{"id":2132,"date":"2009-11-04T06:32:27","date_gmt":"2009-11-04T08:32:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/?p=2132"},"modified":"2026-08-15T17:29:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-15T20:29:12","slug":"potential-form-of-japanese-verbs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/forma-potencial-dos-verbos-japoneses\/","title":{"rendered":"Potential form of Japanese verbs: practical guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>THE <strong>potential form in Japanese<\/strong> indicates that someone can perform an action or that an action is possible under current conditions. For example, <span lang=\"ja\">\u8a71\u305b\u307e\u3059<\/span> means \u201cI can speak,\u201d while <span lang=\"ja\">\u4f7f\u3048\u307e\u305b\u3093<\/span> can mean \u201cit is not possible to use.\u201d.<\/p>\n\n<p>This form is not, by itself, formal or informal. Politeness depends on the ending: <span lang=\"ja\">\u8a71\u305b\u308b<\/span> belongs to the plain style and <span lang=\"ja\">\u8a71\u305b\u307e\u3059<\/span> to the polite style. The construction <span lang=\"ja\">verb + \u3053\u3068\u304c\u3067\u304d\u308b<\/span> expresses similar meanings and can also appear in both registers.<\/p>\n\n<h2>What does the potential form express?<\/h2>\n\n<p>The potential form, called <span lang=\"ja\">\u53ef\u80fd\u5f62<\/span> (<em>kan\u014dkei<\/em>), presents an action as possible. The context shows whether the sentence talks about a person's ability, an opportunity, or an external condition.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong><span lang=\"ja\">\u79c1\u306f\u65e5\u672c\u8a9e\u304c\u8a71\u305b\u307e\u3059\u3002<\/span><\/strong><br \/><span lang=\"ja\">\u308f\u305f\u3057\u306f \u306b\u307b\u3093\u3054\u304c \u306f\u306a\u305b\u307e\u3059\u3002<\/span><br \/><em>Watashi wa nihongo ga hanasemasu.<\/em><br \/>I can speak Japanese.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong><span lang=\"ja\">\u3053\u306e\u7f8e\u8853\u9928\u3067\u306f\u5199\u771f\u304c\u64ae\u308c\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002<\/span><\/strong><br \/><span lang=\"ja\">\u3053\u306e \u3073\u3058\u3085\u3064\u304b\u3093\u3067\u306f \u3057\u3083\u3057\u3093\u304c \u3068\u308c\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002<\/span><br \/><em>Kono bijutsukan de wa shashin ga toremasen.<\/em><br \/>It is not possible to take photos in this museum.<\/p>\n\n<p>The first sentence describes an ability. The second presents an impossibility caused by the rules or conditions of the place. In Portuguese, the two ideas are often translated with \u201cpoder\u201d or \u201cconseguir.\u201d.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Are the potential form and \u3053\u3068\u304c\u3067\u304d\u308b equivalent?<\/h2>\n\n<p>The two constructions can express ability and possibility. There is no rule according to which <span lang=\"ja\">\u3053\u3068\u304c\u3067\u304d\u308b<\/span> is necessarily informal and the potential form is formal. Compare:<\/p>\n\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr><th>Structure<\/th><th>Plain style<\/th><th>Polite style<\/th><\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr><td>Potential form<\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u65e5\u672c\u8a9e\u304c\u8a71\u305b\u308b<\/span><\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u65e5\u672c\u8a9e\u304c\u8a71\u305b\u307e\u3059<\/span><\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u3053\u3068\u304c\u3067\u304d\u308b<\/span><\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u65e5\u672c\u8a9e\u3092\u8a71\u3059\u3053\u3068\u304c\u3067\u304d\u308b<\/span><\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u65e5\u672c\u8a9e\u3092\u8a71\u3059\u3053\u3068\u304c\u3067\u304d\u307e\u3059<\/span><\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<p>The potential form tends to be more compact. <span lang=\"ja\">\u3053\u3068\u304c\u3067\u304d\u308b<\/span> makes the action explicit as a unit \u2014 literally, \u201cit is possible to do the act of\u2026\u201d. Therefore, it appears frequently in explanations about services, rules, resources, and available activities. The choice depends on the sentence and context, not on a fixed formality opposition.<\/p>\n\n<h2>How to form verbs in the potential form<\/h2>\n\n<p>First, identify whether the verb is godan, ichidan, or irregular. If this division is not yet clear, review the <a href=\"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/japanese-verb-groups\/\">Verb groups in Japanese<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Godan verbs: change from the U column to the E column and add \u308b<\/h3>\n\n<p>In godan verbs, the last mora changes to the corresponding one in the E column and receives <span lang=\"ja\">\u308b<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr><th>Ending<\/th><th>Change<\/th><th>Example<\/th><th>Potential form<\/th><\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u3046<\/span><\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u3048\u308b<\/span><\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u8cb7\u3046<\/span> (<em>kau<\/em>)<\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u8cb7\u3048\u308b<\/span> (<em>kaeru<\/em>)<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u304f<\/span><\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u3051\u308b<\/span><\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u66f8\u304f<\/span> (<em>kaku<\/em>)<\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u66f8\u3051\u308b<\/span> (<em>kakeru<\/em>)<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u3050<\/span><\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u3052\u308b<\/span><\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u6cf3\u3050<\/span> (<em>oyogu<\/em>)<\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u6cf3\u3052\u308b<\/span> (<em>oyogeru<\/em>)<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u3059<\/span><\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u305b\u308b<\/span><\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u8a71\u3059<\/span> (<em>hanasu<\/em>)<\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u8a71\u305b\u308b<\/span> (<em>hanaseru<\/em>)<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u3064<\/span><\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u3066\u308b<\/span><\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u5f85\u3064<\/span> (<em>matsu<\/em>)<\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u5f85\u3066\u308b<\/span> (<em>materu<\/em>)<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u306c<\/span><\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u306d\u308b<\/span><\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u6b7b\u306c<\/span> (<em>shinu<\/em>)<\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u6b7b\u306d\u308b<\/span> (<em>shineru<\/em>)<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u3076<\/span><\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u3079\u308b<\/span><\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u904a\u3076<\/span> (<em>asobu<\/em>)<\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u904a\u3079\u308b<\/span> (<em>asoberu<\/em>)<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u3080<\/span><\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u3081\u308b<\/span><\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u8aad\u3080<\/span> (<em>yomu<\/em>)<\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u8aad\u3081\u308b<\/span> (<em>yomeru<\/em>)<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u308b<\/span><\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u308c\u308b<\/span><\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u5e30\u308b<\/span> (<em>kaeru<\/em>)<\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u5e30\u308c\u308b<\/span> (<em>kaereru<\/em>)<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<p>The verb <span lang=\"ja\">\u5e30\u308b<\/span> ends in <span lang=\"ja\">\u308b<\/span>, but it's godan. Therefore, the form <span lang=\"ja\">\u5e30\u308c\u308b<\/span>, and not <span lang=\"ja\">\u5e30\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/span>. The visual ending alone is not enough to determine the group.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Ichidan verbs: remove \u308b and add \u3089\u308c\u308b<\/h3>\n\n<ul>\n<li><span lang=\"ja\">\u98df\u3079\u308b \u2192 \u98df\u3079\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/span> (<em>taberu \u2192 taberareru<\/em>) \u2014 to be able to eat;<\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"ja\">\u898b\u308b \u2192 \u898b\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/span> (<em>miru \u2192 mirareru<\/em>) \u2014 to be able to see;<\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"ja\">\u8d77\u304d\u308b \u2192 \u8d77\u304d\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/span> (<em>okiru \u2192 okirareru<\/em>) \u2014 to be able to wake up or get up.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h3>Irregular verbs<\/h3>\n\n<ul>\n<li><span lang=\"ja\">\u3059\u308b \u2192 \u3067\u304d\u308b<\/span> (<em>suru \u2192 dekiru<\/em>) \u2014 to be able to do;<\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"ja\">\u6765\u308b \u2192 \u6765\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/span> (<em>kuru \u2192 korareru<\/em>) \u2014 to be able to come.