Difference between revisions of "Potential complement"
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{{AKA|可能补语 (kěnéng bǔyǔ) | complement 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 (potential) of achieving an expected result.
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[[Category:**URGENT**]]
  
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Potential forms most commonly occur in negative statements. Affirmative statements using the potential form, when they do occur, usually give answers to questions or serve as rebuttals.
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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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==Formation of Potential Complements==
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== Affirmative Pattern ==
  
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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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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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V + 得/不 + complement
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* Verb + [[见]] e.g. 看见, 听见 (result complements)
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* Verb + [[懂]] e.g. 看懂, 听懂 (result complements)
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* Verb + [[完]] e.g. 吃完, 做完, 用完, 花完 (result complements)
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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 + [[到]] e.g. 找到, 买到, 收到 (result complements)
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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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Putting 得 or 不 between an action verb and a [[result complement]] or [[direction complement]] changes them to potential complements.  
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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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=== Structure ===
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<div class="jiegou">
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Verb + 得 + Complement
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</div>
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=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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{| class="wikitable" style="width:40em"
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*他 一个人 吃 <em>得</em> 完 这么 多 饭 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Tā yīgèrén chī <em>de</em> wán zhème duō fàn ma? </span><span class="trans">Can he eat all the food by himself?</span>
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|+Result, Direction and Potential Complements
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*我 找 <em>不</em> 到 我 的 手机 了 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zhǎo <em>bu</em> dào wǒ de shǒujī le.</span><span class="trans">I can't find my cellphone.</span>
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|-
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*在 上海 买 <em>得</em> 到 这 个 牌子 的 手表 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Zài Shànghǎi mǎi <em>de</em> dào zhè gè páizi de shǒubiǎo ma? </span><span class="trans">Can you buy this brand of watch in Shanghai?</span>
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! Result Complement !! Directional Complement !! Aff. Potential Complement !! Neg. Potential Complement
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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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|-
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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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| 做 完 || || 做 <em>得</em> 完 || 做 <em>不</em> 完
 
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|-
 
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| 听 懂 || || 听 <em>得</em> 懂 || 听 <em>不</em> 懂 
 
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|-
 
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| || 起 来 || 起 <em>得</em> 来 || 起 <em>不</em> 来
 
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|-
 
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| || 爬上来 || 爬 <em>得</em> 上来 || 爬 <em>不</em> 上来
 
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|-
 
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|}
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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==When to Use Potential Complements==
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== Negative Pattern ==
  
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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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=== Structure ===
  
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===Special Potential Complements===
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<div class="jiegou">
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Verb + 不 + Complement
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</div>
  
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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.
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=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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{| class="wikitable" style="width:64em"
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*大家 都 看 <em>不</em> 懂 这 句 话 。<span class="pinyin">Dàjiā dōu kàn <em>bu</em> dǒng zhè jù huà.</span><span class="trans">Nobody can understand this sentence.</span>
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|+Special Potential Complements
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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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|-
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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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! Complement !! Example Complement Phrase !! Example Sentence !! Explanation
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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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|-
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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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|rowspan="2"|动
 
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| 走不动 || 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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|-
 
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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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|-
 
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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>
 
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|}
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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=== Use of Potential Complement or Auxiliary Verbs 可以 and 能===
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== Potential Complements 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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Objects in sentences with potential complements can occur either after the complement or at the beginning of a sentence.
  
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==Potential Complements in Questions==
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A few examples:
  
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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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<div class="liju">
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*我 听 <em>不</em> 见 你 说 的 话 。<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="trans">I can't hear what you said.</span>
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</div>
  
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* With a [[Interrogative Sentences#Question particles|question particle]]
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<div class="liju">
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* With a [[Word order#Using question words in a Chinese sentence|question word]]
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*你 吃 <em>得</em> 完 这 一 大 碗 面 吗 ？<span class="trans">Can you finish eating this big bowl of noodles?</span>
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* With [[Interrogative Sentences#Positive-negative questions|Positive-negative inversion]]
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*这 一 大 碗 面 你 吃 <em>得</em> 完 吗 ？<span class="trans">Can you finish eating this big bowl of noodles?</span>
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</div>
  
