòushāng le, zhàn bu qǐlái le.Her leg is injured. She can't stand.
  • 包 太 小 了 ，手机 放 不 进去 。Bāo tài xiǎo le, shǒujī fàng bu jìnqù.The bag is too small. I can't fit the cell phone in it.

Potential Complement with Objects

Objects in sentences with potential complements can occur either after the complement or at the beginning of a sentence.

A few examples:

  • 你 听 得 懂 上海话 吗 ？Nǐ tīng de dǒng Shànghǎi-huà ma?Can you understand Shanghai dialect?
  • 她 这么 小 ，看 得 懂 这 本 书 吗 ？Tā zhème xiǎo, kàn de dǒng zhè běn shū ma?She's so young. Can she really understand this book?
  • 我怕 我 做 不 好 这份 工作 。Wǒ pà wǒ zuò bu hǎo zhè fèn gōngzuò.I'm afraid that I can't do this job well.
  • 这 种 手机 现在 买 不 到 了 。Zhè zhǒng shǒujī xiànzài mǎi bu dào le.You can't buy this type of cell phone now.
  • 这本书 我 一个星期 肯定 看 得 完 。Zhè běn shū wǒ yī gè xīngiqī kěndìng kàn de wán.I can definitely finish reading this book within one week.

Advanced Potential Complements

There are actually quite a few potential complements out there, and this article touches on some of the simplest and most common ones. Be aware that there are many more, but they all follow the same basic pattern outlined here. You can also refer to our article on advanced potential complements.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites

Yale


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