Introduction
Learning potential verbs in Japanese can help you express your abilities and possibilities. In this blog post, we will explore how to use potential verbs clearly and simply.
What It Means
Potential verbs are used to say that someone “can” or “has the ability to” do something, or that something is “possible.”
When You Use It
You use potential verbs when you want to talk about what you or others can do. They are also used to express if something is possible or not.
Examples
Here are some examples to help you understand how to use potential verbs:
- 私は日本語が話せます。(Watashi wa nihongo ga hanasemasu.)
I can speak Japanese. - 私は泳げないんです。(Watashi wa oyogenain desu.)
(The truth is) I cannot swim. - 雨が降ったので、散歩に行けませんでした。(Ame ga futta node, sanpo ni ikemasen deshita.)
We could not go for a walk because it rained.
How to Form Potential Verbs
To make potential verbs, follow these rules:
Ru-verbs: Drop the final -ru and add -rareru.
- 見る (miru) → 見られる (mirareru)
U-verbs: Drop the final -u and add -eru.
- 行く (iku) → 行ける (ikeru)
- 作る (tsukuru) → 作れる (tsukureru)
- 話す (hanasu) → 話せる (hanaseru)
- 泳ぐ (oyogu) → 泳げる (oyogeru)
- 待つ (matsu) → 待てる (materu)
- 遊ぶ (asobu) → 遊べる (asoberu)
- 死ぬ (shinu) → 死ねる (shineru)
- 買う (kau) → 買える (kaeru)
- 読む (yomu) → 読める (yomeru)
Irregular verbs:
- くる (kuru) → こられる (korareru)
- する (suru) → できる (dekiru)
Note
There are shorter forms for ru-verbs and the irregular verb くる, which use the suffix -reru instead of -rareru. These forms, like 見れる (mireru), are widely used in casual speech but are still not approved in formal grammar. Grammar and spelling checker apps may suggest rewriting these ra-less forms.
You can also express the idea of “can do” using a more complex construction: verb dictionary form + ことができる.
- マリアさんはギターを弾くことができます。(Maria-san wa gitaa o hiku koto ga dekimasu.)
Maria can play the guitar. - このアパートではペットを飼うことができません。(Kono apaato de wa petto o kau koto ga dekimasen.)
You cannot keep pets in this apartment.
When you have an を-taking verb in the ことができる construction, you keep the original particle を, unlike with the potential verbs.
Conclusion
Mastering potential verbs allows you to express what you can do and what is possible in Japanese.
