Potential complement
Revision as of 09:33, 1 August 2011 by Lucas.simons (talk | contribs)
- Also known as: 可能补语 (kěnéngbǔyǔ) and complements of potentiality .
Potential complements are used to express the possibility to achieve a 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.
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 resultative or directional complement changes it to a potential complement.
| Resultative Complement | Directional Complement | Potential Complement |
|---|---|---|
| 做完 | 做得完 | |
| 听懂 | 听不懂 | |
| 去下 | 去得下 | |
| 起来 | 起不床 |
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.
