Q: What is 会 and what does it mean?

会 (huì) is a modal verb and means “know how to” and expresses an action that you had to learn or be trained in to do.

Q: What is 能 and what does it mean?

能 (néng) is a modal verb and means “to be able to” and expresses having a certain ability or having obtained a certain requirement.

Q: How to use 能 with an adverb?

能 with an adverb (很，真，太，这么, 那么 etc) expresses a surprised tone on the action. 很/真/太/这么/那么 + 能 + Verb = 他太能睡了。 tā tài néng shuìle. It is surprise that he can sleep for such a long time.

Q: How to use 会 with an adverb?

会 with an adverb (很，真，太，这么, 那么 etc) is commonly used to mean “to be good at” and expresses being very skillful at something. 很/真/太/这么/那么 + 会 + Verb 我妻子很会做饭。 wǒ qīzi hěn huì zuò fàn. My wife is really good at cooking.

Q: Other Chinese Grammar I should know about?

Yes! Here are some other A2 level Chinese grammar for you to learn today: How to use 总是 How to use 一直 How to use 刚 How to use 差不多 How to use 死了

Question 1

What is 会 and what does it mean?

Accepted Answer

会 (huì) is a modal verb and means “know how to” and expresses an action that you had to learn or be trained in to do.

Question 2

What is 能 and what does it mean?

Accepted Answer

能 (néng) is a modal verb and means “to be able to” and expresses having a certain ability or having obtained a certain requirement.

Question 3

What are some structures for 能 and 会?

Accepted Answer

Here are the 3 main sentence structures for 能 and 会.

To express ability: Subject +（不）会/能 + Verb + Object

To express permission (only 能): Subject + 能 + Verb + 吗?

To express possibility: Subject + 会/能 + Verb + Object

Question 4

How to use 能 with an adverb?

Accepted Answer

能 with an adverb (很，真，太，这么, 那么 etc) expresses a surprised tone on the action.

很/真/太/这么/那么 + 能 + Verb

= 他太能睡了。 tā tài néng shuìle. It is surprise that he can sleep for such a long time.

Question 5

How to use 会 with an adverb?

Accepted Answer

会 with an adverb (很，真，太，这么, 那么 etc) is commonly used to mean “to be good at” and expresses being very skillful at something.

很/真/太/这么/那么 + 会 + Verb

我妻子很会做饭。 wǒ qīzi hěn huì zuò fàn. My wife is really good at cooking.

Question 6

Other Chinese Grammar I should know about?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Here are some other A2 level Chinese grammar for you to learn today:

How to use 总是

How to use 一直

How to use 刚

How to use 差不多

How to use 死了

Grammar Point	Pattern	Example
Difference between 能 and 会	Subject +（不）会/能 + Verb + Object	弟弟会游泳。
How to use 想 and 要	Subject + 想要 + Noun/Verb	你想要什么礼物?
Chinese superlative with 最	最 + Adj.	午后的阳光是最刺眼的。
How to use 了	Subject + Verb + 了	我们都去了。
Using 离 to talk about distance	Place 1 + 离 + Place 2 + Adverb of degree + 近/远	上海离北京很远。
Expressing "already" with 已经	Subj. + 已经 + Verb + 了	他已经回家了。
Chinese questions words	Subj. + 是 + 谁 ?	你是谁？
Saying “briefly” with 一下	S + Verb + 一下	我休息一下。
Basic sentence structure	S + V + O	小李吃苹果
Chinese negative form 不	不 + Adj / Verb	今天天气真不好。
太 to indicate excess	S + 太 + Adj + 了	你太胖了。
Guide to Chinese numbers	-	一二三

Chinese Grammar Bank

HSK 1