Potential complement

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

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Potential complements are used to express the possibility of achieving an expected result in Mandarin.

Potential forms most commonly occur in negative statements. Affirmative statements using the potential form are somewhat uncommon, and usually occur as answers to questions (or as rebuttals).

Formation of Potential Complements

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 result complement or direction complement changes them to potential complements.

Resultative, Directional and Potential Complements
Resultative Complement	Directional Complement	Potential Complement
做完		做得完 / 做不完
听懂		听得懂 / 听不懂
	起来	起得来 / 起不来
	走下去	走得下去 / 走不下去

Particles, Auxiliary Verbs and Objects with Potential Form

Aspectual particles 了, 着, and 过 never occur after a verb with a potential complement. subject predicate structure.
Auxiliary verbs of possibility (可能, 可以, etc.) can be used in an affirmative potential complement statement and do not change the meaning of the sentence. They do not occur in negative potential complement sentences.
Objects and occur before or after a potential form.