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<div id="t-specialpages"> </div> [Special pages](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special:SpecialPages) - <div id="t-print"> </div> [Printable version](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/gramwiki/?title=Potential_complement&printable=yes) - <div id="t-permalink"> </div> [Permanent link](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/gramwiki/?title=Potential_complement&oldid=42034) - <div id="t-info"> </div> [Page information](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/gramwiki/?title=Potential_complement&action=info) <div id="gg-mid" class="gg"> [](http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1286538933) </div> </div> <div class="span10"> <div id="innerbodycontent" class="row nolayout"> <div class="offset1 span10"> <div id="sm-cog-elements" class="noprint"> </div> <div class="allset-page-heading"> [](# "wikilink") <div id="settings-menu" class="dropdown dropdown-anchor-right noprint"> - === Sample Sentence Options === - Spaces - Hide spaces between Chinese words - Pinyin - Hide pinyin - Translations - Hide translations </div> Potential complement ==================== </div> <div id="contentSub"> </div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-content-ltr" dir="ltr" lang="en"> <div id="ibox" class="toc"> <div class="ibox-link"> <span class="plainlinks">[](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/ASGCPJPQ)</span> </div> - <div class="ibox-label"> Level </div> <div class="ibox-info"> [B1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points) </div> - <div class="ibox-label"> Similar to </div> <div class="ibox-info"> - [Potential complement "-bu dong" for not understanding](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Potential_complement_%22-bu_dong%22_for_not_understanding) (A2) - [Direction complement](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Direction_complement) (B1) - [Advanced potential complements](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Advanced_potential_complements) (B2) - [Advanced result complements](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Advanced_result_complements) (B2) - [Using "zhao" as complement](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Using_%22zhao%22_as_complement) (B2) </div> - <div class="ibox-label"> Used for </div> <div class="ibox-info"> [Describing actions](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Describing_actions) </div> - <div class="ibox-label"> Keywords </div> <div class="ibox-info"> [得](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%BE%97), [不](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E4%B8%8D) </div> <div class="ibox-image"> [{width="300" height="300"}](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/File:Chinese-grammar-wiki-de-2.jpg) </div> </div> 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. <div id="toc" class="toc"> <div id="toctitle"> Contents -------- <span class="toctoggle"> [hide]([# "wikilink")\] </span> </div> - [<span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">Affirmative Form</span>](#Affirmative_Form "wikilink") - [<span class="tocnumber">1.1</span> <span class="toctext">Structure</span>](#Structure "wikilink") - [<span class="tocnumber">1.2</span> <span class="toctext">Examples</span>](#Examples "wikilink") - [<span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Negative Form</span>](#Negative_Form "wikilink") - [<span class="tocnumber">2.1</span> <span class="toctext">Structure</span>](#Structure_2 "wikilink") - [<span class="tocnumber">2.2</span> <span class="toctext">Examples</span>](#Examples_2 "wikilink") - [<span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">Potential Complement with Objects</span>](#Potential_Complement_with_Objects "wikilink") - [<span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">Advanced Potential Complements</span>](#Advanced_Potential_Complements "wikilink") - [<span class="tocnumber">5</span> <span class="toctext">See also</span>](#See_also "wikilink") - [<span class="tocnumber">6</span> <span class="toctext">Sources and and further reading</span>](#Sources_and_and_further_reading "wikilink") - [<span class="tocnumber">6.1</span> <span class="toctext">Books</span>](#Books "wikilink") - [<span class="tocnumber">6.2</span> <span class="toctext">Websites</span>](#Websites "wikilink") - [<span class="tocnumber">6.2.1</span> <span class="toctext">Yale</span>](#Yale "wikilink") </div> <span id="Affirmative_Form" class="mw-headline">Affirmative Form</span> ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Structurally, potential complements are closely related to both [result complements](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Result_complement) and [direction complements](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Direction_complement), so it helps to be familiar with those first. The most important and commonly used potential complements are derived from other complements such as the following: - Verb + [见](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E8%A7%81) e.g. 