Potential Form (できる & V-られる)
Learning Objectives
- Understand the difference between personal ability and situational possibility.
- Form the potential form for Group 1, Group 2, and Irregular verbs.
- Learn the particle change from を to が when using potential verbs.
- Practice using できる as an independent verb for ability.
In English, we simply add “can” or “be able to” before a verb. In Japanese, we conjugate the verb into the Potential Form (可能形 - kanoukei). This form is used to express both personal ability (skills you possess) and situational possibility (things conditions allow you to do). Let’s unlock the power of “can”!
1. Using できる for Nouns and Group 3
Before we look at conjugation, it is easiest to start with the verb できる (to be able to do/to be possible).
If a noun represents an action or a skill (like “tennis”, “driving”, “Japanese”), you can simply say:
[Noun] が できる
私は日本語ができます。
watashi wa nihongo ga dekimasu.
I can speak/use Japanese.
田中さんはテニスができません。
Tanaka-san wa tenisu ga dekimasen.
Mr. Tanaka cannot play tennis.
For Group 3 Verbs (Suru verbs), the potential form of する is simply できる. The potential form of 来る (kuru) is 来られる (korareru).
明日、パーティーに来られますか。
ashita, paatii ni koraremasu ka.
Can you come to the party tomorrow?
2. Conjugating Group 1 (U-Verbs)
For Group 1 verbs, drop the final 〜u sound and change it to the 〜eru sound. In hiragana terms, change the U-row character to the E-row character, and add る.
Examples:
- 書く (kaku) → 書ける (kakeru) : Can write
- 泳ぐ (oyogu) → 泳げる (oyogeru) : Can swim
- 飲む (nomu) → 飲める (nomeru) : Can drink
- 買う (kau) → 買える (kaeru) : Can buy
私はたくさんビールを飲めます。
watashi wa takusan biiru o nomemasu.
I can drink a lot of beer.
彼は漢字が書けません。
kare wa kanji ga kakemasen.
He cannot write kanji.
この川で泳げますか。
kono kawa de oyogemasu ka.
Can you swim in this river?
日本料理が一人で作れます。
nihon ryouri ga hitori de tsukuremasu.
I can make Japanese food by myself.
[!IMPORTANT] When a verb changes to the potential form, the direct object particle を usually changes to が. Example: 漢字を書く (I write kanji) ➔ 漢字が書ける (I can write kanji).
3. Conjugating Group 2 (Ru-Verbs)
For Group 2 verbs, drop the る and add られる.
Examples:
- 食べる (taberu) → 食べられる (taberareru) : Can eat
- 見る (miru) → 見られる (mirareru) : Can see
- 起きる (okiru) → 起きられる (okirareru) : Can wake up
私は納豆が食べられます。
watashi wa nattou ga taberaremasu.
I can eat natto.
明日は早く起きられません。
ashita wa hayaku okiraremasen.
I cannot wake up early tomorrow.
日本語の映画が見られます。
nihongo no eiga ga miraremasu.
I can watch Japanese movies.
このアパートでペットが飼えますか。
kono apaato de petto ga kaemasu ka.
Can I keep a pet in this apartment? (Note: Kau is Group 1, but this shows situational possibility).
[!NOTE] In modern casual Japanese, many people drop the
らin Group 2 potential verbs (known as “ra-nuki kotoba”). For example, saying食べれるinstead of食べられる. For the JLPT N4, you must know the properられるform.
4. Ability vs. Possibility
The potential form in Japanese seamlessly covers two different English concepts:
- Ability (能力): The physical or mental skill you possess. (e.g., I can swim 100 meters).
- Possibility/Situational (状況可能): What the environment allows you to do. (e.g., I can buy a ticket here).
私の弟はまだ自転車に乗れません。
watashi no otouto wa mada jitensha ni noremasen.
My younger brother cannot ride a bicycle yet. (Ability)
この図書館では、映画が見られます。
kono toshokan de wa, eiga ga miraremasu.
In this library, you can watch movies. (Possibility/Situation)
このカードでチケットが買えます。
kono kaado de chiketto ga kaemasu.
With this card, you can buy a ticket. (Possibility/Situation)
5. Cultural Insight: Expressing Humility with Ability
In Japanese culture, explicitly stating “I can do [X]” (〜ができる) can sometimes sound a bit boastful or overly direct. When Japanese people talk about their own skills, especially in formal or semi-formal situations, they often use hedging words like 少し (a little) or まだまだ (not yet/still a long way to go) to show humility.
For example, if someone asks “Can you speak Japanese?”, a humble response would be:
「はい、少しだけ話せます。」 (Yes, I can speak just a little.)
Even if the speaker is quite fluent, they might avoid saying 「はい、ペラペラです」 (Yes, I am fluent).
Conversely, when talking about others, the potential form is a great way to show respect for their accomplishments.
Contextual Dialogues
1. Talking About Skills (スキルの話)
Listen to how Tanaka and Suzuki talk about their skills.
鈴木さん、英語が話せますか。
Suzuki-san, eigo ga hanasemasu ka.
Suzuki, can you speak English?
いいえ、英語は全然話せません。でも、スペイン語が少し読めます。
Iie, eigo wa zenzen hanasemasen. Demo, supeingo ga sukoshi yomemasu.
No, I cannot speak English at all. But, I can read a little bit of Spanish.
すごいですね！書くこともできますか。
Sugoi desu ne! Kaku koto mo dekimasu ka.
That's amazing! Can you write it too?
いいえ、難しい漢字や言葉はまだ書けません。
Iie, muzukashii kanji ya kotoba wa mada kakemasen.
No, I cannot write difficult kanji or words yet.
2. Can we use the meeting room? (会議室が使えますか)
Practical use of potential form for situational possibility.
ところで、今日会議室が使えますか。
Tokorode, kyou kaigishitsu ga tsukaemasu ka.
By the way, can we use the meeting room today?
はい、午後三時から使えますよ。
Hai, gogo san-ji kara tsukaemasu yo.
Yes, you can use it from 3 PM.
そうですか。今予約できますか。
Sou desu ka. Ima yoyaku dekimasu ka.
I see. Can I make a reservation now?
はい、パソコンでできますよ。
Hai, pasokon de dekimasu yo.
Yes, you can do it on your computer.
Chapter Summary
- 1For nouns and Suru verbs, use [Noun]ができる to express ability.
- 2Group 1 verbs change the 'u' sound to 'e' and add 'ru' (e.g., 飲む → 飲める).
- 3Group 2 verbs drop 'ru' and add 'rareru' (e.g., 食べる → 食べられる).
- 4Irregular verbs: する becomes できる, 来る becomes 来られる.
- 5The direct object particle 'を' changes to 'が' when paired with the potential form.
- 6The potential form can express both personal ability and situational possibility.
Knowledge Check
Test your understanding of the Potential form!
Quiz
What is the potential form of the Group 1 verb '行く' (iku)?