Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar

exPreSSiNG aBility aNd PoSSiBility

52.2

52.1.3 expressing physical ability

To express physical ability or the unobstructed ability to perform an action, use 能 néng.

我的身体不好。大夫说我不能游泳。

我的身體不好。大夫說我不能游泳。

Wǒ de shēntǐ bù hǎo. Dàifu shuō wǒ bù néng yóu yǒng.

My health is not so good. The doctor said I cannot swim.

他一天能作十几个小时的事。

他一天能作十幾個小時的事。

Tā yītiān néng zuò shí jǐ gè xiǎoshí de shì.

He can work more than ten hours a day.

When used to express ability, 能 néng, like 会/會 huì, can be modified by intensifiers such as

很 hěn ‘very,’ 真 zhēn ‘really,’ or 太 tài ‘too.’

中国人很能吃苦。

中國人很能吃苦。

Zhōngguórén hěn néng chī kǔ.

The Chinese can endure a lot of hardship.

我的女儿真会花钱。

我的女兒真會花錢。

Wǒ de nǚ’ér zhēn huì huā qián.

My daughter can really spend money.

C10.3, 12.2.2

52.2 Expressing possibility

52.2.1 expressing the likely occurrence of an event

To express possibility or the likelihood of the occurrence of an event, as in ‘will,’ ‘could pos-

sibly,’ or ‘would probably,’ use the modal verb 会/會 huì.

Q: 明天会不会下雪？ A: 天气预报说明天不会下雪。

明天會不會下雪？ 天氣預報說明天不會下雪。

Míngtiān huì bù huì xià xuě? Tiānqì yùbào shuō míngtiān bù huì xià xuě.

Is it going to snow tomorrow? According to the weather report, it won’t

snow tomorrow.

Q: 你想我们要坐的飞机会不会误点？ A: 航空公司说，我们要坐的飞机不会误点。

你想我們要坐的飛機會不會誤點？ 航空公司說，我們要坐的飛機不會誤點。

Nǐ xiǎng wǒmen yào zuò de fēijī

huì bù huì wùdiǎn?

Hángkōng gōngsī shuō, wǒmen yào

zuò de fēijī bù huì wùdiǎn.

Do you think the plane we are

going to take will be late?

The airline company says the plane we are

going to take won’t be late.

C12.1, 36.3