Modal Verbs 能/会/可以
Modal verbs 能, 会, and 可以 for ability and permission
I can express ability, skill, and permission using 能, 会, and 可以
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
我会说中文。
I can speak Chinese.
我今天不能来。
I can't come today.
这里不可以抽烟。
Smoking is not allowed here.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
能、会、可以
Chinese has three main modal verbs for ability/permission. They are not interchangeable.
| Modal | Pinyin | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 会 | huì | learned skill | 我会游泳 (I can swim — learned) |
| 能 | néng | physical ability / circumstance | 我能跑五公里 (I can run 5km) |
| 可以 | kěyǐ | permission | 你可以进来 (You may come in) |
会 = acquired skill (swimming, driving, languages). 能 = capability in current circumstances. 可以 = permission or allowed.
Negation: 不会, 不能, 不可以. Note: 不可以 implies prohibition, while 不能 implies impossibility.
Common Error Patterns
Used wrong modal verb (会/能/可以 interchanged incorrectly)
会 = learned skill, 能 = physical/circumstantial ability, 可以 = permission.
我会说中文。
I can speak Chinese.
会 (huì) for a learned skill — speaking Chinese is something you studied and acquired.
我今天不能来。
I can't come today.
不能 (bù néng) for circumstantial impossibility — you have the ability but circumstances prevent it.
这里不可以抽烟。
Smoking is not allowed here.
不可以 (bù kěyǐ) means 'not allowed' — prohibition, like a rule or regulation.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises