In Japanese, potential forms are used to show that someone can or might do something. In other words, to discuss things that could potentially happen.
There are two main ways to form potential verbs in Japanese:
The short potential form: verb + られる transcribed rareru
The long potential form: verb + ことができる transcribed koto ga dekiru
Although we use Japanese potential forms in many of the same situations where you would use “can” in English, the patterns aren’t exactly the same. I often see learners overusing the forms or forgetting to use them where necessary.
In this article, we’ll discuss how to form Japanese potential forms and when and how to use them in Japanese sentences. Everyone has the potential to become fluent in Japanese. Let’s get to it!
How to make the short potential form?
As mentioned above, we have two kinds of potential forms: short form and long form. First, we are going to focus on the short form. It is made by changing the form of a verb, but how to change it varies depending on the verb group. Let’s see them one by one.
Ru-verbs
To make the potential form of ru-verbs, simply remove the final syllable る transcribed ru of ru-verbs and add られる transcribed rareru.
| Dictionary Form | Short Potential Form |
|---|---|
たべる Transcription: taberu Translation: to eat | たべられる Transcription: taberareru Translation: can eat |
みる Transcription: miru Translation: to watch | みられる Transcription: mirareru Translation: can watch |
U-verbs
To make the potential form of u-verbs, drop the final “u” sound of u-verbs and add “eru.” For instance, when you make the potential form of the u-verb あう transcribed au, replace “u” with “e” and add “ru,” which results in あえる transcribed aeru.
| Dictionary Form | Short Potential Form |
|---|---|
いく Transcription: iku Translation: to go | いける Transcription: ikeru Translation: can go |
はなす Transcription: hanasu Translation: to speak | はなせる Transcription: hanaseru Translation: can speak |
Irregular verbs
Unfortunately, there is no rule for irregular verbs like する transcribed suru and くる transcribed kuru. You just have to memorize their potential forms. 😢
| Dictionary Form | Short Potential Form |
|---|---|
する Transcription: suru Translation: to do | できる Transcription: dekiru Translation: can do |
くる Transcription: kuru Translation: to come | こられる Transcription: korareru Translation: can come |
You'll also use the potential verb できる transcribed dekiru to form the potential forms of verbs with a noun + する transcribed suru structure, like 勉強する transcribed benkyōsurumeaning to study and 掃除する transcribed sōji surumeaning to clean.
| Dictionary Form | Short Potential Form |
|---|---|
勉強する Transcription: benkyō suru Translation: to study | 勉強できる Transcription: benkyō dekiru Translation: can study |
How to make the long potential form?
Long potential forms are slightly longer but easier to create. You can simply add ことができる transcribed koto ga dekiru to the dictionary form of each verb.
| Dictionary Form | Short Potential Form |
|---|---|
みる Transcription: miru Translation: to watch | みることができる Transcription: miru koto ga dekiru Translation: can watch |
To negate this form, simply change できる to its negative form, できない transcribed dekinai.
How to conjugate the potential form
Potential forms, whether short or long, conjugate as regular ru-verbs. This is true regardless of the verb category of the base verb.
| Form | Short Potential Verb | Long Potential Verb |
|---|---|---|
| Plain | たべられる Transcription: taberareru Translation: can eat | みることができる Transcription: miru koto ga dekiru Translation: can watch |
| Plain Negative | たべられない Transcription: taberarenai Translation: cannot eat | みることができない Transcription: miru koto ga dekinai Translation: cannot watch |
| Polite | たべられます Transcription: taberaremasu Translation: can eat (polite) | みることができます Transcription: miru koto ga dekimasu Translation: can watch (polite |
| -te Form | たべられて Transcription: taberarete Translation: can eat (and...) | みることができて Transcription: miru koto ga dekite Translation: can watch (and...) |
Short vs. long potential forms: What's the difference?
In most cases, the short potential form is used, but there are some cases where the long form is preferred:
Showing formality. The long form sounds formal and bookish. It’s used often in formal writing.
Clarifying the meaning. The long form is also used to clarify the meaning when the short potential forms are identical to other grammatical forms. For instance, the potential form of a ru-verb is exactly the same as its passive and honorific forms.
People usually decide the meaning depending on the context, but if you want to avoid a misunderstanding, you can use the long form instead of the short form.
教えられます。Transcription: Oshieraremasu.Translation: Possible interpretations:
a) I can teach.
b) (Someone) is taught.
c) Someone teaches (respectfully).short form is ambiguous教えることができます。Transcription: Oshieru koto ga dekimasu.Translation: I can teach.long form clarifies meaning
What particles to use with the potential form?
You can use potential forms in sentences like regular verbs, but there are three points you need to know about particles used with the forms.
Mark the subject with に [ni]
Most often, a potential verb will be used without a subject, since we assume, from context, that you're talking about your own capabilities. For example:
However, if you want to say who is or isn't able to do something, you'll mark that subject with the particle に transcribed ni.
If you want to compare the capabilities of two individuals, you may need to add the contrast marker は transcribed wa after the particle に transcribed ni.
