V得C
Long Potential
The Long Potential pattern (V得C) indicates whether a specific result is achievable. For example, 聽得明 (ting1 dak1 ming4) means 'can understand' (literally: 'hear-can-clear').
How It Works
The Long Potential is the standard way to express 'can' or 'cannot' regarding results in spoken Cantonese. It consists of three parts:
- Verb (V): The action being performed (e.g., 睇 tai2 'see').
- 得 (dak1): The potential marker (affirmative).
- Complement (C): The result or direction (e.g., 明 ming4 'clear', 晒 saai3 'completely').
1. Affirmative Form: V + 得 + C
This indicates the result is possible. For example, 搵得返 (wan2 dak1 faan1) means 'can find [it] back'.
2. Negative Form: V + 唔 + C
Crucially, the particle 唔 (m4) replaces 得 in the negative. You do not say 'V得唔C'. For example, 聽唔明 (ting1 m4 ming4) means 'cannot understand'.
3. Object Placement
The object usually follows the entire construction: [V得C] + Object. For example: 我睇得明呢本書 (I can understand this book). Alternatively, the object can be moved to the front for emphasis (Topicalization).
4. Distinction from Manner
Do not confuse this with the Manner Complement. While they look similar, the potential complement focuses on possibility, whereas the manner complement describes how an action is performed (usually requiring an adverb like 好 hou2).
Examples (4)
- 我聽得明佢講乜嘢。
I can understand what he is saying.
Word by Word: I hear-can-clear he speak what-thing.
Here, 聽 (ting1) is the verb and 明 (ming4) is the resultative complement. The 得 (dak1) indicates the ability to reach that result.
- 咁多嘢食，我食唔晒喎。
There is so much food, I can't finish it all.
Word by Word: So much thing eat, I eat-not-completely [particle].
The negative form replaces 得 with 唔 (m4). 晒 (saai3) is a complement meaning 'completely' or 'all'.
- 你搵唔搵得返個銀包呀？
Can you find your wallet back?
Word by Word: You find-not-find-can-back [classifier] wallet [particle]?
This shows the A-not-A question form for potential complements: V唔V得C.
- 呢件衫太細，我着唔落。
This shirt is too small, I can't fit into it.
Word by Word: This [classifier] shirt too small, I wear-not-down.
落 (lok6) is a directional complement. In this context, it refers to the possibility of the clothes 'going down' onto the body.
Common Mistakes
Using '可以' (ho2 ji5) to express resultative possibility.
我可以聽明佢講嘢。我聽得明佢講嘢。While 可以 means 'can', it usually refers to permission or general possibility. For specific results (like understanding), Cantonese speakers almost exclusively use the V得C pattern.
Keeping '得' in the negative form.
我食得唔晒。我食唔晒。In the negative potential form, the 唔 (m4) must replace the 得 (dak1). You cannot have both between the verb and the complement.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'V得C' (the long potential), you first need to be familiar with Resultative Verb Compounds (V+C), where a verb is paired with a result (e.g., 'hear-understand'). You also need to understand the basic potential marker '得', which is inserted between the verb and its result to show that the result is achievable.
- Resultative compounds
The 'V得C' pattern is the potential form of a resultative compound. You must understand how verbs and results (like 'understand' or 'see') combine before you can insert '得' to express the ability to achieve that result.
Level 2 - V+得（可能）Can Be Done / Is Allowed
This pattern introduces the use of '得' as a potential marker to indicate that an action is possible or allowed.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- V唔CNegative Long Potential
This is the negative counterpart to the V得C pattern.
Level 3 - Verb + 得 + AdjectiveManner Complement
The Manner Complement, which describes how an action is done, often confused with the Potential Complement by learners.
Level 2 - V+到 (dou2)Successful Attainment
Another way to express successful attainment of a result, often used interchangeably with certain potential forms.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
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