ABSTRACT

The complement of potential is primarily based on the complement of direction and the complement of result. It is used to indicate the possibility or probability of something happening. It can also indicate someone’s ability to achieve something. Therefore, it nearly always carries the meaning of ‘can/could’ or ‘cannot/could not’ without having to actually use 能/可以 (néng/kLyM) or 不能 (bù néng). Because similar structures are not found in English, learners who are speakers of English should pay special attention to this chapter.