HSK 2
能愿动词
néng yuàn dòng cí
Modal verbs (能愿动词)
Explanation
Modal verbs (modal verbs such as 会 (huì), 能 (néng), 可以 (kěyǐ), 想 (xiǎng)... placed before the main verb) are words that come before a verb to express possibility, permission, or intention. Here we learn two: 可能 (kěnéng, may/be possible), used to guess whether something happens or not, and 可以 (kěyǐ, be allowed), used to ask for or grant permission.
Subject (the person or thing performing the action, at the head of the sentence) + 可能 / 可以 + verb.
他可能出去了 (He may have gone out).
Use 可能 (kěnéng) when you are guessing about something and are not certain (他可能出去了 - he has probably gone out). Use 可以 (kěyǐ) when asking someone for permission or stating that something is/isn't allowed (我可以进来吗 - may I come in; 不可以停车 - no parking allowed).
可能 (kěnéng) leans toward GUESSING at the likelihood of something; 可以 (kěyǐ) leans toward ASKING PERMISSION or expressing that conditions allow it.
Vietnamese learners often put it in the wrong position, writing the verb first and 可以 after. Remember that 可能/可以 always come BEFORE the main verb. The negative forms are 不可能 / 不可以, placing 不 right before these two words; do not say 可能不 or 可以不 in the sense of prohibition.
Examples
(1) 可能 (kěnéng): may, be possible / have the possibility
He may have gone out.
I can't possibly finish this much homework today.
(2) 可以 (kěyǐ): can, be allowed / permitted
Teacher, may I come in?
You can't park here.
Practice
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Learn “能愿动词” effectively
The grammar point “能愿动词” (Modal verbs (能愿动词)) is one of the key structures at HSK 2. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
Study tip: read the examples aloud many times to build a natural reflex. Then try making your own sentences for your own situations. Use the audio button to hear and practice accurate pronunciation.
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