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Chinese · Verb Complements

Potential Complements

A potential complement says whether a result can or cannot happen. Put 得 or 不 between the verb and its result or direction complement:

  • 看得清楚 (can see clearly) / 看不清楚 (can't see clearly)
  • 吃得完 (can finish eating) / 吃不完 (can't finish eating)
  • 听得懂 / 听不懂, 拿得动 / 拿不动, 爬得上去 / 爬不上去

Some common fixed forms: 来得及 / 来不及 (there is / isn't enough time), 睡不着 (can't fall asleep), 拿不了 (can't manage to carry).

Use it when circumstances make a result possible or impossible: 字太小了，我看不清楚 (the characters are too small, I can't read them). The negative form is much more common than the positive. This 得 is the same character as in 跑得很快.

Examples

  • 这么多作业，我今天做不完。
  • 你看得懂中文报纸吗？
  • 我太累了，走不动了。
  • 声音太小，我听不清楚。
  • 现在出发还来得及。

Try it yourself

黑板上的字太小了，我看清楚。Show answer
黑板上的字太小了，我看不清楚。
别担心，这些菜我们吃完。Show answer
别担心，这些菜我们吃得完。
你说慢一点，我就听懂了。Show answer
你说慢一点，我就听得懂了。
山太高了，我爬上去。Show answer
山太高了，我爬不上去。
这个箱子不重，我拿动。Show answer
这个箱子不重，我拿得动。
他说得太快了，我听懂。Show answer
他说得太快了，我听不懂。
作业不多，今天晚上写完。Show answer
作业不多，今天晚上写得完。
外面太吵了，我睡着。Show answer
外面太吵了，我睡不着。
字写得很大，坐在后面也看清楚。Show answer
字写得很大，坐在后面也看得清楚。
门太小了，桌子搬进去。Show answer
门太小了，桌子搬不进去。
‹ Directional ComplementsBecause, Although, If ›