看见, 听见 (result complements) - Verb + [懂](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E6%87%82) e.g. 看懂, 听懂 (result complements) - Verb + [完](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%AE%8C) e.g. 吃完, 做完, 用完, 花完 (result complements) - Verb + [Adj.](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Adjective) e.g. 看清楚, 听明白, 洗干净 (result complements) - Verb + [到](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%88%B0) e.g. 找到, 买到, 收到 (result complements) - Verb + Direction e.g. 上来, 下去, 进去, 起来, 走过去, 爬上去 (direction complements) 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*. ### <span id="Structure" class="mw-headline">Structure</span> <div class="jiegou"> Subj. + Verb + 得 + Complement </div> ### <span id="Examples" class="mw-headline">Examples</span> <div class="liju"> - 你 没 戴 眼镜 ,看 *得* **清楚** 吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ méi dài yǎnjìng, kàn *de* **qīngchu** ma?</span><span class="trans">You didn't wear glasses. Can you see things clearly?</span> - 他 这么 粗心 ,做 *得* **好** 吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Tā zhème cūxīn, zuò *de* **hǎo** ma?</span><span class="trans">He'a so careless. Can he do it well?</span> - 你 这么 聪明 ,肯定 学 *得* **会** 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhème cōngming, kěndìng xué *de* **huì**.</span><span class="trans">You're so smart. You can definitely learn this.</span> - 早上 五点 出发 ,孩子们 起 *得* **来** 吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Zǎoshang wǔdiǎn chūfā, háizi men qǐ *de* **lái** ma?</span> <span class="trans">We're leaving at five a.m.. Will the kids be able to get up?</span> - 这么 高 的 山 ,你 爬 *得* **上去** 吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Zhème gāo de shān, nǐ pá *de* **shàngqù** ma? </span><span class="trans">The mountain is so high. Can you make it to the top?</span> </div> <span id="Negative_Form" class="mw-headline">Negative Form</span> ----------------------------------------------------------------- ### <span id="Structure_2" class="mw-headline">Structure</span> <div class="jiegou"> Subj. + Verb + 不 + Complement </div> ### <span id="Examples_2" class="mw-headline">Examples</span> <div class="liju"> - 你 的 声音 太 小 了 ,我们 听 *不* **见** 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de shēngyīn tài xiǎo le, wǒmen tīng *bu* **jiàn**.</span><span class="trans">Your voice is too soft. We can't hear you.</span> - 这里 太 暗 了 ,我 看 *不* **清楚** 。<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ tài àn le, wǒ kàn *bu* **qīngchu**.</span><span class="trans">It's too dim here. I can't see clearly.</span> - 这个 自行车 太 破 了 ,谁 都 修 *不* **好** 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège zìxíngchē tài pò le, shéi dōu xiū *bu* **hǎo** .</span><span class="trans">This bike is so broken. Nobody can fix it.</span> - 她 的 腿 受伤 了 ,站 *不* **起来** 了 。<span class="pinyin">Tā de tuǐ shòushāng le, zhàn *bu* **qǐlái** le.</span><span class="trans">Her leg is injured. She can't stand.</span> - 包 太 小 了 ,手机 放 *不* **进去** 。<span class="pinyin">Bāo tài xiǎo le, shǒujī fàng *bu* **jìnqù**.</span><span class="trans">The bag is too small. I can't fit the cell phone in it.</span> </div> <span id="Potential_Complement_with_Objects" class="mw-headline">Potential Complement with Objects</span> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Objects in sentences with potential complements can occur either after the complement or at the beginning of a sentence. A few examples: <div class="liju"> - 你 听 *得* **懂** 上海话 吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ tīng *de* **dǒng** Shànghǎi-huà ma?</span><span class="trans">Can you understand Shanghai dialect?</span> - 她 这么 小 ,看 *得* **懂** 这 本 书 吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Tā zhème xiǎo, kàn *de* **dǒng** zhè běn shū ma?</span><span class="trans">She's so young. Can she really understand this book?</span> - 我怕 我 做 *不* **好** 这份 工作 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ pà wǒ zuò *bu* **hǎo** zhè fèn gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans">I'm afraid that I can't do this job well.</span> - 这 种 手机 现在 买 *不* **到** 了 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè zhǒng shǒujī xiànzài mǎi *bu* **dào** le.