Potential verb complement.DOC

Potential verb complement Other terminology: PVC, 可 能 补 语 1. What are potential complements? Potential complements are used to express two types of ability: the ability to achieve an action; and the ability to move something in a certain direction. Most resultative (apart from 错) and directional verb complements can be turned into potential verb complements by putting 得 (affirmative) or 不 (negative) between the verb and its complement, as shown in the following patterns. A resultative complement can be placed after 得 to indicate ability to achieve. A directional complement can be placed after 得 to indicate ability to move something in a certain direction. main v 得(affirm.) r./d. complement xi? 写 WRITE de 得 DE wán 完 FINISH To be able to finish (writing). kāi 开 DRIVE de 得 DE jìn qu 进 去 IN (AWAY) To be able to drive (a car) in (to the garage). main v. 不 .(neg.) r./d. complement xi? 写 WRITE bu 不 BU wán 完 FINISH To be unable to finish (writing). kāi 开 DRIVE bu 不 BU jìn qu 进 去 IN (AWAY) To be unable to drive (a car) in (to the garage). 2. Are there any PVC which are only used idiomatically? There are many idiomatic expressions using potential verb complements which stand on their own and cant be turned back into resultative or directional verb complements. chī de li?o zuò de li?o 吃 得 了 * 作 得 了 EAT DE COMPLETE DO DE COPE WITH To be able to eat up all the food. To be able to cope (with a job). m?i bu q? kàn bu q? 买 不 起 看 不 起 BUY BU UP LOOK BU UP Cant afford to buy. To look down on somebody. 3. How can I form a sentence with potential complements? 1. The object of a sentence is either placed at the beginning of sentence: (complex) o. s. v. + potential complement (tā xi? de) zì (他 写 的) 字 (HE WRITE DE) WORDS w? 我 I kàn bud?ng 看 不 懂 READ BU UNDERSTAND I cant understand the words (he has written).