Difference between revisions of "Expressing ability or possibility with "neng""

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== Expressing Possibility ==
 
== Expressing Possibility ==
  
When used with activities that are consciously learned or studied, 能 (néng) generally means that circumstances do not allow execution of the action.  In other words, it's ''not possible.'' Sometimes this is a bit of an exaggeration and actually just means it's "not allowed."
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When used with activities that are consciously learned or studied, 能 (néng) generally means that circumstances do not allow execution of the action.  In other words, it's ''not possible.''
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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* 这里 不 <em>能</em> 游泳。<span class="expl">(it's not allowed, or not possible for other reasons)</span><span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ bù <em>néng</em> yóuyǒng.</span><span class="trans">You can't swim here.</span>
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* 一 千 块 <em>能</em> 买 一 个 手机 吗?<span class="pinyin">Yīqiān kuài <em>néng</em> mǎi yīgè shǒujī ma?</span><span class="trans">Can one thousand kuai buy a cellphone?/Can I buy a cellphone with one thousand kuai?</span>
* 办公室 里 不 <em>能</em> 抽烟。<span class="pinyin"> Bàngōngshì lǐ bù <em>néng</em> chōuyān.</span><span class="trans">In the office, you can't smoke.</span>
 
* 你 不 <em>能</em> 在 这里 停车。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ bù <em>néng</em> zài zhèlǐ tíngchē.</span><span class="trans">You can't park the car here.</span>
 
* 上课 的 时候 不 <em>能</em> 说 英文。<span class="expl"> (my teacher has forbidden me from speaking English.)</span><span class="pinyin">Shàngkè de shíhou bù <em>néng</em> shuō Yīngwén.</span><span class="trans">In class, you can't speak English.</span>
 
* 开会 的 时候 不 <em>能</em> 玩 手机。<span class="pinyin"> Kāihuì de shíhou bù <em>néng</em> wán shǒujī.</span><span class="trans">During the meeting, you can't play with cellphone.</span>
 
  
 
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Revision as of 08:31, 18 September 2015

能 (néng) is another Chinese word that is often translated as "can." However, it has a slightly different meaning than the others. 能 (néng) is used to express ability or possibility of doing something. This article will further explain its use.

Expressing Ability

能 (néng) indicates ability when used with activities that are not consciously learned or studied.

Structure

The structure to use 能 (néng) to express "ability" is:

Subj. + 能 + Verb + Obj.

Examples

  • 吃 四 十 个 饺子。néng chī sìshí gè jiǎozi.I can eat 40 dumplings.
  • 工作 24 个 小时。néng gōngzuò èrshísì gè xiǎoshí.He can work 24 hours.
  • 帮 我 找到 他 吗? néng bāng wǒ zhǎo dào tā ma?Can you help me find him?
  • 你 的 手机 上网 吗?Nǐ de shǒujī néng shàngwǎng ma?Can your cellphone go on the internet?
  • 一 岁 的 宝宝 说话 吗?Yī suì de bǎobǎo néng shuōhuà ma?Can a one year old baby talk?

Expressing Possibility

When used with activities that are consciously learned or studied, 能 (néng) generally means that circumstances do not allow execution of the action. In other words, it's not possible.

Structure

The structure to use 能 (néng) to express possibility is exactly the same:

Subj. + 能 + Verb + Obj.

Examples

  • 一 千 块 买 一 个 手机 吗?Yīqiān kuài néng mǎi yīgè shǒujī ma?Can one thousand kuai buy a cellphone?/Can I buy a cellphone with one thousand kuai?

Other usages

From these examples we can see such circumstances might be pertaining to getting someone's consent or reliant on the speaker's health. 会 (huì) can be used instead if the speaker wishes to express that they are able to execute an action requiring a consciously studied skill.

Because 能 (néng) can express possibility, it is often used to form polite questions, something like "would it be possible" in English:

Examples

  • 给 我 一杯 水 吗?néng gěi wǒ yī bēi shuǐ ma?Could you give me a glass of water?
  • 你们 小 声 一点 吗?Nǐmen néng xiǎo shēng yīdiǎn ma?Could you lower your voice down?
  • 问 你 一 个 问题 吗?néng wèn nǐ yīgè wèntí ma?Could I ask you a question?
  • 坐 在 这里 吗?néng zuò zài zhèlǐ ma?Could I sit here?
  • 能不能 告诉 我 她 的 手机号码? néngbùnéng gàosù wǒ tā de shǒujī hàomǎ?Could I tell me her cellphone number?

See also

Sources and further reading

Websites

Books