Difference between revisions of "Potential complement"

Revision as of 08:38, 26 November 2013

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

Potential complements are a type of complement 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, when they do occur, are usually answers to questions (or as rebuttals).

1 Formation of Potential Complements
- 1.1 Objects with potential complements
2 When to Use Potential Complements
- 2.1 Special Potential Complements
- 2.2 Use of Potential Complement or Auxiliary Verbs 可以 and 能
3 Potential Complements in Questions
4 Comparing Degree Complements and Potential Complements
5 Particles and Auxiliary Verbs with Potential Complements
6 See also
7 Sources and Further Reading
- 7.1 Books
- 7.2 Websites

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	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
	爬上来	爬得上来	爬不上来

Objects with potential complements

Objects in sentences with potential complements can occur either after the complement or at the beginning of a sentence

Objects occurring at the beginning of a sentence with a potential complement
Object	Subject	Complement Phrase
这个汉堡	我	吃得完
那个美女	他	看不见

Objects occurring at the end of a sentence with a potential complement
Subject	Complement Phrase	Object
我	吃得完	这个汉堡
他	看不见	那个美女

When to Use Potential Complements

The potential complement is roughly equivalent to saying something is able to be done in English. It is used when you want to express ability to achieve a result (as noted above, a result complement can be changed into a potential complement be inserting 得 or 不 between the verb and the complement) or ability to perform an action to a certain degree, similar to degree complements. Degree complements and potential complements often appear the same but are distinguished by the different contexts they appear in (see Contrasting Degree and Potential Complements section below).

Special Potential Complements

In addition to common result complements that can be turned into potential complements and adjectives that form either degree or potential complements there are several complements that have unique meanings as potential complements.

Special Potential Complements
Complement	Example Complement Phrase	Example Sentence	Explanation
动	走不动	我们累死了，走不动了。 (We are so tired, we can't (don't have the strength to) walk any more.)	The potential complement 动 indicates whether a person has the strength to be able to undertake an action whether that be moving them self (walking further) or an object.
动	抬得动	她力气很大，她抬得动这张沙发。(She is very strong, she can lift this sofa.)
下	坐得下	这间大房子，坐得下十个人。(This big room can seat ten people)	The potential complement 下 expresses the ability to fit in or on a given location.
下	放不下	那个包，放不下这些书。(That bag cannot fit these watermelons)
了	受不了	今天天气太热了，我受不了了。(Today it is too hot, I am unable to bear it)	The potential complement 了 expresses the ability do the verb. Note: 了 can also serve as an adjective complement which means ability to reach a degree
了	来得了	今天开会我来得了。(I am able to come to today's meeting)

Use of Potential Complement or Auxiliary Verbs 可以 and 能

In most cases simple potential complement phrase will have the same meaning as a verb phrase using auxiliary verbs 能 or 可以. For example, 他爬得上来 has the same meaning as 他能爬上来 and 他可以爬上来. Likewise 我能做完, 我可以做完 and 我做得完 all have the same meaning.

Potential Complements in Questions

You can form questions with sentences containing potential complements just as you would with any other sentence:

Some examples:

你做得完吗？Did you finish it?
你受不了吗？Weren't you able to handle it?

谁吃得完整只鸡？Who ate the entire chicken?
你觉得你考得上什么大学？What college do you think you tested into?

那间房子坐得下坐不下十个人？Will that apartment fit ten people in it?
明天的音乐会你来得了来不了？Are you able to come to tomorrow's concert?

Comparing Degree Complements and Potential Complements

Some sentences that contain adjective complements may be indistinguishable as degree or potential complements when they are taken out of context. For example 跑得快 or 说得清楚 could serve as either potential or degree complements. The following table explains different meanings that one complement phrase could have as either a degree or potential.

Examples of complement phrases that can serve as both degree and potential complements
Example	Degree Complement Translation	Potential Complement Translation
她说得清楚	"She speaks clearly."	"She is able to speak clearly."
他跑得快	"He runs fast."	"He is able to run fast."

Degree complements commonly are directly preceded by an adverb (他说得很清楚) distinguishing them from potential complements which are never directly preceded by an adverb.

Particles and Auxiliary Verbs with Potential Complements

Aspect particles 了, 着, and 过 never occur after a verb with a potential complement, they may however occur after a potential complement phrase (after the complement).
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.