</span><span class="trans">You can't buy this type of cell phone now.</span> - 这本书 我 一个星期 肯定 看 *得* **完** 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè běn shū wǒ yī gè xīngiqī kěndìng kàn *de* **wán**.</span><span class="trans">I can definitely finish reading this book within one week.</span> </div> <span id="Advanced_Potential_Complements" class="mw-headline">Advanced Potential Complements</span> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There are actually quite a few potential complements out there, and this article touches on some of the simplest and most common ones. Be aware that there are many more, but they all follow the same basic pattern outlined here. You can also see our article on [advanced potential complements](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Advanced_potential_complements). <span id="See_also" class="mw-headline">See also</span> ------------------------------------------------------- - [Result complements](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Result_complements) - [Advanced potential complements](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Advanced_potential_complements) <span id="Sources_and_and_further_reading" class="mw-headline">Sources and and further reading</span> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### <span id="Books" class="mw-headline">Books</span> - [Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Basic_Patterns_of_Chinese_Grammar) (pp. 71) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2ykU1OD) - [Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Modern_Mandarin_Chinese_Grammar:_A_Practical_Guide) (pp. 191) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2xCpX2m) - [Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Boya_Chinese_Elementary_Starter_1_(%E5%8D%9A%E9%9B%85%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%88%9D%E7%BB%8F%E8%B5%B7%E6%AD%A5%E7%AF%87)) (pp. 197) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2hbyxKi) - [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_2) (pp. 291) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2femBuy) - [Practicing HSK Grammar (语法精讲精炼)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Practicing_HSK_Grammar_(%E8%AF%AD%E6%B3%95%E7%B2%BE%E8%AE%B2%E7%B2%BE%E7%82%BC)) (pp. 125) [→buy](http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001N6R7DI&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001N6R7DI) - [Contemporary Chinese 2 (当代中文2)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Contemporary_Chinese_2_(%E5%BD%93%E4%BB%A3%E4%B8%AD%E6%96%872)) (pp. 63) [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7800529029/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7800529029) - [New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_3_(%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%BE%E6%9C%AC3)) (pp. 99) [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X) ### <span id="Websites" class="mw-headline">Websites</span> #### <span id="Yale" class="mw-headline">Yale</span> - [The Potential Complement](http://comet.cls.yale.edu/mandarin/content/potential/grammar/potential.htm) - [Potential Complement And Degree Complement In Contrast](http://comet.cls.yale.edu/mandarin/content/degree/grammar/Degree-6.htm) <div style="display:none;"> </div> \ <div style="display:none;"> </div> <div style="display:none;"> </div> <div style="display:none;"> </div> </div> <div id="catlinks" class="catlinks"> <div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"> [Categories](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special:Categories): - [B1 grammar points](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Category:B1_grammar_points) - [Potential complement](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Category:Potential_complement) </div> </div> <div id="gg-bot" class="gg"> [](http://amzn.to/2iioVRP) </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="printfooter"> Retrieved from "<https://resources.allsetlearning.com/gramwiki/?title=Potential_complement&oldid=42034%22> </div> <div class="visualClear"> </div> </div> </div> <div id="footer" class="footer container custom-footer"> <div class="row-fluid"> <div class="span2"> </div> <div class="span10"> 不允许任何以商业为目的或不注明归属 Chinese Grammar Wiki ©2011-2018 AllSet Learning 的内容引用。关于合法使用此内容的更多信息,请参阅我们的[知识共享权限条款(Creative Commons license)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki:Copyrights)。 All content on the Chinese Grammar Wiki ©2011-2018 AllSet Learning, and may not be used for commercial purposes or without attribution. 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