Expressing ability or possibility with "neng"
The verb 能 is used to express either ability or possibility. The structure is:
Subject + 能 + Verb + Object
In English, if we say "I can't speak English" this can have two meanings; I may have been forbidden from speaking English, or it could mean I'm physically unable to speak English. If 能 is used to mean "can" in this sentence, it can only mean the former. This has the potential to create a lot of problems for an English speaker of Chinese.
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)
- 飞机 不 能 起飞。(it is foggy at the airport)
From these examples we can see that 能 is used when there are external obstacles like the weather, obtaining someone's consent or the speaker's health which may prevent the speaker from completing the action in question. In this sense, 能 is similar to 可以. 会 can be used instead if the speaker wishes to express an acquired 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
- Sinosplice: Chinese Modal Verb Venn Diagram
