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THE COMPLEMENT OF POSIBILITY indicates the possibility or potentiality of an action.

Pattern : Verb + 得(dé)/(/)不(bù) + complement of result/ directional complement

The complement of result and the directional complement can both be used to form the THE COMPLEMENT OF POSIBILITY. To indicate possibility, we must put 得 between the verb and the resultative or directional complement. We use 不 to indicate impossibility.

Example：

1. 今天的作业太多了，我做不完。

Jīntiān de zuòyè tài duō le, wǒ zuò bù wán.

I have too much homework today, I can’t finish it.

• 我的自行车坏了，不知道修得好吗？

Wǒde zìxíngchē huàile, bù zhīdào xiū de hǎo ma?

My bike is broken, I don’t know whether it can be repaired.

• 这座山太高了，我爬不上去。

Zhè zuò shān tài gāo le, wǒ pá bú shàngqù.

This mountain is too high, I can’t climb to the top.

Note：

1. In Chinese，we also use 能(néng) or 可(kě)以(yǐ)before a verb to express possibility. But we use THE COMPLEMENT OF POSIBILITY more in spoken Chinese. Or you can use both. For example: 你可以修得好我的自行车吗？Nǐ kěyǐ xiū de hǎo wǒ de zìxíngchē ma?
2. When we ask for permission, we can only use 能(néng) or 可(kě)以(yǐ)。For example: “我可以进来吗？Wǒ kěyǐ jìnlai ma? “, which means “am I allowed to come in?” while 我进得来吗？Wǒ jìn de lai ma? means “do I have the ability to come in ?”

Exercise :

Please translate the following sentences into Chinese.

1. Now I still can’t understand Chinese TV program.
2. He can drink five beers in ten minutes.
3. The door is closed, I can’t go out.
4. Can you hear me?

Please download this content with the answer of exercise here.

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