Potential Form · Express ability and possibility
The potential form is used to express that someone can or is able to do something. Godan verbs shift to the え-row, ichidan verbs add られる, する becomes できる, and 来る becomes 来られる.
Simplified heuristic — may be inaccurate for some irregular verbs
Example: 日本語が話せます。（I can speak Japanese.）
| Type | Ending | Dictionary form | Rule | Potential form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Godan | く | 書く | う-row → え-row + る | 書ける |
Godan | ぐ | 泳ぐ | う-row → え-row + る | 泳げる |
Godan | す | 話す | う-row → え-row + る | 話せる |
Godan | つ | 待つ | う-row → え-row + る | 待てる |
Godan | む | 飲む | う-row → え-row + る | 飲める |
Godan | ぶ | 遊ぶ | う-row → え-row + る | 遊べる |
Godan | る | 帰る | う-row → え-row + る | 帰れる |
Godan | う | 買う | う-row → え-row + る | 買える |
Ichidan | る | 食べる | Drop る + られる | 食べられる |
Ichidan | る | 見る | Drop る + られる | 見られる |
Irregular | — | する | する → できる | できる |
Irregular | — | 来る | 来る → 来られる | 来られる |
A formal way to express ability or possibility. Works with any verb in dictionary form.
Structure: Verb dictionary form + ことができる
Use the potential form directly for casual speech. The result verb conjugates like an ichidan verb.
Structure: Subject は/が + potential verb
With potential verbs, the object particle を often changes to が.
Structure: Object が + potential verb
Express that someone has become able to do something over time.
Structure: Verb dictionary form / potential form + ようになる
Select the correct potential form
Select the correct potential form
Select the correct potential form
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