Pattern
会 and 能
Talk about learned skill (会) vs capability/possibility (能).
Subject + 会/能 + Verb
会 as learned skill
我会说中文。我会开车。
会 often marks ability you learned.
Negate with 不会.
能 as can/be able
能 often marks capability or situational possibility: 我能帮忙。
今天不能去。
Overlap exists; learn from models first.
Questions
你会说英语吗？能不能…？
Short answers: 会 / 不会 / 能 / 不能.
Keep verb after the auxiliary.
Beginner boundaries
Do not chase every nuance on day one.
Use 会 for languages/skills; 能 for can/can’t in situation.
Copy dialogue sentences.
Examples
我会说一点中文。
Wǒ huì shuō yìdiǎn Zhōngwén.
I can speak a little Chinese.
他不会开车。
Tā bú huì kāichē.
He can’t drive.
我能帮忙。
Wǒ néng bāngmáng.
I can help.
今天不能去。
Jīntiān bù néng qù.
I can’t go today.
你会写吗？
Nǐ huì xiě ma?
Can you write (it)?
能不能再说一次？
Néng bu néng zài shuō yí cì?
Can you say it again?
我不会。
Wǒ bú huì.
I can’t / don’t know how.
你能看见吗？
Nǐ néng kànjiàn ma?
Can you see it?
Tips
- 会 ≈ learned skill for beginners.
- 能 ≈ can/possible in the situation.
- Negate as 不会 / 不能.
- Keep the main verb after 会/能.
Cloze drills
1. I can speak Chinese.
Full: 我会说中文。
会
2. I can’t go today.
Full: 今天不能去。
不能
3. Can you help?
Full: 你能帮忙吗？
能
4. I can’t (don’t know how).
Full: 我不会。
不会