Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar

iNdiCatiNG reSUlt, CoNClUSioN, PoteNtial, aNd exteNt

32.2

32.1.4 Using 没/沒 méi with resultative verbs to indicate lack of
completion or result

The negative marker 没/沒 méi is used to indicate that an action has not been completed or

that the desired result has not been attained. 没/沒 méi occurs before the entire resultative verb.

我没看完。

我沒看完。

Wǒ méi kànwán.

I haven’t finished reading.

我没听懂。

我沒聽懂。

Wǒ méi tīngdǒng.

I didn’t understand (by listening).

没/沒 méi never occurs between the action verb and resultative suffix.

Say this Not this

我没念错。 *我念没错。

我沒唸錯。 我唸沒錯。

Wǒ méi niàncuò. Wǒ niàn méi cuò.

I didn’t read (it) wrong.

C13.3.2, 18.4, 37.3

32.2 indicating the ability to reach a conclusion or result:

the potential infixes 得 de and 不 bu

得 de and 不 bu may occur between an action verb and a resultative or directional suffix to

indicate that it is possible or not possible to reach the result. When 得 de and 不 bu are used

in this way, we refer to them as potential infixes and the form of the resultative or directional

verb as the potential form.

32.2.1 the potential infix 得 de

To indicate that it is possible to perform an action and reach a conclusion or result, add the

potential infix 得 de into the middle of the resultative verb, between the action verb and the

resultative suffix:

action verb + 得 de + resultative suffix

我听得懂中国电影。

我聽得懂中國電影。

Wǒ tīngdedǒng Zhōngguó diànyǐng.

I can understand (by listening) Chinese movies.

你吃得完那么多东西吗？

你吃得完那麼多東西嗎？

Nǐ chīdewán nàme duō dōngxi ma?

Can you finish eating that many things?

C18.6, 19.5

32.2.2 the potential infix 不 bu

To indicate that it is not possible to reach a conclusion or result, add the potential infix 不 bu into

the middle of the resultative or directional verb, between the action verb and the resultative suffix: