<p>I think the difference is mostly in formality. For the first 2 examples you've given, both would be acceptable grammatically, but 能 definitely sounds more formal.</p>

<p>However, I think there are examples where they can't completely be used interchangeably. </p>

<p><code>我吃不了了</code> can be used to indicate that one can't keep eating (because one is full/doesn't like the food). But to indicate the same with 能 you probably need to say, <code>我不能继续吃了</code>。</p>

<p>This might fall in a general category of idioms where you can't use 能 instead of a construction involving 得. For example, <code>我看不起他</code> really can't be replaced easily with 能</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-14T21:56:07.217Z
cf。Chinese grammars，e。g。＂实用现代汉语语法＂ 能愿动词（八）能、能够 １。表示主观上具有某种能力。例如：１刚来中国的时候，我连一个汉字也不认识，怎么能看中文书呢？２这个机器的马达坏了，不能开动了。３打猎的越来越近，都能听见马跑的声‌​音了。２。表示具备某种客观条件。例如：１今天气温低，水能结成冰。２时间还早，九点钟以前能赶回。３。表示情理上许可，多用于疑问和否定句。例如：１天这么晚了，我不能让‌​你走！２陈胜对吴广说：＂我们不能去渔阳送死，应该起义反抗。＂３病人病情危急，不能坐等。４。表示＂准许＂，多用于疑问句和否定句。例如：１没有我的命令你不能动！２那是‌​集体的财产，我怎么能让你随意破坏？在陈述句中，第３，４二义的肯定形式用＂可以＂。５。表示估计。例如：１今天小刘能到北京吗？２电影已经演了一半了，他不能来了。６。表‌​示善于做某事。例如：１他能说会道，能写会算。２老师傅可真能睡。。。。可能补语 二、B 类可能补语（一）B 类可能补语表示的语法意义 B 类可能补语是由＂得／不＋了＂构成的。＂了＂的本义是＂完＂、＂结束＂，由＂得／不＋了＂构成的可能补语用在某些动词后。＂了＂有时仍表示＂完、掉＂等结果意义。例如：１‌​这个西瓜太大，咱们俩吃不了。（吃不完）２这件事我总也忘不了。（忘不掉）这类＂得／不＋了＂与A 类可能补语所表示的意思是一样的，所以应属于A类。
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-14T22:03:37.370Z
I don't see what you're trying to say by copying that other than there are more things you can express with 能....
Ringil
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-14T22:33:45.470Z
Q is about difference between 能 and 得／不＋了，incidentally preceding earlier was positioned below，but after correcting 能源 to 能愿 could no longer be moved to the previous position。
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-14T00:15:18.393Z
2015-10-14T00:15:18.393Z
Ringil
<p>The main difference between -得了 and 能 is that -得了 can only be used with a fairly small subset of verbs, while 能 can be used with most verbs; for example, we can say 能看見, but 看見得了 sounds quite odd to me. </p>

<p>I believe this is because -得了 has a more specific meaning than 能, which is as generic as you can get, but I can't immediately provide a reference for this. Another important difference is that 能 can be used with a whole clause:</p>

<p>他還能一邊唱一邊跳, 真厲害. He can sing and dance at the same time, impressive!</p>

<p>There is no way to stick -得了 into this kind of sentence; it is a verbal affix, so can only be used as part of a relatively simple sentence.</p>

<p><strong>Later note</strong>: I changed the example above from 能看 to 能看見. This may work better. I Still haven't found leading references, but here is one article that discusses some of this: 郝維 2001〈補語的可能式研究綜述〉，《漢語學習》3：29-34.  In particular, the article notes that -得了 is usually used for actions that can be completed. This seems right, so in the zillions of cases where we want to speak of general ability, -得了 is often inappropriate. An example:</p>

<p>他能彈鋼琴 He can play the piano. (ok)<br>
?? 他彈得了鋼琴 He can (finish) playing the piano. (odd)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-14T09:48:56.033Z
I feel like you can just say 看得见 to express nearly the same meaning as 能看见。 For example: A： 你做的地方能看见老师吗？ B： 看不见。
Ringil
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-14T11:01:28.370Z
Also, A:你能弹钢琴吗？B:弹不了。Maybe it just works for questions. Though I feel for cases where you want to express ability 会 might be utilized more than 能.
Ringil
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-14T04:20:23.143Z
2015-10-14T05:02:30.090Z
2015-10-14T05:02:30.090Z
wpt
<p>I remember once being told that there are differences in usage and meaning between 能 and verb + 得了.</p>

<p>他能来。 他不能来。<br>
他来得了。 他来不了。</p>

<p>EDIT:
Maybe my examples above weren't that good. Here are some new ones:</p>

<p>小孩搬不了这个大花盆。 小孩不能搬这个大花盆。<br>
这儿声音太大，我听不了。 这儿声音太大，我不能听。  </p>

<p>When should I use each? What are the differences in meaning?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-13T21:39:27.493Z
is 了 here read as le or liao ?
Abdul Al Hazred
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-13T23:48:33.003Z
Definitely liao.
Ringil
<grammar><word-choice><usage><difference>
Difference between 能 and verb + 得了(de liao3)
# Difference between 能 and verb + 得了(de liao3)

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-10-13)

I remember once being told that there are differences in usage and meaning between 能 and verb + 得了.

他能来。 他不能来。  
他来得了。 他来不了。

EDIT:
Maybe my examples above weren't that good. Here are some new ones:

小孩搬不了这个大花盆。 小孩不能搬这个大花盆。  
这儿声音太大，我听不了。 这儿声音太大，我不能听。

When should I use each? What are the differences in meaning?

Thanks in advance!

**Tags:** grammar, word-choice, usage, difference

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: is 了 here read as le or liao ?  
> **username_2**: Definitely liao.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-10-14. Score: 1

I think the difference is mostly in formality. For the first 2 examples you've given, both would be acceptable grammatically, but 能 definitely sounds more formal.

However, I think there are examples where they can't completely be used interchangeably.

`我吃不了了` can be used to indicate that one can't keep eating (because one is full/doesn't like the food). But to indicate the same with 能 you probably need to say, `我不能继续吃了`。

This might fall in a general category of idioms where you can't use 能 instead of a construction involving 得. For example, `我看不起他` really can't be replaced easily with 能

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: cf。Chinese grammars，e。g。＂实用现代汉语语法＂ 能愿动词（八）能、能够 １。表示主观上具有某种能力。例如：１刚来中国的时候，我连一个汉字也不认识，怎么能看中文书呢？２这个机器的马达坏了，不能开动了。３打猎的越来越近，都能听见马跑的声‌​音了。２。表示具备某种客观条件。例如：１今天气温低，水能结成冰。２时间还早，九点钟以前能赶回。３。表示情理上许可，多用于疑问和否定句。例如：１天这么晚了，我不能让‌​你走！２陈胜对吴广说：＂我们不能去渔阳送死，应该起义反抗。＂３病人病情危急，不能坐等。４。表示＂准许＂，多用于疑问句和否定句。例如：１没有我的命令你不能动！２那是‌​集体的财产，我怎么能让你随意破坏？在陈述句中，第３，４二义的肯定形式用＂可以＂。５。表示估计。例如：１今天小刘能到北京吗？２电影已经演了一半了，他不能来了。６。表‌​示善于做某事。例如：１他能说会道，能写会算。２老师傅可真能睡。。。。可能补语 二、B 类可能补语（一）B 类可能补语表示的语法意义 B 类可能补语是由＂得／不＋了＂构成的。＂了＂的本义是＂完＂、＂结束＂，由＂得／不＋了＂构成的可能补语用在某些动词后。＂了＂有时仍表示＂完、掉＂等结果意义。例如：１‌​这个西瓜太大，咱们俩吃不了。（吃不完）２这件事我总也忘不了。（忘不掉）这类＂得／不＋了＂与A 类可能补语所表示的意思是一样的，所以应属于A类。  
> **username_2**: I don't see what you're trying to say by copying that other than there are more things you can express with 能....  
> **username_3**: Q is about difference between 能 and 得／不＋了，incidentally preceding earlier was positioned below，but after correcting 能源 to 能愿 could no longer be moved to the previous position。  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2015-10-14. Score: 1

The main difference between -得了 and 能 is that -得了 can only be used with a fairly small subset of verbs, while 能 can be used with most verbs; for example, we can say 能看見, but 看見得了 sounds quite odd to me.

I believe this is because -得了 has a more specific meaning than 能, which is as generic as you can get, but I can't immediately provide a reference for this. Another important difference is that 能 can be used with a whole clause:

他還能一邊唱一邊跳, 真厲害. He can sing and dance at the same time, impressive!

There is no way to stick -得了 into this kind of sentence; it is a verbal affix, so can only be used as part of a relatively simple sentence.

**Later note**: I changed the example above from 能看 to 能看見. This may work better. I Still haven't found leading references, but here is one article that discusses some of this: 郝維 2001〈補語的可能式研究綜述〉，《漢語學習》3：29-34. In particular, the article notes that -得了 is usually used for actions that can be completed. This seems right, so in the zillions of cases where we want to speak of general ability, -得了 is often inappropriate. An example:

他能彈鋼琴 He can play the piano. (ok)  
?? 他彈得了鋼琴 He can (finish) playing the piano. (odd)

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: I feel like you can just say 看得见 to express nearly the same meaning as 能看见。 For example: A： 你做的地方能看见老师吗？ B： 看不见。  
> **username_2**: Also, A:你能弹钢琴吗？B:弹不了。Maybe it just works for questions. Though I feel for cases where you want to express ability 会 might be utilized more than 能.  

---

