Lessons 15–16: Potential complement: V + 得/不 + 了(liǎo), V + 得/不 + 下; comparison with 能/可以

Two common potential complements (了 liǎo, 下) and how to choose between 能/不能 and the potential complement.

Hanyu textbook · Hanyu 4 · Lesson 15 · Hanyu 4 · Lesson 16

这个剧场太小，坐不下。

Zhège jùchǎng tài xiǎo, zuò bu xià.

This theater is too small; it can't seat everyone.

Explanation

“Verb + 得/不 + 了 (liǎo)” expresses whether an action can happen, or whether an action can be completed (“了” here means “完” — finish, complete).

“Verb + 得/不 + 下” expresses whether there is enough space to hold something.

Comparing the modal verbs “能” and “可以” with the potential complement: (1) To express the ability of the person performing the action, or what conditions allow, you can use “能/不能 + verb” or the potential complement. (2) To prohibit an action or behavior, you can only use “不能 + verb” (the potential complement cannot be used). (3) To express that the subjective and objective conditions are insufficient, generally only the potential complement is used.

Structure

1
Vverb得 / 不了 (liǎo)
Whether an action can happen / be completed.
- A：明天参观，你去得了吗？B：我明天有事，去不了。
  A: Míngtiān cānguān, nǐ qù de liǎo ma? B: Wǒ míngtiān yǒu shì, qù bu liǎo.
  A: We're going on a tour tomorrow; can you come? B: I have something on tomorrow, so I can't go.
- A：你吃得了这么多饺子吗？B：吃得了。
  A: Nǐ chī de liǎo zhème duō jiǎozi ma? B: Chī de liǎo.
  A: Can you eat all these dumplings? B: Yes, I can.
- 坐飞机去用不了三个小时就到了。
  Zuò fēijī qù yòng bu liǎo sān ge xiǎoshí jiù dào le.
  By plane, it takes less than three hours to get there.
- A：他自己走得了吗？B：她腿摔伤了，自己走不了。
  A: Tā zìjǐ zǒu de liǎo ma? B: Tā tuǐ shuāishāng le, zìjǐ zǒu bu liǎo.
  A: Can he go by himself? B: Her leg is hurt from a fall; she can't walk by herself.
- 她晚上有事去不了。
  Tā wǎnshang yǒu shì qù bu liǎo.
  She has something on this evening, so she can't go.
2
Vverb得 / 不下
Whether there is enough space to hold something.
- A：这个剧场坐得下一千人吗？B：这个剧场太小，坐不下。
  A: Zhège jùchǎng zuò de xià yì qiān rén ma? B: Zhège jùchǎng tài xiǎo, zuò bu xià.
  A: Can this theater seat a thousand people? B: This theater is too small; it can't seat that many.
- 这个包太小，毛衣太大了，装不下。
  Zhège bāo tài xiǎo, máoyī tài dà le, zhuāng bu xià.
  This bag is too small and the sweater is too bulky; it won't fit.
3
能 / 不能V ~ V得了 / 不了
Ability or permitting conditions: both can be used.
- 今天我有时间，能去。也可以说：今天我有时间，去得了。
  Jīntiān wǒ yǒu shíjiān, néng qù. Yě kěyǐ shuō: Jīntiān wǒ yǒu shíjiān, qù de liǎo.
  I have time today, so I can go. You can also say: I have time, I can go.
- 今天我没有时间，不能去。也可以说：今天我没有时间，去不了。
  Jīntiān wǒ méiyǒu shíjiān, bù néng qù. Yě kěyǐ shuō: Jīntiān wǒ méiyǒu shíjiān, qù bu liǎo.
  I don't have time today, so I can't go. You can also say: I can't make it.
4
劝阻: 不能V · điều kiện không đủ: V不C
To forbid, use only 不能; when objective conditions are insufficient, the potential complement is usually used.
- 那儿太危险，你不能去。
  Nàr tài wēixiǎn, nǐ bù néng qù.
  That place is very dangerous; you must not go.
- 东西太多了，你拿不了。
  Dōngxi tài duō le, nǐ ná bu liǎo.
  There's too much stuff; you can't carry it all.
- 屋子里太黑，我看不见。
  Wūzi lǐ tài hēi, wǒ kàn bu jiàn.
  It's too dark in the room; I can't see.
- 这东西不是你的，你不能拿。
  Zhè dōng xī bú shì nǐ de, nǐ bù néng ná.
  This isn't yours; you may not take it.

Common mistakes

~~那儿太危险，你去不了。~~
那儿太危险，你不能去。
prohibition
~~这东西不是你的，你拿不了。~~
这东西不是你的，你不能拿
~~东西太多了，你不能拿。~~
东西太多了，你拿不了
~~屋子里太黑，我不能看见。~~
屋子里太黑，我看不见
~~这个包放得不下这么多书。~~
这个包放不下这么多书

Practice

25 questions in 3 sets. One at a time, checked instantly, with explanations.

Start practice