Difference between revisions of "Potential complements"

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Here ''[complement]'' is the second part of the potential complement after 得 (positive) or 不 (negative). So if the verb can be ''adjective'', 得 is used. If the verb can not be ''adjective'', 不 is used.
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Here ''[complement]'' is the second part of the potential complement after 得 (positive) or 不 (negative).
  
 
== Examples ==
 
== Examples ==

Revision as of 07:54, 23 July 2013

Verbs can take potential complements that indicate whether or not the action is actually possible. They are useful in Chinese to say if an action can take place.

Structure

Potential complements can be positive or negative. What this means is fairly intuitive - potential complements can be used to express that something can happen or that it can't.

Verb + 得 / 不 + [complement]

Here [complement] is the second part of the potential complement after 得 (positive) or 不 (negative).

Examples

  • 汉字 他 写 好。He writes Chinese characters well.
  • 汉字 我 写 好。I don't write Chinese characters well.
  • 中文 你 说 很 好听。You speak Chinese very well.


Note that the potential complement and degree complement can often appear to be the same; the difference can usually be seen from context.

See also

Sources and and further reading

Books

Websites

Yale

HSK4