Modal Verbs - 会、能
能愿动词 — 会、能
The modal verbs 会 and 能 express capability. 会 indicates a learned skill (know how to), 能 expresses a capability or possibility related to circumstances (can).
Structure
Subject + 会 / 能 + Verb
Elements
会能
How to use it
- 会 for a learned skill: 我会说中文 (I know how to speak Chinese).
- 能 for a capability related to circumstances: 你今天能来吗？ (Can you come today?).
- 会 can also express future probability: 明天会下雨 (It will probably rain tomorrow).
Examples
我会说中文。
wǒ huì shuō zhōngwén
I know how to speak Chinese.
你今天能来吗？
nǐ jīntiān néng lái ma？
Can you come today?
她会做饭。
tā huì zuò fàn。
She knows how to cook.
今天我不能去。
jīntiān wǒ bù néng qù。
I cannot go there today.
Notes and exceptions
- 会 emphasizes a learned skill (know-how acquired).
- 能 emphasizes a concrete capability or possibility (circumstances, physical conditions).
- 会 emphasizes a learned skill (know-how acquired).
- 能 emphasizes a concrete capability or possibility according to the situation.
- 会 : know; can; future; meeting.
- 能 : can. The word "能" means "can" in French, which is used to express capability or ability to do something. Common combinations observed: 吗 (question), 不 (general negation).
Common mistakes
- 会 for skills, 能 for possibilities: do not interchange systematically.
- Negation: 不会 (do not know), 不能 (cannot - circumstances).
Practice quiz
Choose the best option for each sentence, then submit to view the correction.
1. 我____说中文。
(I know how to speak Chinese.)
2. 你今天____来吗？
(Can you come today?)
3. 她____做饭。
(She knows how to cook.)
4. 今天我不____去。
(I cannot go there today.)