Difference between revisions of "Potential complement"
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{{AKA|可能补语 (kěnéngbǔyǔ) | complements of potentiality |}}
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{{Grammar Box}}
  
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Potential complements are a type of [[complements|complement]] used to express the possibility of achieving an expected result in Mandarin.  
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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.
  
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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).
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== Affirmative Form ==
  
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==Formation of Potential Complements==
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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:
  
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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:
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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 complement]]s)
 +
* 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 complement]]s)
 +
* 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 complement]]s)
  
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V + 得/不 + complement
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These forms will be our starting point for forming potential complements.
  
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Putting 得 or 不 between an action verb and a [[result complement]] or [[direction complement]] changes them to potential complements.
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=== Structure ===
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<div class="liju">
 
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{| class="wikitable" style="width:40em"
 
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|+Resultative, Directional and Potential Complements
 
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|-
 
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! Resultative Complement !! Directional Complement !! Aff. Potential Complement !! Neg. Potential Complement
 
−
|-
 
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| 做 完 || || 做 <em>得</em> 完 || 做 <em>不</em> 完
 
−
|-
 
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| 听 懂 || || 听 <em>得</em> 懂 || 听 <em>不</em> 懂 
 
−
|-
 
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| || 起 来 || 起 <em>得</em> 来 || 起 <em>不</em> 来
 
−
|-
 
−
| || 爬上来 || 爬 <em>得</em> 上来 || 爬 <em>不</em> 上来
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
  
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
Subj. + Verb + 得 + Complement
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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===Objects with potential complements===
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=== Examples ===
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Objects in sentences with potential complements can occur either after the complement or at the beginning of a sentence
 
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
−
{| class="wikitable" style="width:45em"
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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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|+Objects occurring at the beginning of a sentence with a potential complement
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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>
−
|-
+
*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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! <em>Object</em> !! Subject !! Complement Phrase
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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>
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| <em>这个汉堡</em> || 我 || 吃得完 
 
−
|-
 
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| <em>山</em> || 他 || 爬不上来
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
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== Negative Form ==
 +
 
 +
The only difference between the affirmative and negative forms is swapping a 得 for a 不.
  
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{| class="wikitable" style="width:40em"
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=== Structure ===
−
|+Objects occurring at the end of a sentence with a potential complement
 
−
|-
 
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! Subject !! Complement Phrase !! <em>Object</em>
 
−
|-
 
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| 我 || 吃得完  ||  <em>这个汉堡</em> 
 
−
|-
 
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| 他 || 爬不上来 || <em>山</em>
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
  
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
Subj. + Verb + 不 + Complement
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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==When to Use Potential Complements==
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=== Examples ===
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The potential complement is roughly equivalent to saying something is able to be done in English. It is used when you want to express ability to achieve a result (as noted above, a [[result complement]] can be changed into a potential complement be inserting 得 or 不 between the verb and the complement) or ability to perform an action to a certain degree, similar to degree complements. Degree complements and potential complements often appear the same but are distinguished by the different contexts they appear in (see Contrasting Degree and Potential Complements section below).
 
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===Special Potential Complements===
 
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In addition to common [[result complement]]s that can be turned into potential complements and adjectives that form either degree or potential complements there are several complements that have unique meanings as potential complements.
 
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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{| class="wikitable" style="width:64em"
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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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|+Special Potential Complements
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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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! Complement !! Example Complement Phrase !! Example Sentence !! Explanation
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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>
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|rowspan="2"|动
 
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| 走不动了 || 我们累死了，<em>走不动</em>了。 <span style="font-size:0.7em;"> <span class="spaced"> (We are so tired, we can't (don't have the strength to) walk any more.)</span></span>||rowspan="2"|<span style="font-size:0.7em;"><span class="spaced"> The potential complement 动 indicates whether a person has the strength to be able to undertake an action whether that be moving them self (walking further) or an object. </span></span>
 
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|-
 
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| 抬得动 || 她力气很大，她<em>抬得动</em>这张沙发。<span style="font-size:0.7em;"><span class="spaced">(She is very strong, she can lift this sofa.)</span></span>
 
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|-
 
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|rowspan="2"| 下
 
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| 坐得下 || 这间大房子，<em>坐得下</em>十个人。<span style="font-size:0.7em;"><span class="spaced">(This big room can seat ten people)</span></span>
 
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|rowspan="2"| <span style="font-size:0.7em;"> <span class="spaced">The potential complement 下 expresses the ability to fit in or on a given location. </span></span>
 
−
|-
 
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| 放不下 || 那个包，<em>放不下</em>这些西瓜。<span style="font-size:0.7em;"><span class="spaced">(That bag cannot fit these watermelons)</span></span>
 
−
|-
 
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|rowspan="2"| 了
 
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| 受不了 || 今天天气太热了，我<em>受不了</em>了。<span style="font-size:0.7em;"><span class="spaced">(Today it is too hot, I am unable to bear it)</span></span>
 
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|rowspan="2"| <span style="font-size:0.7em;"> <span class="spaced">The potential complement 了 expresses the ability do the verb. '''''Note''''': 了 can also serve as an adjective complement which means ability to reach a degree </span></span>
 
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|-
 
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| 来得了 || 今天开会我<em>来得了</em>。<span style="font-size:0.7em;"><span class="spaced">(I am able to come to today's meeting)</span></span>
 
−
|}
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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=== Use of Potential Complement or Auxiliary Verbs 可以 and 能===
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== Potential Complement with Objects ==
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In most cases simple potential complement phrase will have the same meaning as a verb phrase using auxiliary verbs 能 or 可以. For example, 他爬得上来 has the same meaning as 他能爬上来 and 他可以爬上来. Likewise 我能做完, 我可以做完 and 我做得完 all have the same meaning.
 
