Learn JapaneseLesson 119: Indicating ability with the potential form
In Japanese the ability to perform an action is expressed through conjugation of the verb instead of adding words like "can" or "able to." This tense is called the potential form.
All potential forms are verbs ending in -る, and all potential forms are Group 2 verbs. Therefore, to convert a verb in potential form into -ます form, simply replace the -る ending with -ます.
How the verb is conjugated depends on whether the verb ends in -る or not.
For verbs with -る endings, change the -る ending into -られる.
| Verbs ending in -る | 食べる | 作る |
|---|---|---|
| Potential form | 食べられる | 作られる |
| Polite potential form | 食べられます | 作られます |
| Translation | to be able to eat | to be able to make |
For non -る endings, change the final う-sound into an え-sound, and add -る as ending.
| Verbs not ending in -る | 行く | 話す | 飲む |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potential form | 行ける | 話せる | 飲める |
| Polite potential form | 行けます | 話せます | 飲めます |
| Translation | to be able to go | to be able to speak | to be able to drink |
The potential forms of, する and 来る are special cases.
| Special cases | する | 来る |
|---|---|---|
| Potential form | できる | 来られる |
| Polite potential form | できます | 来られます |
| Translation | to be able to do | to be able to come |
When using the potential form, what in English would be the object, is the subject in Japanese. Therefore you will see the subject particle が where you would expect the object particle を.
Lesson contributors
Erik