Potential complement 得 / 不 (HSK 4) · 动词 + 得 / 不 + 补语
An achievable result differs from permission
- You can understand the text in a particular book.
- 这本书我看得懂。 — 得 marks understanding as achievable through reading.
An achievable result differs from permission
- You can understand the text in a particular book.
- this这本书I / me我看得懂。 — (degree marker)得 marks understanding as achievable through reading.
You can understand the text in a particular book. What does 这本书我看得懂。 communicate?
得 marks understanding as achievable through reading. 看不懂 denies that result, not permission to read. 能 can express ability as well as permission, so it is not a permission-only contrast word.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is Potential complement 得 / 不 (HSK 4). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
this这(measure word)本book书I我read看(can)得understand懂。
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is Potential complement (degree marker)得 / not不 (HSK 4). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
this这(measure word)本book书I我read看(can)得understand懂。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: (I) can understand this book: 这本书我看 ____ 懂。
Verb + 得 + complement = can: 看得懂.
Read examples in context
- In the opening example, 这本书我看得懂。: 得 marks understanding as achievable through reading.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Read examples in context
- In the opening example, this这本书I / me我看得懂。: (degree marker)得 marks understanding as achievable through reading.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
看不懂 is about…
It's about the result succeeding, not permission.
Know the boundary
- 看不懂 denies that result, not permission to read.
- 能 can express ability as well as permission, so it is not a permission-only contrast word.
Know the boundary
- unable to make sense of…看不懂 denies that result, not permission to read.
- can / be able to能 can express ability as well as permission, so it is not a permission-only contrast word.
能 can express ability as well as permission, while 看不懂 concerns the achievable result.
Do not label 能 permission-only. The potential complement focuses on whether understanding can be achieved.
能 can only express permission, never ability.
看不懂 denies that result, not permission to read. 能 can express ability as well as permission, so it is not a permission-only contrast word. 得 marks understanding as achievable through reading.
Use the distinction
- 得 marks understanding as achievable through reading.
- 看不懂 denies that result, not permission to read. 能 can express ability as well as permission, so it is not a permission-only contrast word.
Read the full reference: HSK 4 grammar — Complements.
Use the distinction
- (degree marker)得 marks understanding as achievable through reading.
- unable to make sense of…看不懂 denies that result, not permission to read. can / be able to能 can express ability as well as permission, so it is not a permission-only contrast word.
Read the full reference: HSK 4 grammar — Complements.