Difference between revisions of "Potential complement"
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| − | Verbs can take potential complements to indicate whether or not an action is | + | 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: | ||
| − | * Verb + [[见]] e.g. 看见, 听见 (result | + | * Verb + [[见]] e.g. 看见, 听见 ([[result complement]]s) |
| − | * Verb + [[懂]] e.g. 看懂, 听懂 (result | + | * Verb + [[懂]] e.g. 看懂, 听懂 ([[result complement]]s) |
| − | * Verb + [[完]] e.g. 吃完, 做完, 用完, 花完 (result | + | * Verb + [[完]] e.g. 吃完, 做完, 用完, 花完 ([[result complement]]s) |
| − | * Verb + [[Adjective|Adj.]] e.g. 看清楚, 听明白, 洗干净 (result | + | * Verb + [[Adjective|Adj.]] e.g. 看清楚, 听明白, 洗干净 ([[result complement]]s) |
| − | * Verb + [[到]] e.g. 找到, 买到, 收到 (result | + | * Verb + [[到]] e.g. 找到, 买到, 收到 ([[result complement]]s) |
| − | * Verb + Direction e.g. 上来, 下去, 进去, 起来, 走过去, 爬上去 (direction | + | * Verb + Direction e.g. 上来, 下去, 进去, 起来, 走过去, 爬上去 ([[direction complement]]s) |
| − | + | These forms will be our starting point for forming potential complements. | |
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | *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 | + | *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> |
*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> | *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> | ||
*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> | *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> | ||
*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> | *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> | ||
| − | *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 | + | *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 == | ||
| + | |||
| + | The only difference between the affirmative and negative forms is swapping a 得 for a 不. | ||
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
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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> | *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> | ||
*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> | *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> | ||
| − | *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 | + | *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> |
*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> | *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> | ||
*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> | *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> | ||
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== Advanced Potential Complements == | == 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 | + | 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 == | ||
| Line 83: | Line 85: | ||
=== 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}} | ||
| Line 99: | Line 103: | ||
[[Category:B1 grammar points]] | [[Category:B1 grammar points]] | ||
| + | {{HSK|HSK3}} | ||
| + | {{HSK|HSK4}} | ||
[[Category:Potential complement]] | [[Category:Potential complement]] | ||
Latest revision as of 04:50, 9 March 2019
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Level
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Used for
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Keywords
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.
Contents
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:
- 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)
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 ？You didn't wear glasses. Can you see clearly?
- 他 这么 粗心 ，做 得 好 吗 ？He'a so careless. Can he do it well?
- 你 这么 聪明 ，肯定 学 得 会 。You're so smart. You can definitely learn this.
- 早上 五点 出发 ，孩子们 起 得 来 吗 ？ 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 ？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 。Your voice is too soft. We can't hear you.
- 这里 太 暗 了 ，我 看 不 清楚 。It's too dim here. I can't see clearly.
- 这个 自行车 太 破 了 ，谁 都 修 不 好 。This bike is so beaten up. Nobody can fix it.
- 她 的 腿 受伤 了 ，站 不 起来 了 。Her leg is injured. She can't stand.
- 包 太 小 了 ，手机 放 不 进去 。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 ？Can you understand Shanghai dialect?
- 她 这么 小 ，看 得 懂 这 本 书 吗 ？She's so young. Can she really understand this book?
- 我怕 我 做 不 好 这份 工作 。I'm afraid that I can't do this job well.
- 这 种 手机 现在 买 不 到 了 。You can't buy this type of cell phone now.
- 这本书 我 一个星期 肯定 看 得 完 。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
- HSK Standard Course 3 (pp. 49) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- HSK Standard Course 4下 (pp. 118) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 71) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 191) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇) (pp. 197) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (pp. 291) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Practicing HSK Grammar (语法精讲精炼) (pp. 125) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Contemporary Chinese 2 (当代中文2) (pp. 63) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 99) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
Websites
Yale