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==Potential Complements in Questions==
 
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You can form questions with sentences containing potential complements just as you would with any other sentence:
 
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* With a [[Interrogative Sentences#Question particles|question particle]]
 
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* With a [[Word order#Using question words in a Chinese sentence|question word]]
 
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* With [[Interrogative Sentences#Positive-negative questions|Positive-negative inversion]]
 
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Some examples:
 
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<div class="liju">
 
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* <span class="liju">你 做得 完 吗 ？</span>
 
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* <span class="liju">你 受不 了 吗 ？</span>
 
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* <span class="liju">谁 吃得 完 整只 鸡 ？</span>
 
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* <span class="liju">你 考得 上 什么 大学？</span>
 
−
 
 
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* <span class="liju">那间 房子 坐得 下 坐不 下 十个人？</span>
 
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* <span class="liju">明天的音乐会 你 来得 了 来不 了？</span>
 
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</div>
 
  
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==Comparing Degree Complements and Potential Complements==
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Objects in sentences with potential complements can occur either after the complement or at the beginning of a sentence.
  
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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 or 说得清楚 could serve as either potential or [[degree complement]]s. The following table explains different meanings that one complement phrase could have as either a degree or potential.
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A few examples:
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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{| class="wikitable" style="width:40em"
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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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|+Examples of complement phrases that can serve as both degree and potential complements
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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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*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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! Example !! Degree Complement Translation !! Potential Complement Translation
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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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| 她说得清楚 ||  <span style="font-size:0.7em;"> <span class="spaced"> "She speaks clearly." </span></span> ||  <span style="font-size:0.7em;"> <span class="spaced"> "She is able to speak clearly." </span></span>
 
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|-
 
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| 他跑得快|| <span style="font-size:0.7em;"> <span class="spaced"> "He runs fast." </span></span> ||  <span style="font-size:0.7em;"> <span class="spaced"> "He is able to run fast." </span></span> 
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 +
== Advanced Potential Complements ==
  
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Degree complements commonly are directly preceded by an adverb (他说得很清楚) distinguishing them from potential complements which are never directly preceded by an adverb.
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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 refer to our article on [[advanced potential complements]].
  
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==Particles and Auxiliary Verbs with Potential Complements==
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== See also ==
  
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* [[Aspect particles]] 了, 着, and 过 never occur after a verb with a potential complement, they may however occur after a potential complement phrase (after the complement).
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* [[Result complements]]
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* [[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.
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* [[Advanced potential complements]]
  
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==See also==
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== Sources and further reading ==
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* [[Result complement]]
 
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* [[State complement]]
 
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* [[Direction complement]]
 
  
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==Sources and Further Reading==
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=== Books ===
  
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===Books===
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 3|49}}
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 4下|118}}
 +
{{Source|Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar|71}}
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{{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|191}}
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{{Source|Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)|197}}
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2|291}}
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{{Source|Practicing HSK Grammar (语法精讲精炼)|125}}
 +
{{Source|Contemporary Chinese 2 (当代中文2)|63}}
 +
{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)|99}}
  
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* [[A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法)]] (pp. 317 - 330) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA →buy]
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=== Websites ===
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* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (pp. 229 - 233) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792 →buy]
 
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* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 191-194) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=sinosplice-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]
 
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* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)]] (pp. 118 - 119, 168 - 169) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X →buy]
 
  
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===Websites===
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==== Yale ====
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* Centre for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, University of Oxford: [http://www.ctcfl.ox.ac.uk/Grammar%20exercises/PVC.htm Potential Verb Complement]
 
  
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* Mandarin Essential Grammar, Center for Language Study, Yale University: [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/mandarin/content/potential/grammar/potential.htm The Potential Complement]
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* [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/mandarin/content/potential/grammar/potential.htm The Potential Complement]
 +
* [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/mandarin/content/degree/grammar/Degree-6.htm Potential Complement And Degree Complement In Contrast]
  
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* About Chinese Language, XCN chinese [http://www.xcn-chinese.com/app/showarticle.asp?id=1920 Potential Complement (2)]
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[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 +
{{HSK|HSK3}}
 +
{{HSK|HSK4}}
 +
[[Category:Potential complement]]
  
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[[Category:Complements]]
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{{Basic Grammar|得|B1|Verb + 得 / 不 + Complement|做 <em>得</em> 完 / 做 <em>不</em> 完|grammar point|ASGCPJPQ}}
 +
{{Rel char|不}}
 +
{{Structure|Complements}}
 +
{{Similar|Advanced potential complements}}
 +
{{Similar|The "-bu dong" (don't understand) Potential Complement}}
 +
{{Used for|Describing actions}}
 +
{{Subprop|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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