Sources and Further Reading

Books

A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) (pp. 317 - 330) →buy
Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 99-104) →buy
Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 173-5) →buy
Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 229 - 233) →buy
Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 191-194) →buy
New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 118 - 119, 168 - 169) →buy
40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册） (pp. 326, 355)→buy

Websites

Centre for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, University of Oxford: Potential Verb Complement

Mandarin Essential Grammar, Center for Language Study, Yale University: The Potential Complement

About Chinese Language, XCN chinese Potential Complement (2)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{AKA|可能补语 (kěnéngbǔyǔ) | complements of potentiality |}}\r\nPotential complements are a type of [[complements|complement]] used to express the possibility of achieving an expected result in Mandarin. \r\nPotential forms most commonly occur in negative statements. Affirmative statements using the potential form are somewhat uncommon, and, when they do occur, are usually answers to questions (or as rebuttals).\r\n==Formation of Potential Complements==\r\nFor 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:\r\nV + 得/不 + complement\r\nPutting 得 or 不 between an action verb and a [[result complement]] or [[direction complement]] changes them to potential complements. \r\n<div class="liju">\r\n{| class="wikitable" style="width:40em"
+{{AKA|可能补语 (kěnéngbǔyǔ) | complements of potentiality |}}
+Potential complements are a type of [[complements|complement]] 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, when they do occur, are usually 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.
+<div class="liju">
+{| class="wikitable" style="width:40em"
 |+Resultative, Directional and Potential Complements
 |-
@@ Line 12: / Line 28: @@
 | || 爬上来 || 爬 <em>得</em> 上来 || 爬 <em>不</em> 上来
 |-
-|}\r\n</div>\r\n===Objects with potential complements===\r\nObjects in sentences with potential complements can occur either after the complement or at the beginning of a sentence\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n{| class="wikitable" style="width:45em"
+|}
+</div>
+===Objects with potential complements===
+Objects in sentences with potential complements can occur either after the complement or at the beginning of a sentence
+<div class="liju">
+{| class="wikitable" style="width:45em"
 |+Objects occurring at the beginning of a sentence with a potential complement
 |-
@@ Line 21: / Line 47: @@
 | <em>那个美女</em> || 他 || 看不见
 |-
-|}\r\n</div>\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n{| class="wikitable" style="width:40em"
+|}
+</div>
+<div class="liju">
+{| class="wikitable" style="width:40em"
 |+Objects occurring at the end of a sentence with a potential complement
 |-
@@ Line 30: / Line 62: @@
 | 他 || 看不见 || <em>那个美女</em>
 |-
-|}\r\n</div>\r\n==When to Use Potential Complements==\r\nThe potential complement is roughly equivalent to saying something is able to be done in English. It is used when you want to express ability to achieve a result (as noted above, a [[result complement]] can be changed into a potential complement be inserting 得 or 不 between the verb and the complement) or ability to perform an action to a certain degree, similar to degree complements. Degree complements and potential complements often appear the same but are distinguished by the different contexts they appear in (see Contrasting Degree and Potential Complements section below). \r\n===Special Potential Complements===\r\nIn addition to common [[result complement]]s that can be turned into potential complements and adjectives that form either degree or potential complements there are several complements that have unique meanings as potential complements.\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n{| class="wikitable" style="width:64em"
+|}
+</div>
+==When to Use Potential Complements==
+The potential complement is roughly equivalent to saying something is able to be done in English. It is used when you want to express ability to achieve a result (as noted above, a [[result complement]] can be changed into a potential complement be inserting 得 or 不 between the verb and the complement) or ability to perform an action to a certain degree, similar to degree complements. Degree complements and potential complements often appear the same but are distinguished by the different contexts they appear in (see Contrasting Degree and Potential Complements section below).
+===Special Potential Complements===
+In addition to common [[result complement]]s that can be turned into potential complements and adjectives that form either degree or potential complements there are several complements that have unique meanings as potential complements.
+<div class="liju">
+{| class="wikitable" style="width:64em"
 |+Special Potential Complements
 |-
@@ Line 51: / Line 97: @@
 |-
 | 来得了 || 今天开会我<em>来得了</em>。<span style="font-size:0.7em;"><span class="spaced">(I am able to come to today's meeting)</span></span>
-|}\r\n</div>\r\n=== Use of Potential Complement or Auxiliary Verbs 可以 and 能===\r\nIn most cases simple potential complement phrase will have the same meaning as a verb phrase using auxiliary verbs 能 or 可以. For example, 他爬得上来 has the same meaning as 他能爬上来 and 他可以爬上来. Likewise 我能做完, 我可以做完 and 我做得完 all have the same meaning.\r\n==Potential Complements in Questions==\r\nYou can form questions with sentences containing potential complements just as you would with any other sentence:\r\n* With a [[Interrogative Sentences#Question particles|question particle]]
+|}
+</div>
+=== Use of Potential Complement or Auxiliary Verbs 可以 and 能===
+In most cases simple potential complement phrase will have the same meaning as a verb phrase using auxiliary verbs 能 or 可以. For example, 他爬得上来 has the same meaning as 他能爬上来 and 他可以爬上来. Likewise 我能做完, 我可以做完 and 我做得完 all have the same meaning.
+==Potential Complements in Questions==
