potential verb
How to make potential verb in Japanese.
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・ Meaning: can, be able to~
When someone want to say ” can ( ability)” in Japanese, you can use potential verbs.
All verbs conjugated into the potential form become a ru-verb.
The conjugations patterns is below:
Group 1 verbs
Replace ” u” with ” eru”
Dictionary form |
Potential form |
行く Iku |
行ける Ikeru |
話す Hanasu |
話せる Hanaseru |
書く Kaku |
書ける Kakeru |
遊ぶ Asobu |
遊べる Asoberu |
飲む Nomu |
飲める Nomeru |
Examples of Group 1 verb.
私はお酒を飲めます。
I can drink sake.
私は英語が話せません。
I can’t speak English.
台風が来たので、学校に行けませんでした。
I couldn’t go to school because Typhoon came.
Group 2 verbs
Replace ” ru” with ” rareru”
Dictionary form |
Potential form |
食べる Taberu |
食べられる Taberareru |
寝る Neru |
寝られる Nerareru |
見る Miru |
見られるMirareru |
出る Deru |
出られるDerareru |
調べる Shiraberu |
調べられるShiraberareru |
Examples of Group 2 verb.
よく寝られましたか?
Did you sleep well?
刺身を食べられますか?
Can you eat row fish?
友達のおかげで、野球はただで見られた。
my co-worker gives me a free ticket, I was able to watch the baseball game.
Irregular verb
Dictionary form |
Potential form |
来る Kuru |
来られる Korareru |
Keep up with your studies!
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