0

Objects in sentences with potential complements can occur either after the complement or at the beginning of a sentence .

For example:

这个大米我吃得完。 or 我吃得完这个大米。

They both work, but one sounds weird in English.

Is this just a distinction between Chinese and English? Or am I missing the idea of correct interpretation??

Improve this question
2
  • cf."外国人实用汉语语法" 前置宾语 fronted object 为了强调、对比，或使句子简洁起见，有时宾语也可以放在动词谓语或主语前边，这样的宾语叫前置宾语。前置宾语形式上没有任何标记；从意义上看，一般应是动词谓语能支配的对象，而且可以移到动词谓语后边；从结构上看，谓语前边或后边常带状语或补语等。
    – user6065
    Jul 6, 2017 at 8:48
  • in fact user feels strongly that above quotation from "外国人实用汉语语法" had been included in some previous comment, which, however seems difficult to locate, b/c site search function does not seem to cover comments
    – user6065
    Jul 6, 2017 at 11:55

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1

First, 个 is not a classifier for 大米 , So I changed it to 些

  • There are only two potential particles for verbs.

    1. 得 (able to)

    2. 不 (unable to)

吃完 = eat all

吃[得]完 = [able to] eat all

吃[不]完 = [unable to] eat all

  • The placement of the object is flexible. When using [subject+ verb + object]sentence structure, the object is placed after the the verb, e.g. 我吃了米 (the verb particles 得 and 完 are part of the verb)

  • The object can also be placed before the verb in passive voice sentences e.g. '米被我吃了'

  • The object can also acts as the topic in [topic] + [comment] structure, and be placed at the beginning of the sentence.

[S+V+O] sentence:

[1. 我] [2. 吃] [3. 得] [4. 完] [5. 这些大米]

[1. subject] [2. verb] [3. potential particle] [4. resultive particle ] [5. object]

It is very straight forward-- 'subject' then 'verb' then 'object'.

[Topic+ comment/opinion] sentence:

[1. 这些大米] [2. 我吃得完]

[1. topic] [2.comment]

[这些大米(topic)] + [我吃得完(comment)]

The object [这些大米] is the topic. the relative clause [我吃得完] is the comment.

Both examples above are grammatically correct.

[O+S+V] sentence (passive voice):

[1. 这些大米] [2. 被][3. 我] [4. 吃] [5. 完]

[1. object] [2. passive marker] [3. subject] [4.verb] [5. resultive particle ]

We don't use passive voice with potential particle. Potential particle only works in active voice

  • [这些大米被我吃完] is grammatically correct

  • [这些大米被我吃得完] is grammatically incorrect

Objects with potential complements

In summary:

  1. object must be placed after the verb in [SVO] sentence, and potential complement is part of the verb.

  2. object can be placed at the beginning of a sentence in [topic + comment] sentences.

  3. in [OSV] (passive voice) sentence, we don't use potential complement

Improve this answer
2
  • Is there another example of a massive marker other than bei?
    – Abe Shudug
    Jul 6, 2017 at 22:27
  • ＂passive marker＂ CCG：３ forms of passive: (a) notional passive (no formal passive marker) e,g, 问题解决了 （b）formal passive e.g. 问题终被解决 （c）lexical passive e.g. 问题得到了解决，问题得到解决了
    – user6065
    Jul 7, 2017 at 3:16

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.