Expressing ability or possibility with "neng"
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. So although 我会说中文 and 我能说中文 both mean "I can speak Chinese", they actually have different meanings.
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
- Sinosplice: Chinese Modal Verb Venn Diagram
