能会可以: rules, examples & exercises | Chinese Grammar A1

能会可以

A1 — 动词

Modal verbs 能, 会, and 可以 for ability and permission

I can express ability, skill, and permission using 能, 会, and 可以

Modal verbs 能, 会, and 可以 for ability and permission

Examples

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.

动词A1

Modal Verbs 能/会/可以

Modal verbs 能, 会, and 可以 for ability and permission

Learning Goal

I can express ability, skill, and permission using 能, 会, and 可以

Exam Skills:HSK 1 ReadingHSK 1 Speaking

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.

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

Learners use 可以 for all 'can' meanings. Key distinction: 会 = learned skill, 能 = physical/circumstantial ability, 可以 = permission. 🇬🇧 English speakers: English 'can' covers all three. You must choose: 会 (skill), 能 (ability), 可以 (permission).

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

A1 Course

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Frequently asked questions

When is 能会可以 used?: Chinese has three main modal verbs for ability/permission. They are not interchangeable .
How is 能会可以 formed?: 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.
What are common mistakes with 能会可以?: Learners use 可以 for all 'can' meanings. Key distinction: 会 = learned skill, 能 = physical/circumstantial ability, 可以 = permission. 🇬🇧 English speakers: English 'can' covers all three. You must choose: 会 (skill), 能 (ability), 可以 (permission). 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: Russian мочь/уметь maps partially: уметь ≈ 会, мочь ≈ 能, можно ≈ 可以. 🇨🇿 Czech speakers: Czech umět ≈ 会, moci ≈ 能, smět ≈ 可以 — quite close!