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p>Compounds in <span lang=\"ja\">\u3059\u308b<\/span> follow the same pattern: <span lang=\"ja\">\u4e88\u7d04\u3059\u308b<\/span> will come <span lang=\"ja\">\u4e88\u7d04\u3067\u304d\u308b<\/span> and <span lang=\"ja\">\u52c9\u5f37\u3059\u308b<\/span> will come <span lang=\"ja\">\u52c9\u5f37\u3067\u304d\u308b<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n<!--Ads6-->\n\n<h2>How to conjugate a potential verb<\/h2>\n\n<p>Once formed, most potential forms behave like an ichidan verb. Thus, it is possible to create negative, past, and polite forms with a regular pattern. The pages about <a href=\"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/japanese-informal-verbs-mode\/\">plain form of verbs<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/masu-form-of-japanese-verbs\/\">\u307e\u3059 form<\/a> help you review these endings.<\/p>\n\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr><th>Function<\/th><th><span lang=\"ja\">\u8a71\u305b\u308b<\/span><\/th><th><span lang=\"ja\">\u98df\u3079\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/span><\/th><\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr><td>Non-past affirmative<\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u8a71\u305b\u308b<\/span><\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u98df\u3079\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/span><\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Non-past negative<\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u8a71\u305b\u306a\u3044<\/span><\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u98df\u3079\u3089\u308c\u306a\u3044<\/span><\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Affirmative past<\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u8a71\u305b\u305f<\/span><\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u98df\u3079\u3089\u308c\u305f<\/span><\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>negative past<\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u8a71\u305b\u306a\u304b\u3063\u305f<\/span><\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u98df\u3079\u3089\u308c\u306a\u304b\u3063\u305f<\/span><\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Polite affirmative<\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u8a71\u305b\u307e\u3059<\/span><\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u98df\u3079\u3089\u308c\u307e\u3059<\/span><\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Polite negative<\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u8a71\u305b\u307e\u305b\u3093<\/span><\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u98df\u3079\u3089\u308c\u307e\u305b\u3093<\/span><\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<h2>Personal ability and situational possibility<\/h2>\n\n<h3>Ability or skill<\/h3>\n\n<p><strong><span lang=\"ja\">\u59b9\u306f\u767e\u30e1\u30fc\u30c8\u30eb\u6cf3\u3052\u307e\u3059\u3002<\/span><\/strong><br \/><span lang=\"ja\">\u3044\u3082\u3046\u3068\u306f \u3072\u3083\u304f\u30e1\u30fc\u30c8\u30eb \u304a\u3088\u3052\u307e\u3059\u3002<\/span><br \/><em>Im\u014dto wa hyaku m\u0113toru oyogemasu.<\/em><br \/>My sister can swim a hundred meters.<\/p>\n\n<p>The sentence describes a person's ability. The same reasoning appears in <span lang=\"ja\">\u6f22\u5b57\u304c\u8aad\u3081\u308b<\/span> (\u201ccan read kanji\u201d) and <span lang=\"ja\">\u8eca\u3092\u904b\u8ee2\u3067\u304d\u308b<\/span> (\u201cknow how to\/can drive\u201d).<\/p>\n\n<h3>Condition, opportunity, or practical permission<\/h3>\n\n<p><strong><span lang=\"ja\">\u3053\u306e\u56f3\u66f8\u9928\u3067\u306f\u7121\u6599\u3067Wi-Fi\u304c\u4f7f\u3048\u307e\u3059\u3002<\/span><\/strong><br \/><span lang=\"ja\">\u3053\u306e \u3068\u3057\u3087\u304b\u3093\u3067\u306f \u3080\u308a\u3087\u3046\u3067 \u30ef\u30a4\u30d5\u30a1\u30a4\u304c \u3064\u304b\u3048\u307e\u3059\u3002<\/span><br \/><em>Kono toshokan de wa mury\u014d de waifai ga tsukaemasu.<\/em><br \/>In this library, you can use Wi-Fi for free.<\/p>\n\n<p>The person may or may not have a special skill; the main point is that the place offers that possibility. That's why signs, guides, and service descriptions use the potential form so much, as well as <span lang=\"ja\">\u3053\u3068\u304c\u3067\u304d\u307e\u3059<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Should I use the particle \u304c or \u3092?<\/h2>\n\n<p>In the transformation taught to beginners, the object marked by <span lang=\"ja\">\u3092<\/span> usually appears with <span lang=\"ja\">\u304c<\/span> before the potential form:<\/p>\n\n<p><span lang=\"ja\">\u65e5\u672c\u8a9e\u3092\u8a71\u3057\u307e\u3059\u3002<\/span> \u2014 I speak Japanese.<br \/><span lang=\"ja\">\u65e5\u672c\u8a9e\u304c\u8a71\u305b\u307e\u3059\u3002<\/span> \u2014 I can speak Japanese.