Potential forms of verbs

Potential forms of verbs

Potential Form of Verbs

The conjugated verb forms expressing abilities and possibilities are called the potential forms of a verb and are formed in the following way.

Class 1

Class 2

Class 3

rules

root + e-column +-ます/ -る

root + (ら)れ + +-ます/ -る

irregular

examples

書く→　書ける
“kaku” → “kakeru”
読む→　読める
“yomu” → “yomeru”
会う→　会える
“au” → “aeru”
話す→　話せる
“hanasu” → “hanaseru”
待つ→　待てる
“matsu” → “materu”

many Japanese speakers use a shortened form: the root + “れる” (dropping "ら").
食べる→　食べられる・食べれる
“taberu” → “taberareru” or “tabereru”
見る→　見られる・見れる
“miru” → “mirareru” or “mireru”

来る→　来られる
“kuru” → “korareru”

する→　できる
“suru” → “dekiru”

In sentences that use the potential form of verbs, the direct object can be marked with either “が” or “を”. Although the meaning is equivalent whether you use “が” or “を”, Japanese speakers tend to prefer “が” in most contexts.

Click here for the verb chart

Click here to practice positive forms.

Click here to practice positives and negatives of plain and -masu forms.

Please refer to the forms "Nominalized verbs + できます” below. The following structure is NOT called Potential forms but they also create "can do" meanings.

Plain form of verb + “ことができる/できます”

“できる/できます” is a Class 2 verb. It means “can or be able to do.”

In the potential sentences using “dekimasu,” direct objects are marked with “が” particle.

E.g. 田中さんは、英語が読むことができます。 Tanaka-san can read English.

母は運転することができますが、父はできません。