Difference between revisions of "Potential complement"

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{{AKA|可能补语 (kěnéngbǔyǔ) | complements of potentiality |}}
 
{{AKA|可能补语 (kěnéngbǔyǔ) | complements of potentiality |}}
  
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Potential complements are used to express the possibility to achieve a result. 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:
  
Potential complements, also known as "complements of potentiality" in English, are 可能补语 (literally, "possible complement") in Chinese.
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V + 得/不 + complement
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Putting 得 or 不 between an action verb and a resultative or directional complement changes it to a potential complement. Potential forms most commonly occur in negative statements. Affirmative statements using the potential form are uncommon, usually they occur as answers to questions.
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==Particles, Auxiliary Verbs and Objects with Potential Form==
  
 
[[Category:Complements]]
 
[[Category:Complements]]

Revision as of 08:46, 1 August 2011

Also known as: 可能补语 (kěnéngbǔyǔ)  and complements of potentiality .

Potential complements are used to express the possibility to achieve a result. 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:

V + 得/不 + complement

Putting 得 or 不 between an action verb and a resultative or directional complement changes it to a potential complement. Potential forms most commonly occur in negative statements. Affirmative statements using the potential form are uncommon, usually they occur as answers to questions.

Particles, Auxiliary Verbs and Objects with Potential Form