Japanese grammar
What does 可能形 (potential form) mean? Japanese grammar N4
可能形 (potential form) means can ~, be able to ~.
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N4 |
|---|---|
| Structure | V (potential) ます／ません N が V (potential) |
| Romaji | kanō-kei |
| Meaning | can ~, be able to ~ |
Forming it
| Group 1 (godan) | Change the final う-row sound to the え-row, then add る: かく → かける、のむ → のめる、はなす → はなせる、まつ → まてる |
|---|---|
| After conjugating | Potential verbs always become GROUP 2 verbs: かける → かけます、かけない、かけて |
| Group 2 (ichidan) | Drop る and add られる: たべる → たべられる、みる → みられる |
| Group 3 (irregular) | する → できる、くる → こられる |
How to use it
Talking about one's own ability or circumstances that allow doing something.
- The potential form turns an action verb into a stative verb meaning "can do". Because it's a state, the object usually changes its particle from を to が: 「日本語を話します」→「日本語が話せます」.
- Group 1 is easy to remember via the chart: the final sound shifts back to the え-row. Beginners often forget that once conjugated, all potential verbs continue to conjugate like group 2 verbs (since they all end in える／られる) — so the negative is かけない, not かけらない.
- The formally correct group 2 form is たべられる, but in everyday spoken Japanese people often shorten it to たべれる (called ら抜き言葉 — "ra-dropped speech"). It's very common to hear, but for the JLPT or formal writing you still must use たべられる.
- する does not conjugate by rule but is replaced entirely by できる — this is the most commonly used form: 「運転できます」「予約できます」.
Examples
私は自転車に乗れます。
I can ride a bicycle.
姉は英語の新聞が読めます。
My older sister can read English newspapers.
今日は忙しいので、パーティーに行けません。
I am busy today, so I cannot go to the party.
Keep in mind
- The potential form is used for both ability (I know how to swim) and circumstance (I'm able to go today).
- Verbs that already carry a potential meaning, like 分かる、見える、聞こえる, are NOT conjugated into the potential form again.
Common mistakes
-
Wrong日本語を話せます。
I can speak Japanese.
Correct日本語が話せます。
Vietnamese speakers translate directly as "can speak Japanese" and keep を. But the potential form is a state, so the object particle changes to が. Using を isn't wrong enough to be misunderstood, but it loses points on the exam.
-
Wrong本が読めらない。
I cannot read books.
Correct本が読めない。
After conjugating into the potential, 読める becomes a group 2 verb → the negative is simply formed by dropping る and adding ない. This error comes from mistakenly remembering られる as an inseparable block.
Exam tips
- The JLPT often sets a trap with 話せます／話されます — 話される is PASSIVE, not potential.
- Remember できる is the potential form of する; there is no しれる.