ChineseGrammarWiki/Programmes/B2.old/Grammar-wiki-B2-92.txt

{{Grammar Box}} 

You may have a handle on the typical [[potential complement]]s, but there are a few other fairly common ones that you still need to master. Each is addressed separately here.

== Verbs with -不了 and -得了 ==

=== Structure ===

This pattern is used to talk about whether or not you are able to do something. It is subtly different from using 不能 because -不了 usually suggests some external factor out of one's control. 

<div class="jiegou">
Verb + 得 / 不 + 了
</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">

*他 那么 老 ，走 <em>得</em> 了 那么 多 路 吗 ？<span class="trans">He's so old. Will he be able to walk that far?</span>
*今晚 我 有 事 ，去 <em>不</em> 了 。<span class="trans">I have things to do tonight. I won't be able to go.</span>
*这 件 衣服 太 小 了 ， 我 穿 <em>不</em> 了 。<span class="trans">This piece of clothing is too small. I won't be able to wear it.</span>
*这 件 事情 只 有 你 帮 <em>得</em> 了 我 。<span class="trans">You're the only one who is able to help me with this.</span>
*他 没 什么 经验 ，处理 <em>不</em> 了 这样 的 问题 。<span class="trans">He doesn't have much experience. He is not able  deal with this kind of problem.</span>

</div>

== Verbs with -不下 and -得下 ==

=== Structure ===

This is used to talk about whether or not something will fit or go somewhere. 常见的动词：放、坐、住、装、吃。

<div class="jiegou">

Verb + 得 / 不 + 下

</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">

*你 包 里 放 <em>得 下 </em> 那么 多 东西 吗 ？<span class="trans">Can your bag hold that many things?</span>
*我 的 车 太 小 ，坐 <em>不 下</em> 五 个 人 。 <span class="trans">My car is too small. Five people will not fit in it.</span>
*我 的 箱子 这么 大 ，肯定 装 <em>得 下</em> 这些 衣服 。<span class="trans">I'm sure my suitcase is big enough for these clothes.</span>
*你 家 住 <em>得 下 </em> 这么 多 人 吗 ？<span class="trans">Is there enough room in your house to accommodate that many people?</span>
*我 吃 饱 了 ，真的 吃 <em>不 下</em> 了 。<span class="trans">I'm full. I don't feel like eating more.</span>

</div>

== Verbs with -不起 and -得起 == 

=== Structure ===

<div class="jiegou">

Verb + 得 / 不 + 起 + Obj. 

</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">

*那 件 衣服 是 你 两 个 月 的 工资 ，买 <em>得 起</em> 吗？<span class="trans">That piece of clothing is worth two months of your salary. Can you afford to buy it?</span>
*这 家 餐厅 太 贵 了 ，我们 吃 <em>不 起</em> 。<span class="trans">This restaurant is too expensive. We can't afford to eat here.</span>
*这些 化妆品 很 贵 ，我 用 <em>不 起</em> 。<span class="trans">This makeup is very expensive. I can't afford it.</span>
*这里 房子 的 租金 最少 也 要 一 万 块 ，你 租 <em>得 起</em> 吗 ？<span class="trans">This apartment's rent is at least 10,000 RMB. Can you afford to rent it?</span>
*很 多 人 不 生 二胎 不是 因为 不 想 要 ，是 因为 成本 太 高 ，养 <em>不 起</em> 。<span class="trans">Many people don't get pregnant twice not because they don't want to. It's because the cost is too high, they can't afford to raise more kids.</span>

</div>

== Verbs with -不动 and -得动 ==

=== Structure ===

The potential complement -不动 is used to express lack of physical ability to do something. This can be used not only with actions like walking, running or climbing, but even actions like eating and chewing.

<div class="jiegou">

Verb + 得 / 不 + 动

</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">

*我 走 <em>不 动</em> 了，我们 休息 一下 吧 ！<span class="trans">I can't keep going. I need to rest a bit.</span>
*等等 我，我 跑 <em>不 动</em> 了！<span class="trans">Wait for me. I can't keep running.</span>
*你 才 一百 斤 ，我 背 <em>得 动</em> 你 。<span class="trans">You are only 50 kilograms. I can carry you.</span>
*孩子 真的 长大 了，妈妈 都 抱 <em>不 动</em> 了 。<span class="trans">The child is all grown up. His mother can't hold him anymore.</span>
*这么 重 ，他 一个人 搬 <em>得 动</em> 吗 ？<span class="trans">It's so heavy. Can he move it by himself?</span>

</div>

== See also ==

[[Category:B2 grammar points]]
[[Category:Complements]]
{{Basic Grammar|不了|B2|Verb + 得 / 不 + 了|今晚 我 有事 ，去 <em>不 了</em> 。|grammar point|ASG516F9}}
{{Rel char|了}}
{{Similar|"-wan" result complement}}
{{Similar|Result complement "-qilai"}}
{{Used for|Expressing possibility}}
{{Used for|Describing actions}}
{{Structure|Complements}}