Potential Form: Expressing Ability
Quick Answer: Group 1: change u-sound to e-sound + る (飲む→飲める, 書く→書ける). Group 2: drop る→られる (食べる→食べられる, though 食べれる is common in speech). Irregular: する→できる, 来る→来られる. The object often takes が instead of を.
Saying 'can do' and 'able to' in Japanese
Category: Verb Forms
The Rule
Group 1: change u-sound to e-sound + る (飲む→飲める, 書く→書ける). Group 2: drop る→られる (食べる→食べられる, though 食べれる is common in speech). Irregular: する→できる, 来る→来られる. The object often takes が instead of を.
Why This Matters
English uses 'can' before the verb; Japanese modifies the verb ending itself. The biggest surprise for English speakers: potential verbs often take が for the object, not を. '日本語が話せます' (can speak Japanese) — Japanese becomes the subject of ability, not the object of action.
Examples
• 日本語が話せますか？ — "Can you speak Japanese?" [Potential + が for the 'object' of ability] • この漢字が読めません。 — "I can't read this kanji." [読む → 読める (Group 1 potential)] • 明日は来られますか？ — "Can you come tomorrow?" [来る → 来られる (irregular potential)] • 辛い物は食べられません。 — "I can't eat spicy food." [食べる → 食べられる (Group 2 potential)]
Common Mistakes
❌ 泳ぐれる ✅ 泳げる → Group 1: change to e-row, don't add れる. 泳ぐ → 泳げる (ぐ→げ+る). れる is for Group 2 (られる) ❌ 日本語を話せます ✅ 日本語が話せます → With potential form, the 'object' typically takes が, not を. を is grammatically possible but が is more natural and standard
Quick Tip
Group 1 potential is easy: u→e+る. For Group 2, the full form is られる but colloquial speech drops ら (食べられる→食べれる). This 'ra-nuki' is very common but technically informal.
Group 1 potential is easy: u→e+る. For Group 2, the full form is られる but colloquial speech drops ら (食べられる→食べれる). This 'ra-nuki' is very common but technically informal.
Examples
Common Mistakes
Incorrect: 泳ぐれる → Correct: 泳げる. Group 1: change to e-row, don't add れる. 泳ぐ → 泳げる (ぐ→げ+る). れる is for Group 2 (られる)
Incorrect: 日本語を話せます → Correct: 日本語が話せます. With potential form, the 'object' typically takes が, not を. を is grammatically possible but が is more natural and standard
Quiz
What is the potential form of 書く (kaku, to write)?