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Potential complement 得 / 不 (HSK 4)
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Sold out
- You try to book concert tickets online, but they are gone in minutes.
- ticket票all / both都to be sold out卖完(completed / change)了，we / us我们to buy买(cannot)不to / arrive到(completed / change)了。 — "The tickets are sold out; we can't get any."
Verb + (degree marker)得 / (cannot)不 + result / direction
- Verb + (degree marker)得 + complement = can; Verb + (cannot)不 + complement = can't: to buy买to get得到 / to buy买(cannot)不to / arrive到, lift拿(degree marker)得move动 / lift拿motionless不动.
- It says whether the result is possible in the situation.
this这个box箱子too太heavy重，I我lift拿(cannot)不move动。
Complete: “The box is too heavy; I can't lift it.” 箱子太重了，我拿____动。
Độ khó 1/5 · 100 xu + một phần thưởng nhỏ cho lần hoàn thành đầu tiên trong ngày
Verb + 不 + 动 = can't move it.
Common HSK 4 pairs
- in time来得及 / there's not enough time (to…来不及 = there is / isn't enough time: now现在set off出发still还in time来得及.
- unbearable受不了 = can't stand; to listen to听(cannot)不clear清楚 = can't hear clearly; can't remember记不住 = can't remember.
now现在set off出发still还in time来得及。
Match each form to its meaning.
Độ khó 2/5 · 140 xu + một phần thưởng nhỏ cho lần hoàn thành đầu tiên trong ngày
Verb + 不 + complement = the result can't be achieved.
Not the same as cannot不能
- cannot不能 is about permission or general ability: here这里cannot不能to pull up (stop one's…停车. Potential complements are about whether the result can be achieved: I我unable to make sense of…听不懂.
- Put the object after the complement or before as a topic: I我unable to make sense of…听不懂he / him他if (coming after a…的话 / he / him他if (coming after a…的话I我unable to make sense of…听不懂.
A sign forbids parking. Which fits? 这里____停车。
Độ khó 1/5 · 100 xu + một phần thưởng nhỏ cho lần hoàn thành đầu tiên trong ngày
Prohibition is 不能; potential complements are about whether a result is achievable.
can't不了 = can't (at all)
- Verb + can't不了 (liǎo) = unable to do it: I我go去can't不了 — "I can't make it." variant of 吃吃can't不了 — "can't finish eating."
- Positive: go去(degree marker)得(completed / change)了 — "able to go".
tomorrow明天I我go去can't不了。
Build: “I can't make it tomorrow.”
Độ khó 3/5 · 200 xu + một phần thưởng nhỏ cho lần hoàn thành đầu tiên trong ngày
Verb + 不了 = unable to.
Recap
- Verb + (degree marker)得/(cannot)不 + complement = can / can't achieve it (to buy买(cannot)不to / arrive到, lift拿motionless不动, in time来得及).
- Verb + can't不了 = unable to; cannot不能 = not allowed / generally can't.
Read the full reference: HSK 4 grammar — Complements.
You try to book concert tickets online, but they are gone in minutes. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.