<\/p>\n\n<p>This is a neutral and safe pattern. However, sentences with <span lang=\"ja\">\u3092<\/span> also occur in contemporary speech and writing, especially when the speaker keeps the action and its object in focus. Therefore, <span lang=\"ja\">\u79c1\u306f\u30d1\u30f3\u3092\u98df\u3079\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/span> should not be automatically dismissed as wrong.<\/p>\n\n<p>To begin with, use <span lang=\"ja\">\u304c<\/span> in neutral statements of ability and learn to recognize <span lang=\"ja\">\u3092<\/span> in real usage. The guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/basic-particle-in-japanese\/\">basic particles in japanese<\/a> helps review the general function of these markers in the sentence.<\/p>\n\n<h2>How to distinguish potential and passive voice<\/h2>\n\n<p>In ichidan verbs and in <span lang=\"ja\">\u6765\u308b<\/span>, the form in <span lang=\"ja\">\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/span> can also have a passive meaning. The context and particles show the interpretation.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong><span lang=\"ja\">\u79c1\u306f\u9b5a\u304c\u98df\u3079\u3089\u308c\u307e\u3059\u3002<\/span><\/strong><br \/><em>Watashi wa sakana ga taberaremasu.<\/em><br \/>I can eat fish. <strong>(potential)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p><strong><span lang=\"ja\">\u9b5a\u306f\u732b\u306b\u98df\u3079\u3089\u308c\u307e\u3057\u305f\u3002<\/span><\/strong><br \/><em>Sakana wa neko ni taberaremashita.<\/em><br \/>The fish was eaten by the cat. <strong>(passive)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>In the first sentence, <span lang=\"ja\">\u79c1<\/span> is the one who has the ability. In the second, <span lang=\"ja\">\u9b5a<\/span> receives the action and <span lang=\"ja\">\u732b\u306b<\/span> indicates the agent. Translating the ending in isolation is not enough.<\/p>\n\n<h2>\u898b\u308c\u308b e \u98df\u3079\u308c\u308b: what is \u3089\u629c\u304d?<\/h2>\n\n<p>In speech, you will also hear <span lang=\"ja\">\u898b\u308c\u308b<\/span>, <span lang=\"ja\">\u98df\u3079\u308c\u308b<\/span> and <span lang=\"ja\">\u6765\u308c\u308b<\/span>, forms in which the <span lang=\"ja\">\u3089<\/span> in <span lang=\"ja\">\u898b\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/span>, <span lang=\"ja\">\u98df\u3079\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/span> and <span lang=\"ja\">\u6765\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/span> was omitted. This phenomenon is called <span lang=\"ja\">\u3089\u629c\u304d\u8a00\u8449<\/span> (<em>ranuki kotoba<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n<p>The usage is real and widespread, especially in spoken language, but acceptance varies by region, generation, and level of formality. To build a stable foundation and write in more careful situations, prefer the full forms first <span lang=\"ja\">\u898b\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/span>, <span lang=\"ja\">\u98df\u3079\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/span> and <span lang=\"ja\">\u6765\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/span>. When you hear versions without <span lang=\"ja\">\u3089<\/span>, recognize them as usage variations, not as a new verb group.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Potential form, \u305f\u3044 form, and \u307e\u3057\u3087\u3046<\/h2>\n\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr><th>Form<\/th><th>Main question<\/th><th>Example<\/th><\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr><td>Potential<\/td><td>Is it possible? Can the person do it?<\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u65e5\u672c\u8a9e\u304c\u8a71\u305b\u308b<\/span> \u2014 I can speak Japanese.<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u305f\u3044<\/span><\/td><td>Does the person want to do it?<\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u65e5\u672c\u8a9e\u3092\u8a71\u3057\u305f\u3044<\/span> \u2014 I want to speak Japanese.<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u307e\u3057\u3087\u3046<\/span><\/td><td>Shall we do it together?<\/td><td><span lang=\"ja\">\u65e5\u672c\u8a9e\u3092\u8a71\u3057\u307e\u3057\u3087\u3046<\/span> \u2014 Let's speak Japanese.<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<p>Ability, desire, and proposal are different intentions. To deepen the contrast, refer to the <a href=\"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/verbs-in-japanese-in-tai-form\/\">\u305f\u3044 form of verbs<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/mashou-form-of-verbs-in-japanese\/\">\u307e\u3057\u3087\u3046 form<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Common mistakes with the potential form<\/h2>\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Treating potential as a synonym for formality:<\/strong> <span lang=\"ja\">\u8a71\u305b\u308b<\/span> is simple; <span lang=\"ja\">\u8a71\u305b\u307e\u3059<\/span> is polite.