Difference between revisions of "Potential complement"

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{{AKA|可能补语 (kěnéngbǔyǔ) | complements of potentiality |}}
 
{{AKA|可能补语 (kěnéngbǔyǔ) | complements of potentiality |}}
  
Potential complements are used to express the possibility to achieve a result in Mandarin.  
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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 uncommon, usually they occur as answers to questions.
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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==
 
==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:
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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
 
V + 得/不 + complement
  
Putting 得 or 不 between an action verb and a resultative or directional complement changes it to a potential complement.  
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Putting 得 or 不 between an action verb and a [[result complement]] or [[direction complement]] changes them to potential complements.  
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
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{| class="wikitable" style="width:32em"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="width:32em"
 
|+Resultative, Directional and Potential Complements
 
|+Resultative, Directional and Potential Complements
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! Resultative Complement !! Directional Complement !! Potential Complement
 
! Resultative Complement !! Directional Complement !! Potential Complement
 
|-
 
|-
| 做完 || || 做得完
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| 做 完 || || 做 <em>得</em> 完
 
|-
 
|-
| 听懂 || || 听不懂  
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| 听 懂 || || 听 <em>不</em> 懂  
 
|-
 
|-
| || 去下 || 去得下
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| || 起 来 || 起 <em>得</em> 来
 
|-
 
|-
| || 起来 || 起不床
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| || 走 下去 || 走 <em>不</em> 下去
 
|-
 
|-
 +
 
|}
 
|}
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</div>
 
</div>
  
 
==Particles, Auxiliary Verbs and Objects with Potential Form==
 
==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.
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* 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.
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* Aspectual particles 了, 着, and 过 never occur after a verb with a potential complement. subject predicate structure.
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* 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.  
 
* Objects and occur before or after a potential form.  
 
 
 
  
 
[[Category:Complements]]
 
[[Category:Complements]]

Revision as of 14:09, 1 August 2011

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, Directional and Potential Complements
Resultative Complement Directional Complement Potential Complement
做 完
听 懂
起 来
走 下去 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.