Level 1 Lesson 24.1 – Can I Turn on the Computer?

Grammar 1: Ask Can I Do Something in Chinese with Modal Verb 能 · HSK 1

The Modal Verb 能 néng can be used to suggest (1) possibility to do something (2) rationality to do something.

Like other Modal Verbs, 能 can be used before a Verb Predicate, following such structure,

Subject + 能 + Verb Predicate (+Object)

One thing to notice is that 能 is usually used (1) to ask a question or (2) in a negative sentences

For example,

(1) 能 used to ask a question

With Object

• wǒ néng kāimén ma
  我能开门吗？
  can I open the door
• wǒ néng guān diànshì ma
  我能关电视吗？
  can I turn off the TV

Without Object

• nǐ jīntiān néng lái ma
  你今天能来吗？
  can you come today
• wǒ xiànzài néng zǒu ma
  我现在能走吗？
  can I leave now

(2) 能 used in a negative sentences

With Object

• wǒ bùnéng guān diànshàn, tàirèle
  我不能关电扇，太热了！
  I can't turn off the fan, (it is) too hot
• wǒmen bùnéng kāi diànshì, māma zài zhèlǐ shuìjiào ne
  我们不能开电视，妈妈在这里睡觉呢！
  we cannot turn on the TV; mom is sleeping here

Without Object

• Zhāng lǎoshī xiàge xīngqī bùnéng qù
  张老师下个星期不能去。
  Teacher Zhang cannot go next week
• wǒ xiànzài bù néng shuō
  我现在不能说。
  I cannot tell (you) now

Grammar 2: Answer 能-Question With Yes/No: 可以/不行 · HSK 1

To answer 能-question with Yes/No, we don't really simply say néng 能 and bùnéng 不能 for yes and no.

More likely, we use kěyǐ 可以 for yes and bùxíng 不行 for no. For example,

Q: nǐ néng gěiwǒ mǎi běn shū ma
     你能给我买本书吗？
     can you buy me a book
Y: kěyǐ
     可以。
     yes; okay
N: bùxíng 
     不行。
     no; (it's) not (gonna) work

Q: wǒ néng kāi diànshì ma
     我能开电视吗？
     can I turn on the TV
Y: kěyǐ
     可以。
     yes; okay
N: bùxíng 
     不行。
     no; (it's) not (gonna) work

However, when the answer is no, answering with only 不行 might sound too blunt or impolite. Adding 对不起 and  a little explanation can help soften the tone.

For example,

Q: nǐ néng kāi diànshì ma
     你能开电视吗？
     can you turn on the TV
A: duìbuqǐ, bùxíng, wǒ bù zhīdào kāiguān zài nǎr
     对不起，不行，我不知道开关在哪儿。
     sorry, no, I don't know where the power button is

Q: wǒmen jīntiān wǎnshàng néng chī pīsà ma
     我们今天晚上能吃披萨吗？
     can we eat pizza tonight
A: bùxíng, jīntiān shì wǒ māma de shēngrì, tā xiǎng chī jiǎozi
     不行，今天是我妈妈的生日，她想吃饺子。
     no, today is my mon's birthday; she wants to eat dumplings

Grammar 3: 能 vs. 会 in Chinese · HSK 1

We have learned Modal Verb 会 huì before, both 会 and 能 can be translated as "can" or "to be able to" in English. But there are distinct differences between them.

会 suggests one’s ability to do something.

能 suggests (1) the possibility to do something (2) the rationality to do something.

For example,

• nǐ huì shuō Zhōngwén ma
  你会说中文吗？
  can you speak Chinese (as a skill)
• nǐ néng shuō Zhōngwén ma
  你能说中文吗？
  can you speak Chinese (as an inquiry, asking possibility)
• nǐ huì xiě zhège Hànzì ma
  你会写这个汉字吗？
  can you write this Chinese character(because you know how to write it)
• nǐ néng xiě zhège Hànzì ma
  你能写这个汉字吗？
  can you write this Chinese character(because I asked you to write it)

• tā bú huì Zhōngwén, wǒ bùnéng hé tā shuō Zhōngwén
  他不会中文，我不能和他说中文。
  he doesn't know Chinese, I can't speak Chinese with him

Grammar 4: 开 vs. 关 in Chinese · HSK 1

In Chinese both kāi 开 and guān 关 have two meanings.

• kāi 开 to open; to turn on
• guān 关 to close; to turn off

And when 开 and 关 are put together, they make  a Compound 合成词 Héchéngcí  - 开关.

• kāiguān 开关 (power) switch; power button