Potential complement
- Also known as: 可能补语 (kěnéngbǔyǔ) and complements of potentiality .
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 Complement | Directional Complement | Aff. Potential Complement | Neg. 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 |
Objects with potential complements
Objects in sentences with potential complements can occur either after the complement or at the beginning of a sentence
| Object | Subject | Complement Phrase |
|---|---|---|
| 这个汉堡 | 我 | 吃得完 |
| 办公室 | 他 | 走下去 |
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.