Mark the object with を [o] or が [ga]
You can use either を transcribed o or が transcribed ga to mark the direct object of a potential verb. This is different from non-potential verbs, where the direct object is always marked by を transcribed o.
| Non-potential form | Potential form |
|---|---|
漢字を書きます。 Transcription: Kanji o kakimasu. Translation: I write Kanji. | 漢字 を・が 書けます。 Transcription: Kanji o / ga kakemasu. Translation: I can write Kanji. |
日本語を話します。 Transcription: Nihongo o hanashimasu. Translation: I speak Japanese. | 日本語 を・が 話せます。 Transcription: Nihongo o / ga hanasemasu. Translation: I can speak Japanese. |
In most cases, it doesn't matter whether the direct object of a potential verb is marked with を transcribed o or が transcribed ga. It's just a matter of style, like the difference between "I can do that" and "It's possible for me to do that."
However, there are some special cases that you should be aware of:
When the subject expresses volition or control over the outcome, it's best to mark the direct object with を transcribed o.
Speaker A:レポートはもう終わりましたか。Transcription: Repōto ha mō owarimashita ka.Translation: Did you finish your report?Speaker B (Natural Response)✅すみません、まだです。でも、明日までには、レポートを書けると思います。Transcription: Sumimasen, mada desu. Demo, ashita made ni wa, repōto o kakeru to omoimasu.Translation: Sorry, not yet. But I think I can write the report by tomorrow.This sounds natural, since the speaker has control over whether the report gets finished.Speaker B (unnatural response)❓ すみません、まだです。でも、明日までには、レポートが書けると思います。Transcription: Sumimasen, mada desu. Demo, ashita made ni wa, repōto ga kakeru to omoimasu.This sounds less natural, since the speaker should have control over whether the report gets finished.When the subject is included, marked by に transcribed ni, the object can only be marked by が transcribed ga.
✅ 犬に、そんなことができるとは思いません。Transcription: Inu ni son’na koto ga dekiru towa omoimasen.Translation: I don’t think dogs can do things like that.❌ 犬に、そんなことをできるとは思いません。Transcription: Inu ni son’na koto o dekiru towa omoimasen.Translation: I don’t think dogs can do things like that.Literally: For dogs, I don’t think it’s possible to do things like that.The direct object of the potential form できる transcribed dekirumeaning can do is only ever marked by が transcribed ga. Because できる transcribed dekiru is the short potential form of する transcribed suru, this rule affects all verbs with the structure noun + する transcribed suru!
Non-potential form Potential form 田中さんはスポーツをします。Transcription: Tanaka san wa supōtsu o shimasu.Translation: Tanaka plays (lit. does) sports.田中さんはスポーツができます。Transcription: Tanaka san wa supōtsu ga dekimasu.Translation: Tanaka can play (lit. do) sports.The particle を transcribed o is also used to indicate space or a place that one departs from. In this case, it cannot be replaced with が transcribed ga.
Non-potential form Potential form ８時までに家を出ます。Transcription: Hachi ji made ni ie o demasu.Translation: I will leave my house by 8 a.m.✅ ８時までに家を出られます。Transcription: Hachi ji made ni ie o deraremasu.Translation: I can leave my house by 8 a.m.❌ ８時までに家が出られます。Transcription: Hachi ji made ni ie ga deraremasu.
When to use the potential form?
Potential forms are mainly used to indicate:
Someone is able to do something.
That it's possible for someone to do something.
An action can be done to something.
Let's look at each of these in more detail!
Someone is able to do something
Potential forms indicate that somebody has the ability or skill to do something.
You can ask about somebody’s ability in questions.
It's possible for someone to do something
Potential forms also express a that an action could happen because somebody is able to do it.
The possibility of action is determined based on two factors: ability and situation. Let’s take a look at examples below for each factor.
Someone's abilities make it possible:
- たくさん練習したから、明日の試合は絶対に勝てます。Transcription: Takusan renshū shita kara, ashita no shiai wa zettai ni katemasu.Translation: Since I practiced a lot, I will definitely (lit. it is possible to) win the game tomorrow.The speaker's skills are what make winning possible.
- 山田さんはいつも成績がいいから、いい大学に入れると思います。Transcription: Yamada san wa itsumo seiseki ga ii kara, ii daigaku ni haireru to omoimasu.Translation: Since Mr. Yamada always gets good grades, I think (lit. there is a possibility) that he will get accepted into a good college.Mr. Yamada's skills and abilities make it possible for him to get into a good college.
The situation makes it possible:
- 今日は仕事が早く終わったので、５時に家に帰れます。Transcription: Kyō wa shigoto ga hayaku owatta node, goji ni ie ni kaeremasu.Translation: As my work finished early, I can go home at 5pm today.The speaker's work situation makes it possible for them to go home early.
- 風邪を引いたので、パーティに行けません。Transcription: Kaze o hiita node, pātii ni ikemasen.Translation: Since I caught a cold, I cannot go to the party.The speaker's health makes it impossible to go to the party.
You can also ask what someone might do by using the potential form in a question.
An action can be done to something
Lastly, potential forms indicate that something is capable of undergoing an action. The meaning is a lot like the structure “X is verb-able” in English.
