▎能1, néng, (Vaux), Capability (1)

 

Function The auxiliary verb 能 expresses some capability of the subject.

1 新手機能上網。

Xīn shǒujī néng shàngwǎng.

New cell phones can go online.

2 那支手機能照相。

Nà zhī shǒujī néng zhàoxiàng.

That cell phone can take photos.

3 他弟弟能吃四十個餃子。

Tā dìdì néng chī sìshí ge jiǎozi.

His younger brother can eat 40 dumplings.

4 我的車能坐八個人。

Wǒ de chē néng zuò bā ge rén.

My car can seat 8 people.

 

Structures

Negation：The negation marker 不 should be placed before, and not after the auxiliary verb.

1 我的手機不能上網。

Wǒ de shǒujī bù néng shàngwǎng.

My cell phone cannot access the internet.

2 我的小車不能坐那麼多人。

Wǒ de xiǎo chē bù néng zuò nàme duō rén.

My little car cannot hold that many people.

Questions： The auxiliary verb 能 is placed in the A position in the A-not-A pattern.

1 你的手機能不能照相？

Nǐ de shǒujī néng bù néng zhàoxiàng?

Can your cell phone take pictures?

2 那支手機能不能上網？

Nà zhī shǒujī néng bù néng shàngwǎng?

Can that cell phone go online?

3 你的手機能不能用十個小時？

Nǐ de shǒujī néng bù néng yòng shí ge xiǎoshí?

Can your cell phone last ten hours?