Difference between revisions of "Expressing ability or possibility with "neng""
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| + | * [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1]] (pp. 219 - 220) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy] | ||
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)]] (pp. 160 - 161) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561910401/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561910401 →buy] | * [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)]] (pp. 160 - 161) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561910401/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561910401 →buy] | ||
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)]] (pp. 185 - 187) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561926235/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7561926235 →buy] | * [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)]] (pp. 185 - 187) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561926235/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7561926235 →buy] | ||
[[Category:A1 grammar points]] | [[Category:A1 grammar points]] | ||
Revision as of 10:03, 4 January 2012
The verb 能 is used to express either ability or possibility. The structure is:
Subject + 能 + Verb + Object
能 indicates ability when used with activities that are not consciously learnt or studied.
- 我 能 吃 四十 个 饺子。
- 我 能 听懂 东北话。
- 我 不能 接受 这种 条件。
When used with activities that are consciously learnt or studied, 能 generally means that circumstances do not allow execution of the action.
Some examples:
- 我 不 能 说 英文。 (my teacher has forbidden me from speaking English)
- 我 不 能 游泳。(the speaker is ill)
- 我 能 买 吗？(the speaker is afraid his girlfriend won't agree)
From these examples we can see such circumstances might be obtaining someone's consent or the speaker's health. 会 can be used instead if the speaker wishes to express they able to execute an action requiring a consciously studied skill.
Because 能 can express possibility, it is often used to form polite questions, something like "would it be possible" in English:
- 你 能 帮 我 吗?
- 你 能 不 能 给 我 那 本书？
- 我 能 问 你 一 个 问题 吗？
See also
Sources and further reading
Websites
- Sinosplice: Chinese Modal Verb Venn Diagram
Books
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (pp. 219 - 220) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (pp. 160 - 161) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed) (pp. 185 - 187) →buy
