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可能补语

Potential complement: can/cannot achieve a result

HSK 3HSK 3.0 · 3

V + 得 + C (can) | V + 不 + C (cannot)

Insert 得 or 不 between a verb and its result/direction complement to say whether the result can be achieved: 看得见 'can see', 听不懂 'can't understand', 吃不完 'can't finish eating'. The negative V不C is far more common than the positive. It differs from 不能: 我听不懂 means I try but can't understand, while 不能 usually means not allowed or not possible due to circumstances. Potential complements are not used in 把/被 sentences. Questions: 看得见吗？ or 看得见看不见？

HSK 3–5 listening (听不清楚, 买不到) and reading; HSK 4 sentence ordering.

Examples

  • 黑板上的字你看得见吗？

    Can you see the words on the board?

  • 这么多菜，我们两个人吃不完。

    So many dishes — the two of us can't finish them.

  • 他说得太快，我听不懂。

    He speaks too fast; I can't understand.

  • 门太小了，桌子搬不进去。

    The door's too small; the table won't go in.

  • 今天的作业我一个小时做得完。

    I can finish today's homework in an hour.

Exercises

  1. 1.菜太多了，我吃 。

  2. 2.声音太小，我听 你说什么。

  3. 3.Choose the correct sentence:

  4. 4.——这个箱子你一个人搬得动吗？—— 。

More grammar points