+You can form questions with sentences containing potential complements just as you would with any other sentence:
+* With a [[Interrogative Sentences#Question particles|question particle]]
 * With a [[Word order#Using question words in a Chinese sentence|question word]]
-* With [[Interrogative Sentences#Positive-negative questions|Positive-negative inversion]]\r\nSome examples:
+* With [[Interrogative Sentences#Positive-negative questions|Positive-negative inversion]]
-<div class="liju">\r\n* 你 做得 完 吗 ？<span class="trans">Did you finish it?</span>
-* 你 受不 了 吗 ？<span class="trans">Weren't you able to handle it?</span>\r\n* 谁 吃得 完 整只 鸡 ？<span class="trans">Who ate the entire chicken?</span>
+Some examples:
-* 你 觉得 你 考得 上 什么 大学？<span class="trans">What college do you think you tested into?</span>\r\n* 那间 房子 坐得 下 坐不 下 十个人？<span class="trans">Will that apartment fit ten people in it?</span>
+<div class="liju">
-* 明天的音乐会 你 来得 了 来不 了？<span class="trans">Are you able to come to tomorrow's concert?</span>\r\n</div>\r\n==Comparing Degree Complements and Potential Complements==\r\nSome sentences that contain adjective complements may be indistinguishable as degree or potential complements when they are taken out of context. For example 跑得快 or 说得清楚 could serve as either potential or [[degree complement]]s. The following table explains different meanings that one complement phrase could have as either a degree or potential.\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n{| class="wikitable" style="width:40em"
+* 你 做得 完 吗 ？<span class="trans">Did you finish it?</span>
+* 你 受不 了 吗 ？<span class="trans">Weren't you able to handle it?</span>
+* 谁 吃得 完 整只 鸡 ？<span class="trans">Who ate the entire chicken?</span>
+* 你 觉得 你 考得 上 什么 大学？<span class="trans">What college do you think you tested into?</span>
+* 那间 房子 坐得 下 坐不 下 十个人？<span class="trans">Will that apartment fit ten people in it?</span>
+* 明天的音乐会 你 来得 了 来不 了？<span class="trans">Are you able to come to tomorrow's concert?</span>
+</div>
+==Comparing Degree Complements and Potential Complements==
+Some sentences that contain adjective complements may be indistinguishable as degree or potential complements when they are taken out of context. For example 跑得快 or 说得清楚 could serve as either potential or [[degree complement]]s. The following table explains different meanings that one complement phrase could have as either a degree or potential.
+<div class="liju">
+{| class="wikitable" style="width:40em"
 |+Examples of complement phrases that can serve as both degree and potential complements
 |-
@@ Line 66: / Line 142: @@
 | 他跑得快|| <span style="font-size:0.7em;"> <span class="spaced"> "He runs fast." </span></span> ||  <span style="font-size:0.7em;"> <span class="spaced"> "He is able to run fast." </span></span>
 |-
-|}\r\n</div>\r\n
+|}
-Degree complements commonly are directly preceded by an adverb (他说得很清楚) distinguishing them from potential complements which are never directly preceded by an adverb.\r\n==Particles and Auxiliary Verbs with Potential Complements==\r\n* [[Aspect particles]] 了, 着, and 过 never occur after a verb with a potential complement, they may however occur after a potential complement phrase (after the complement).
-* [[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.\r\n==See also==
+</div>
+Degree complements commonly are directly preceded by an adverb (他说得很清楚) distinguishing them from potential complements which are never directly preceded by an adverb.
+==Particles and Auxiliary Verbs with Potential Complements==
+* [[Aspect particles]] 了, 着, and 过 never occur after a verb with a potential complement, they may however occur after a potential complement phrase (after the complement).
+* [[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.
+==See also==
 * [[Result complement]]
 * [[State complement]]
-* [[Direction complement]]\r\n==Sources and Further Reading==\r\n===Books===\r\n* [[A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法)]] (pp. 317 - 330) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA →buy]
+* [[Direction complement]]
+==Sources and Further Reading==
+===Books===
+* [[A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法)]] (pp. 317 - 330) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA →buy]
 * [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 99-104) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
 * [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 173-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
@@ Line 77: / Line 169: @@
 * [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 191-194) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=sinosplice-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]
 * [[New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)]] (pp. 118 - 119, 168 - 169) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X →buy]
-*[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册）]] (pp. 326, 355)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20 →buy]\r\n===Websites===
+*[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册）]] (pp. 326, 355)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20 →buy]
-* Centre for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, University of Oxford: [http://www.ctcfl.ox.ac.uk/Grammar%20exercises/PVC.htm Potential Verb Complement]\r\n* Mandarin Essential Grammar, Center for Language Study, Yale University: [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/mandarin/content/potential/grammar/potential.htm The Potential Complement]\r\n* About Chinese Language, XCN chinese [http://www.xcn-chinese.com/app/showarticle.asp?id=1920 Potential Complement (2)]\r\n[[Category:Complements]]
+===Websites===
+* Centre for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, University of Oxford: [http://www.ctcfl.ox.ac.uk/Grammar%20exercises/PVC.htm Potential Verb Complement]
+* Mandarin Essential Grammar, Center for Language Study, Yale University: [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/mandarin/content/potential/grammar/potential.htm The Potential Complement]
+* About Chinese Language, XCN chinese [http://www.xcn-chinese.com/app/showarticle.asp?id=1920 Potential Complement (2)]
+[[Category:Complements]]