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Saying that \u3053\u3068\u304c\u3067\u304d\u308b is always informal:<\/strong> <span lang=\"ja\">\u3053\u3068\u304c\u3067\u304d\u307e\u3059<\/span> is a polite and perfectly normal construction.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Classifying every verb ending in \u3044\u308b or \u3048\u308b as ichidan:<\/strong> <span lang=\"ja\">\u5e30\u308b<\/span> is godan and becomes <span lang=\"ja\">\u5e30\u308c\u308b<\/span>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Conjugating \u3059\u308b regularly:<\/strong> the potential form is <span lang=\"ja\">\u3067\u304d\u308b<\/span>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Prohibiting \u3092 in any potential sentence:<\/strong> <span lang=\"ja\">\u304c<\/span> is the neutral didactic standard, but <span lang=\"ja\">\u3092<\/span> also appears in real usage.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ignoring the ambiguity of \u3089\u308c\u308b:<\/strong> in ichidan verbs, context separates potential and passive.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2>Mini dialogue with ability and possibility<\/h2>\n\n<p><strong>A:<\/strong> <span lang=\"ja\">\u65e5\u672c\u8a9e\u304c\u8a71\u305b\u307e\u3059\u304b\u3002<\/span><br \/><em>Nihongo ga hanasemasu ka.<\/em><br \/>Can you speak Japanese?<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>B:<\/strong> <span lang=\"ja\">\u5c11\u3057\u8a71\u305b\u307e\u3059\u3002\u3067\u3082\u3001\u6f22\u5b57\u306f\u3042\u307e\u308a\u8aad\u3081\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002<\/span><br \/><em>Sukoshi hanasemasu. Demo, kanji wa amari yomemasen.<\/em><br \/>I can speak a little. But I can't read many kanji.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>A:<\/strong> <span lang=\"ja\">\u3053\u306e\u30a2\u30d7\u30ea\u3067\u6f22\u5b57\u3092\u8abf\u3079\u308b\u3053\u3068\u304c\u3067\u304d\u307e\u3059\u3088\u3002<\/span><br \/><em>Kono apuri de kanji o shiraberu koto ga dekimasu yo.<\/em><br \/>You can look up kanji with this app.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>B:<\/strong> <span lang=\"ja\">\u305d\u3046\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3002\u3053\u308c\u306a\u3089\u8aad\u3081\u305d\u3046\u3067\u3059\u3002<\/span><br \/><em>S\u014d desu ka. Kore nara yomes\u014d desu.<\/em><br \/>I see. With this, it seems I'll be able to read.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Potential form exercises<\/h2>\n\n<p>Convert each verb to the simple potential form. Then, complete the sentences.<\/p>\n\n<ol>\n<li><span lang=\"ja\">\u66f8\u304f<\/span> \u2192 ______<\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"ja\">\u98df\u3079\u308b<\/span> \u2192 ______<\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"ja\">\u6765\u308b<\/span> \u2192 ______<\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"ja\">\u3059\u308b<\/span> \u2192 ______<\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"ja\">\u8a71\u3059<\/span>: <span lang=\"ja\">I can speak a little Japanese ______.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"ja\">\u898b\u308b<\/span>: <span lang=\"ja\">The sea is visible from here ______.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<details>\n<summary><strong>Show answers<\/strong><\/summary>\n<ol>\n<li><span lang=\"ja\">\u66f8\u3051\u308b<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"ja\">\u98df\u3079\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"ja\">\u6765\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"ja\">\u3067\u304d\u308b<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"ja\">\u8a71\u305b\u308b<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span lang=\"ja\">\u898b\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/details>\n\n<h2>Summary and next steps<\/h2>\n\n<p>For godan verbs, change the final mora from the U column to the E column and add <span lang=\"ja\">\u308b<\/span>. For ichidan, remove <span lang=\"ja\">\u308b<\/span> and use <span lang=\"ja\">\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/span>. Also memorize <span lang=\"ja\">\u3059\u308b \u2192 \u3067\u304d\u308b<\/span> and <span lang=\"ja\">\u6765\u308b \u2192 \u6765\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n<p>After formation, note three points: context separates ability from possibility; the simple or polite ending defines the register; and particles help interpret the function of participants. To connect this topic to the rest of the language, see the <a href=\"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/fundamental-japanese-grammar\/\">Basics of Japanese Grammar<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Frequently asked questions about the potential form<\/h2>\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list\">\n<div id=\"faq-question-7cde76a66b534\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">What is the potential form used for in Japanese?