When you want to say that something is "verb-able" in Japanese, that subject will need to be marked by は transcribed wa instead of を transcribed o, because they are considered the topic of the sentence.
When to use the past tense of a potential verb?
When the potential form is used in the past tense, it indicates that someone had an ability in the past. Sometimes statements like this can be used to imply that they actually proved their skill by completing the task.
Someone had an ability in the past
past potential form (enabling condition)present potential form前はたくさん食べられましたけど、今は食べられません。Transcription: Mae wa takusan taberaremashita kedo, ima wa taberaremasen.Translation: I was able to eat a lot before, but cannot eat now.Someone proved their ability to complete an action by completing it
past potential form (completed action)日本に旅行した時、お店の人と日本語で話せました。Transcription: Nihon ni ryokō shita toki, omise no hito to nihongo de hanasemashita.Translation: When I was traveling in Japan, I was able to talk to staff in Japanese.
When NOT to use the potential form?
We have seen the functions of potential forms so far. It’s also important to understand when we cannot use them. Common mistakes in overusing potential forms can be divided into two types: verb types and direct translations from the English word “can.” Let’s look into each type.
Some verbs do not have a potential form
Only verbs for actions that are done on purpose should be used in the potential form. Verbs that are not actions, or that are not done on purpose, should never be used in the potential form.
Here are some types verbs that should never be potential:
Verbs for unintentional change.
Intransitive verbs that represent unintentional or uncontrollable changes, like "growing," "appearing," or "raining" should not be used in the potential form.
✅ 雨が降ります。Transcription: Ame ga furimasu.Translation: It will rain.❌ 雨が降れます。Transcription: Ame ga furemasu.Non-volitional verbs.
When I was in school, I couldn’t understand physics no matter how hard I tried (and still cannot!). Do you have a similar experience?
Understanding something, passing tests, etc.; the completion of these actions is beyond our control. This type of verbs does not have the potential form either. They include, but are not limited to: 分かる transcribed wakarumeaning to understand, 要る transcribed irumeaning to need, and 受かる transcribed ukarumeaning to pass.
✅ 英語が分かります。Transcription: Eigo ga wakarimasu.Translation: I understand English.❌ 英語が分かれます。Transcription: Eigo ga wakaremasu.
We don't always translate "can" using a potential form
Although we often use Japanese potential forms to translate English sentences that use the verb "can," the two aren't exactly equivalent. There are three main cases where you use "can" in English, but we don't use the potential form in Japanese.
Permission or request
In English, you use "can" to ask for permission or make a request, as in "Can I ask a question?". In Japanese, you will not use the potential form to do this.
✅ お腹が痛いから、トイレに行ってもいいですか。Transcription: Onakaga itai kara, toire ni ittemo iidesu ka.Translation: Can I go to the restroom because I have a stomachache?❓ お腹が痛いから、トイレに行けますか。Transcription: Onakaga itai kara, toire ni ikemasuka.Translation:Literally: Am I capable of going to the restroom because I have a stomachache?Conditional
The English verb "can" sometimes has the nuance of a conditional, as in "I’m not sure how I can explain this." In Japanese, we have to use other grammar patterns for the conditional, such as たら transcribed tarameaning when/if and 〜ば transcribed bameaning if.
✅ どうやって説明したらいいか分かりません。Transcription: Dōyatte setsumei shitara ii ka wakarimasen.Translation: I’m not sure how I can explain (this).❓ どうやって説明できるか分かりません。Transcription: Dōyatte setsumei dekiru ka wakarimasen.Translation:Literally: I’m not sure how I am capable of explaining (this).Speaker’s opinion.
In English, we often say that something "can" be a certain way as a way to express an attitude or opinion about that thing. The Japanese potential form is not used this way because there are a lot of other expressions available, such as 〜かもしれない transcribed kamoshirenaimeaning might and 〜にちがいない transcribed ni chigainaimeaning must be.
おいしいレストランを見つけるのは難しいかもしれません。Transcription: Oishii resutoran o mitsukeru no wa muzukasii kamo siremasen.Translation: Finding a good restaurant can be difficult.あの人は田中さんじゃないはずです。たしか田中さんは背が高かったですよ。Transcription: Ano hito wa tanaka san janai hazu desu. Tashika tanaka san wa se ga takakatta desu yo.Translation: That person cannot be Mr. Tanaka. If I remember correctly, Mr. Tanaka was tall.
To sum up
In this post, we covered how to use short and long potential forms and when to use and when not to use potential forms. We use the Japanese potential form to express...
One's capability to complete an action.
That it's possible that someone might complete an action, based on their ability or situation.
An action that can be done to something. In English, this is usually expressed with the "-able" and "-ible" suffixes.
Have a look at the differences between "can" and the Japanese potential form:
| Japanese potential form | English “can” | |
|---|---|---|
One’s capability/possibility | ✅ | ✅ |
Action that can be done | ✅ | ❌ (-able, -ible) |
Permission/request | ❓ | ✅ |
Conditional | ❌ | ✅ |
Speaker’s evaluation | ❌ | ✅ |
Ready to practice what you've learned? Check out our Japanese potential form exercises to test your skills! Happy learning!
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