Expressing ability or possibility with "neng"

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A primer on using 能 to express ability or possibility.

Structure

The verb 能 is used to express either ability or possibility. The structure is:

Subject + 能 + Verb + Object

Examples

能 indicates ability when used with activities that are not consciously learnt or studied.

  • 吃 四十 个 饺子。I can eat 40 dumplings.
  • 听懂 东北话。I can understand Northeastern dialect.
  • 我 不 接受 这种 条件。I can't accept these conditions.
  • 星期天 十 点 你 来 吗?Can you come at 10 o'clock on Sunday?

Examples

When used with activities that are consciously learnt or studied, 能 generally means that circumstances do not allow execution of the action.

  • 上课 的 时候 不 说 英文。 (my teacher has forbidden me from speaking English)
  • 我 不 游泳。(the speaker is ill)
  • 买 这 个 玩具 吗?(the speaker is afraid his parents won't agree)

Other usages

From these examples we can see such circumstances might be obtaining someone's consent or the speaker's health. 会 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 can express possibility, it is often used to form polite questions, something like "would it be possible" in English:

  • 帮 我 吗?
  • 能 不 能 给 我 那 本书?
  • 问 你 一 个 问题 吗?

See also

Sources and further reading

Websites

Books