Potential complement 得 / 不 (can / can't do it)
Can you actually pull it off?
- Not "are you allowed" but "is it possible to reach the result".
- can see看得见 = can see it; unable to make sense of…听不懂 = can't understand it.
- Slot (degree marker)得 (can) or not不 (can't) between the verb and its result.
Verb + (degree marker)得 / not不 + Result
- (degree marker)得 = the result is achievable; not不 = it isn't.
I我listen听(can)得understand懂。
- to understand (by hearing)听得懂 = "can understand"; unable to make sense of…听不懂 = "can't understand".
Practice
Can understand (achievable): 听 ____ 懂。
Verb + 得 + Result = can achieve it: 听得懂 (can understand).
Different from can / be able to能
- can see看得见 stresses whether the result succeeds, not permission (can / be able to能 / can / may可以).
too太far远了，I我can't see看不见。
- 太远(completed / change)了，cannot see看不见 = "too far — (I) can't see (it)."
Explore
Correct or broken?
Ability squeezes into the middle: V + 得 + complement = can, V + 不 + complement = can't.
Practice
What does 看不见 mean?
It is about reaching the result (看见), not permission: 看不见 = can't see.
Practice
得 / 不 here means permission, the same as 能.
It marks whether the RESULT succeeds, not permission.
Practice
Build: “It's too far, I can't see it.”
Verb + 不 + Result = 看不见: 太远了 + 我 + 看不见.
Recap
Key idea
- Verb + (degree marker)得 / not不 + Result — can / can't achieve the result
- (degree marker)得 = able (can see看得见, to understand (by hearing)听得懂); not不 = unable (cannot see看不见, unable to make sense of…听不懂)
- About succeeding at the result, not permission
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Complements.