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Some examples:
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
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*你 在 上海 吃 <em>不</em> 到 这样 的 小吃 。<span class="trans">You can't eat this kind of street food in Shanghai.</span>
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* 你 做得 完 吗 ？<span class="trans">Did you finish it?</span>
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*这样 的 小吃 你 在 上海 吃 <em>不</em> 到 。<span class="trans">You can't eat this kind of street food in Shanghai.</span>
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* 你 受不 了 吗 ？<span class="trans">Weren't you able to handle it?</span>
 
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* 那间 房子 坐 得 下 坐不 下 十个人 ？<span class="trans">Will that apartment fit ten people in it?</span>
 
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* 明天的音乐会 你 来 得 了 吗 ？<span class="trans">Are you able to come to tomorrow's concert?</span>
 
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</div>
 
</div>
  
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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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* [[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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==See also==
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== Sources and 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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* [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (pp. 71) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899 →buy]
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* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 191) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]
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* [[Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)]] (pp. 197) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7301075294/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7301075294 →buy]
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* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2]] (pp. 291) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
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* [[Practicing HSK Grammar (语法精讲精炼)]] (pp. 125) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001N6R7DI&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001N6R7DI →buy]
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* [[Contemporary Chinese 2 (当代中文2)]] (pp. 63) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7800529029/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7800529029 →buy]
 +
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)]] (pp. 99) [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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* [[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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* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 99-104) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
 
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* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 173-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
 
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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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*[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册）]] (pp. 326, 355)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20 →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]]
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[[Category:Potential complement]]
  
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[[Category:Complements]]
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{{Basic Grammar|得|B1|Verb + 得 / 不⋯⋯|做 <em>得</em> 完/做 <em>不</em> 完。吃 <em>得</em> 了/吃 <em>不</em> 了。|grammar point|ASGCPJPQ}}
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{{Rel char|不}}
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{{Structure|Complements}}
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{{Similar|Potential complement "bu xia"}}
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{{Similar|Potential complement "bu dong"}}
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{{Similar|The "-bu dong" (don't understand) Potential Complement}}
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{{Used for|Describing actions}}
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{{Subprop|Potential complement}}

Revision as of 00:56, 11 August 2017

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.

Affirmative Pattern

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)

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.

Structure

Verb + 得 + Complement

Examples

  • 他 一个人 吃 得 完 这么 多 饭 吗 ？Tā yīgèrén chī de wán zhème duō fàn ma? Can he eat all the food by himself?
  • 我 找 不 到 我 的 手机 了 。Wǒ zhǎo bu dào wǒ de shǒujī le.I can't find my cellphone.
  • 在 上海 买 得 到 这 个 牌子 的 手表 吗 ？Zài Shànghǎi mǎi de dào zhè gè páizi de shǒubiǎo ma? Can you buy this brand of watch in Shanghai?
  • 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 come?
  • 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 make it to the top?

Negative Pattern

Structure

Verb + 不 + Complement

Examples

  • 大家 都 看 不 懂 这 句 话 。Dàjiā dōu kàn bu dǒng zhè jù huà.Nobody can understand this sentence.
  • 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.
  • 我 没 戴 眼镜 ，看 不 清楚 。Wǒ méi dài yǎnjìng, kàn bu qīngchu.When I don't wear glasses, I can't see clearly.
  • 这 件 衬衫 太 脏 了 ，我 洗 不 干净 。Zhè jiàn chènshān tài zāng le, wǒ xǐ bu gānjìng.This shirt is too dirty, I can't clean it.
  • 门 太 小 了 ，我 的 车 进 不 去 。Mén tài xiǎo le, wǒ de chē jìn bu qù.The door is too small. My car can't go through it.

Potential Complements with Objects

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

A few examples:

  • 我 听 不 见 你 说 的 话 。I can't hear what you said.
  • 你 说 的 话 我 听 不 见 。I can't hear what you said.
  • 你 吃 得 完 这 一 大 碗 面 吗 ？Can you finish eating this big bowl of noodles?
  • 这 一 大 碗 面 你 吃 得 完 吗 ？Can you finish eating this big bowl of noodles?
  • 你 在 上海 吃 不 到 这样 的 小吃 。You can't eat this kind of street food in Shanghai.
  • 这样 的 小吃 你 在 上海 吃 不 到 。You can't eat this kind of street food in Shanghai.

See also

Sources and and further reading

Books

Websites

Yale


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