Difference between revisions of "Expressing a learned skill with "hui""

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Note that if we say 我不[[Expressing ability or possibility|能]]说德语 the speaker is saying that he can't speak German for some reason other than his own ability, perhaps because speaking German in Chinese class is forbidden.  
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Note that if we say 我不能说德语 the speaker is saying that he can't speak German [[Expressing ability or possibility|for some reason other than his own ability]], perhaps because speaking German in Chinese class is forbidden.  
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==

Revision as of 03:47, 24 November 2011

The verb 会 can be used to express ability that has been learned, i.e. a skill. In this case 会 is an auxiliary verb.

Structure

The basic structure for 会 is:

Subject + 会 + Verb + Object

This structure is the easiest way to express all kinds of skills, from languages, to sports to skills in daily life such as cooking and driving.

Some examples:

  • 说 中文。
  • 开车。
  • 做 好吃的 菜。
  • 踢 足球。

Negating 会 sentences

会 sentences are negated with 不, which is inserted in front of 会:

Subject + 不 + 会 + Verb + Object

Again, this is the simplest way to express the lack of a learned ability. Some examples:

  • 做饭。
  • 我们 说 德语。
  • 拉 小提琴。

Note that if we say 我不能说德语 the speaker is saying that he can't speak German for some reason other than his own ability, perhaps because speaking German in Chinese class is forbidden.

See also