Difference between revisions of "Potential complements"

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Verbs can take [[potential complement]]s that indicate whether or not the action is actually possible. They are useful in Chinese to say if an action can take place.
 
Verbs can take [[potential complement]]s that indicate whether or not the action is actually possible. They are useful in Chinese to say if an action can take place.
  
== Structure ==
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结果补语和趋向补语和中心语之间一般都可以加结构助词"得(de)"构成可能补语。否定式是把"得(de)"换成"不(bu)"。
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== Positive Pattern ==
  
 
[[Potential complement]]s 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''.
 
[[Potential complement]]s 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''.
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
Verb + 得 / 不 + [Complement]
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Verb + 得 + [Complement]
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
Here the [[complement]] is the second part of the potential complement after 得 (positive) or 不 (negative).
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Here the [[complement]] is the second part of the potential complement after 得 (positive).
  
== Examples ==
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=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
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</div>
 
</div>
  
Note that the potential complement and [[degree complement]] can sometimes appear to be the same; the difference can usually be seen from context.
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== Positive Pattern ==
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 +
<div class="jiegou">
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 +
Verb + 不 + [Complement]
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 +
</div>
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Here the [[complement]] is the second part of the potential complement after 不 (negative).
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==

Revision as of 03:22, 5 April 2017

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.

结果补语和趋向补语和中心语之间一般都可以加结构助词"得(de)"构成可能补语。否定式是把"得(de)"换成"不(bu)"。

Positive Pattern

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 + [Complement]

Here the complement is the second part of the potential complement after 得 (positive).

Examples

  • 我 做 完。Wǒ zuò de wán.I can finish it all.
  • 我 做 完。Wǒ zuò bu wán.I can't do it all.
  • 我 听 懂。Wǒ tīng de dǒng.I can understand.
  • 我 听 懂。Wǒ tīng bu dǒng.I can't understand.
  • 我 买 起 那 套 房子 。Wǒ mǎi bu qǐ nà tào fángzi.I can't afford (to buy) that apartment.
  • 我 买 起 那 套 房子 。Wǒ mǎi de qǐ nà tào fángzi.I can afford (to buy) that apartment.
  • 我 吃 下。Wǒ chī de xià.I can eat more.
  • 我 吃 下 了。Wǒ chī bu xià le.I can't eat any more.

Positive Pattern

Verb + 不 + [Complement]

Here the complement is the second part of the potential complement after 不 (negative).

See also

Sources and and further reading

Books

Websites

Yale

HSK4