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>The potential form expresses that someone is able to perform an action or that the action is possible in a given situation. The context distinguishes ability, opportunity, and external condition.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-491c126caf4ec\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">How to transform a verb into the potential form?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>In godan verbs, change the ending from the U column to the E column and add \u308b. In ichidan, remove \u308b and use \u3089\u308c\u308b. The main irregulars are \u3059\u308b \u2192 \u3067\u304d\u308b and \u6765\u308b \u2192 \u6765\u3089\u308c\u308b.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-83d3db996eabf\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">What is the difference between the potential form and \u3053\u3068\u304c\u3067\u304d\u308b?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>The two constructions can express ability and possibility. The potential form is more compact; \u3053\u3068\u304c\u3067\u304d\u308b makes the action explicit as a unit. Both can be plain or polite.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-186353a7f04f6\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Should I use \u304c or \u3092 with the potential form?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>\u304c is the neutral standard normally taught, as in \u65e5\u672c\u8a9e\u304c\u8a71\u305b\u307e\u3059. However, \u3092 also appears in contemporary speech and writing and should not be automatically considered incorrect.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-d3ea5ae5e4b7a\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Are \u898b\u308c\u308b and \u98df\u3079\u308c\u308b correct?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>These forms without \u3089 are common in speech and represent the variation called \u3089\u629c\u304d. For a safe foundation and for more careful situations, prefer \u898b\u3089\u308c\u308b, \u98df\u3079\u3089\u308c\u308b, and \u6765\u3089\u308c\u308b first.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2>Official sources consulted<\/h2>\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irodori.jpf.go.jp\/assets\/data\/elementary02\/pdf\/Z_L05.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Irodori, lesson 5 of Elementary 2 level \u2014 formation and uses of the potential form<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irodori.jpf.go.jp\/assets\/data\/elementary01\/pdf\/Y_L05.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Irodori, lesson 5 of Elementary 1 level \u2014 construction verb + \u3053\u3068\u304c\u3067\u304d\u307e\u3059<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/kotoba.ninjal.ac.jp\/qa\/yokuaru\/qa-51\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">NINJAL \u2014 variation between \u304c and \u3092 with potential verbs<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bunka.go.jp\/kokugo_nihongo\/sisaku\/joho\/joho\/kakuki\/20\/tosin03\/09.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan \u2014 history and variation of \u3089\u629c\u304d\u8a00\u8449<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/a2-2.marugotoweb.jp\/en\/grammar\/detail\/topic8-sec16-1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Marugoto \u2014 examples of affirmative and negative potential form<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn how to form and use verbs in the potential form, distinguish ability and possibility, compare \u3053\u3068\u304c\u3067\u304d\u308b, and understand the particles \u304c and \u3092.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":2134,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49,70,73],"tags":[69,2,3],"class_list":["post-2132","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-curso-de-japones-gratis","category-gramatica-japonesa","category-verbos-em-japones","tag-curso-japones-gratis","tag-idioma-japones","tag-nihongo","resize-featured-image"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2132","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2132"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2132\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4430,"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2132\/revisions\/4430"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2134"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2132"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2132"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2132"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}