Difference between revisions of "Expressing ability or possibility with "neng""

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{{Grammar Box}} \r\n能 (néng) is another Chinese word that is often translated as "can." However, it has a slightly different meaning than the others. 能 is used to express ability or possibility of doing something. This article will further explain its use. \r\n== Expressing Ability ==\r\n=== Structure ===\r\nThe verb 能 is used to express either ''ability'' or ''possibility''. The structure is:\r\n<div class="jiegou">
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{{Grammar Box}}  
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能 (néng) is another Chinese word that is often translated as "can." However, it has a slightly different meaning than the others. 能 is used to express ability or possibility of doing something. This article will further explain its use.  
 +
 
 +
== Expressing Ability ==
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=== Structure ===
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The verb 能 is used to express either ''ability'' or ''possibility''. The structure is:
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<div class="jiegou">
 
Subject + 能 + Verb + Object
 
Subject + 能 + Verb + Object
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</div>\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n能 indicates ability when used with activities that are not consciously learned or studied. \r\n<div class="liju">
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</div>
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=== Examples ===
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能 indicates ability when used with activities that are not consciously learned or studied.  
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 +
<div class="liju">
 
* 我 <em>能</em> 吃 四十 个 饺子。<span class="trans">I can eat 40 dumplings.</span>
 
* 我 <em>能</em> 吃 四十 个 饺子。<span class="trans">I can eat 40 dumplings.</span>
 
* 我 <em>能</em> 听懂 东北话。<span class="trans">I can understand Northeastern dialect.</span>
 
* 我 <em>能</em> 听懂 东北话。<span class="trans">I can understand Northeastern dialect.</span>
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* 我 的 旧 手机 不 <em>能</em> 上网。<span class="trans">My old cellphone did not have internet.</span>
 
* 我 的 旧 手机 不 <em>能</em> 上网。<span class="trans">My old cellphone did not have internet.</span>
 
* 中文 这么 难，你  <em>能</em> 学 好 吗？<span class="trans">Chinese is difficult, can you study well?</span>
 
* 中文 这么 难，你  <em>能</em> 学 好 吗？<span class="trans">Chinese is difficult, can you study well?</span>
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</div>\r\n== Expressing Possibility ==\r\nThe structure is exactly the same.\r\n=== Examples ===\r\nWhen used with activities that are consciously learned or studied, 能 generally means that circumstances do not allow execution of the action.  In other words, it's ''not possible''.  Sometimes this is a bit of an exaggeration and actually just means it's "not allowed." It can be instead of "可以".\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 上课 的 时候 不 <em>能</em> 说 英文。<span class="expl"> (my teacher has forbidden me from speaking English.)</span><span class="trans">In class, you can't speak English.</span>
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</div>
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 +
== Expressing Possibility ==
 +
 
 +
The structure is exactly the same.
 +
 
 +
=== Examples ===
 +
 
 +
When used with activities that are consciously learned or studied, 能 generally means that circumstances do not allow execution of the action.  In other words, it's ''not possible''.  Sometimes this is a bit of an exaggeration and actually just means it's "not allowed." It can be instead of "可以".
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 +
<div class="liju">
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* 上课 的 时候 不 <em>能</em> 说 英文。<span class="expl"> (my teacher has forbidden me from speaking English.)</span><span class="trans">In class, you can't speak English.</span>
 
* 在 这里 不 <em>能</em> 游泳。<span class="expl">(it's not allowed, or not possible for other reasons)</span><span class="trans">You can't swim here.</span>
 
* 在 这里 不 <em>能</em> 游泳。<span class="expl">(it's not allowed, or not possible for other reasons)</span><span class="trans">You can't swim here.</span>
 
* 我 <em>能</em> 买 这 个 玩具 吗？<span class="expl">(the speaker is afraid his parents won't agree, or that it's not for sale) </span><span class="trans">Can I buy this toy?</span>
 
* 我 <em>能</em> 买 这 个 玩具 吗？<span class="expl">(the speaker is afraid his parents won't agree, or that it's not for sale) </span><span class="trans">Can I buy this toy?</span>
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* 星期天 十 点 你 <em>能</em> 来 吗？<span class="trans">Can you come at 10 o'clock on Sunday?</span>
 
* 星期天 十 点 你 <em>能</em> 来 吗？<span class="trans">Can you come at 10 o'clock on Sunday?</span>
 
* 我 不 <em>能</em> 那么 早 上班。<span class="trans">I can't work that early.</span>
 
* 我 不 <em>能</em> 那么 早 上班。<span class="trans">I can't work that early.</span>
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* 你 <em>能</em> 帮 我 买 个 东西 吗？<span class="trans">Can you help me buy a thing?</span>\r\n</div>\r\n== Other usages ==\r\nFrom these examples we can see such circumstances might be pertaining to getting someone's consent or reliant on the speaker's health. 会 can be used instead if the speaker wishes to express that they are able to execute an action requiring a consciously studied skill. \r\nBecause 能 can express possibility, it is often used to form polite questions, something like "would it be possible" in English:\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 你 <em>能</em> 帮 我 吗?<span class="trans">Could you help me?</span>
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* 你 <em>能</em> 帮 我 买 个 东西 吗？<span class="trans">Can you help me buy a thing?</span>
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</div>
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== Other usages ==
 +
 
