Expressing Ability with the Potential Form

What is the Potential Form

The potential form (可能形, kanōkei) is a verb conjugation used to express ability or possibility. In English, this is equivalent to saying "can do," "is able to do," or "it is possible to do" something.

Instead of adding a separate word for "can," Japanese modifies the verb itself. For example, the verb becomes . Mastering this form is essential for moving beyond basic sentences and expressing a wider range of ideas.

Conjugating Verbs to the Potential Form

The conjugation rule for the potential form depends on the verb's group: Ichidan, Godan, or Irregular. Once conjugated, all potential verbs behave like Ichidan (ru-verbs).

1. Ru-Verbs

For ru-verbs, you simply drop the final and add .

2. U-Verbs

For u-verbs, you change the final syllable from a "u" sound to an "e" sound and add .

For example, to conjugate , you find the "u" vowel sound () and change it to its corresponding "e" vowel sound in the same hiragana column (), then add to get .

3. Irregular Verbs

There are only two main irregular verbs to remember for the potential form.

Note: Similar to Ichidan verbs, the potential form for is often shortened in casual speech from to .

The Particle が with Potential Verbs

A key grammatical point is that with potential verbs, the direct object particle is often replaced with the subject marker particle .

Using shifts the focus from the action itself to the ability to perform that action.

• Standard Action:
• Potential Ability:

While using is not always grammatically incorrect, using is more common and sounds more natural when expressing ability.

'Can' vs 'Cannot'

Once a verb is in its potential form, it conjugates just like a regular Ichidan (ru-verb). To make it negative ("cannot do"), you drop the final and add .

For past tenses, you conjugate from there. See Introduction to Japanese Tenses for a full guide.

• Could do:
• Could not do:

Potential Verbs vs. ことができる

Another way to express ability is by using the pattern: Dictionary Form Verb + .

• (To speak) → (Can speak)
• (To eat) → (Can eat)

While both forms mean "can do," they have different nuances:

• Potential Form (): More common, conversational, and natural for everyday speech. It often implies an inherent skill or ability.
• : More formal, literal, and objective. It is often used in writing or when describing a possibility granted by circumstances rather than personal skill. It translates more closely to "it is possible to..."

For most situations, the standard potential form is the better choice.

Special Cases: 見える and 聞こえる

Some verbs have unique potential forms that describe passive potential—the ability to perceive something without conscious effort.

• (mieru): "Can be seen" or "is visible." This is used when something is within your line of sight.
• (mirareru): "Can see" or "can watch." This implies a conscious effort to look at something.

A similar distinction exists for hearing:

• (kikoeru): "Can be heard" or "is audible." Sound that reaches your ears.
• (kikeru): "Can listen." The ability to actively listen to something.

Study Tips

Learning the potential form is a matter of understanding its patterns.

1. Recognize the "e" sound: For Godan verbs, the key is the shift to the "e" vowel sound ( → , → ). If you hear that sound, it's likely a potential form.
2. Remember the Irregulars: → and → are high-frequency verbs, so they are worth memorizing directly.
3. Listen for : Pay attention to when you hear used with a verb where you might expect . This is a strong clue that a potential ability is being discussed.
4. Embrace in listening: Don't be confused when you hear shortened forms like . Recognize it as the colloquial potential form, but stick to the full form in your own formal speech and writing.

Like the Connect ideas with the て-Form, the potential form appears constantly. Through practice and immersion, these conjugations will become second nature.