 +
From these examples we can see such circumstances might be pertaining to getting someone's consent or reliant on the speaker's health. 会 can be used instead if the speaker wishes to express that they are 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:
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* 你 <em>能</em> 帮 我 吗?<span class="trans">Could you help me?</span>
 
* 你 <em>能 不 能</em> 给 我 那 本书？<span class="trans">Can you give me that book?</span>
 
* 你 <em>能 不 能</em> 给 我 那 本书？<span class="trans">Can you give me that book?</span>
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* 我 <em>能</em> 问 你 一 个 问题 吗？<span class="trans">Can I ask you a question?</span>\r\n</div>\r\n==See also==\r\n*[[Expressing permission]]
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* 我 <em>能</em> 问 你 一 个 问题 吗？<span class="trans">Can I ask you a question?</span>
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</div>
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==See also==
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*[[Expressing permission]]
 
*[[Expressing a learned skill]]
 
*[[Expressing a learned skill]]
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*[[Comparing "hui" "neng" "keyi"]]\r\n== Sources and further reading ==\r\n=== Websites ===\r\n* Sinosplice: [http://www.sinosplice.com/life/archives/2009/10/13/chinese-modal-verb-venn-diagram Chinese Modal Verb Venn Diagram]\r\n=== Books ===\r\n* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 219-20)　[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]
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*[[Comparing "hui" "neng" "keyi"]]
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== Sources and further reading ==
 +
 
 +
=== Websites ===
 +
 
 +
* Sinosplice: [http://www.sinosplice.com/life/archives/2009/10/13/chinese-modal-verb-venn-diagram Chinese Modal Verb Venn Diagram]
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=== Books ===
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* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 219-20)　[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. 160-1) [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. 160-1) [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]
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* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)]] (pp. 185-7) [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]\r\n[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
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* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)]] (pp. 185-7) [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]
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[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
 
{{Used for|Expressing ability}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing ability}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing possibility}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing possibility}}

Revision as of 09:12, 26 November 2013

能 (néng) is another Chinese word that is often translated as "can." However, it has a slightly different meaning than the others. 能 is used to express ability or possibility of doing something. This article will further explain its use.

Expressing Ability

Structure

The verb 能 is used to express either ability or possibility. The structure is:

Subject + 能 + Verb + Object

Examples

能 indicates ability when used with activities that are not consciously learned or studied.

  • 我 能 吃 四十 个 饺子。I can eat 40 dumplings.
  • 我 能 听懂 东北话。I can understand Northeastern dialect.
  • 我的老板 能 工作 24 个 小时。My boss can work 24 hours.
  • 一岁 的 宝宝 能 跑？Can a one year old baby run?
  • 你 能 喝 十 杯 啤酒？Can you drink 10 glasses of beer?
  • 我 知道 怎么做，我能 帮 你。I know what to do. I can help.
  • 我 的 旧 手机 不 能 上网。My old cellphone did not have internet.
  • 中文 这么 难，你 能 学 好 吗？Chinese is difficult, can you study well?

Expressing Possibility

The structure is exactly the same.

Examples

When used with activities that are consciously learned or studied, 能 generally means that circumstances do not allow execution of the action. In other words, it's not possible. Sometimes this is a bit of an exaggeration and actually just means it's "not allowed." It can be instead of "可以".

  • 上课 的 时候 不 能 说 英文。 (my teacher has forbidden me from speaking English.)In class, you can't speak English.
  • 在 这里 不 能 游泳。(it's not allowed, or not possible for other reasons)You can't swim here.
  • 我 能 买 这 个 玩具 吗？(the speaker is afraid his parents won't agree, or that it's not for sale) Can I buy this toy?
  • 我 不能 要 你 的 钱。I can't accept your money.
  • 明天 你 能 做 完 吗？Can you finish today?
  • 星期天 十 点 你 能 来 吗？Can you come at 10 o'clock on Sunday?
  • 我 不 能 那么 早 上班。I can't work that early.
  • 你 能 帮 我 买 个 东西 吗？Can you help me buy a thing?

Other usages

From these examples we can see such circumstances might be pertaining to getting someone's consent or reliant on the speaker's health. 会 can be used instead if the speaker wishes to express that they are 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?Could you help me?
  • 你 能 不 能 给 我 那 本书？Can you give me that book?
  • 我 能 问 你 一 个 问题 吗？Can I ask you a question?

See also

Sources and further reading

Websites

Books

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