B1 · 중급 챕터 2

Expressing Ability and Growth

6 총 규칙
61 예문
6 분
이 챕터의 규칙 빠른 연습

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Unlock your potential by learning how to express capabilities and personal growth in Japanese.

  • Transform standard verbs into their potential forms to express ability.
  • Master the subtle shift from 'wo' to 'ga' particles for natural phrasing.
  • Describe your personal progress and evolving skills using '～ようになる'.
Speak your potential: from what you can do to growth.

배울 내용

Ready to unlock a new level of Japanese fluency and express yourself like a native speaker? In this chapter, you'll master how to say 'I can' or 'I am able to do' and, even more importantly, describe how your skills have evolved and what new abilities you've gained over time. We'll start by transforming regular verbs into their potential forms: from U-verbs with their characteristic vowel shift (like 'u' to 'e' + 'ru'), to Ru-verbs by adding 'られる', and even tackling the irregular forms of 'する' and '来る' to express various possibilities. Then, we'll dive into a crucial nuance: using 'が' instead of 'を' when talking about abilities, which will make your Japanese sound incredibly natural and polished. For those moments when you need to express ability or possibility with a touch more formality, you'll learn the elegant 'koto ga dekiru' construction. And for describing personal growth – like finally being able to do something or developing a new habit – the versatile '～ようになる' will become your new best friend. Imagine saying, 'Now I can make sushi!' or 'I'm gradually becoming able to read kanji!' By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to confidently discuss your capabilities, articulate your progress over time, and truly feel how much your Japanese has advanced. Let's dive in and express your full potential!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Convert any verb into its potential form to describe what is possible.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Use the 'ga' particle correctly with potential verbs in conversation.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to: Describe a new skill you have recently acquired using '～ようになる'.

챕터 가이드

Overview

Welcome to this exciting chapter on expressing ability and growth in Japanese grammar B1! As you progress on your language journey, moving beyond basic phrases and into more nuanced expressions is key to sounding natural and confident. This chapter is designed to help you do just that.
We'll dive deep into how to articulate what you can do and, perhaps even more importantly, how to describe your personal progress and new capabilities over time. This isn't just about learning new forms; it's about unlocking a whole new level of self-expression in Japanese.
Mastering these grammar patterns will significantly enhance your ability to participate in real-world conversations. Imagine confidently telling someone,
Now I can read most kanji!
or
I can finally cook Japanese food.
These expressions are fundamental for anyone aiming for CEFR B1 Japanese proficiency, as they allow for richer, more personal communication. You'll learn the crucial difference between merely stating an ability and describing how you *became* able to do something, adding depth to your narratives.
By the end of this chapter, you'll have a robust toolkit to discuss your skills, acknowledge improvements, and share your learning journey in Japanese. This will not only make your conversations more engaging but also boost your confidence in using the language actively. Get ready to express your full potential and truly feel the advancement in your Japanese ability!

How This Grammar Works

Let's break down the essential grammar points that will empower you to express ability and growth. First, we tackle the Potential Form, which is how you say can do or
am able to do
with verbs. For U-verbs, you change the final -u sound to an -eru sound.
For example, 話す (hanasu - to speak) becomes 話せる (hanaseru - can speak), and 書く (kaku - to write) becomes 書ける (kakeru - can write). This simple vowel shift is your first step to unlocking potential.
For Ru-verbs, the pattern is slightly different but equally straightforward. You drop the final -ru and add -られる (-rareru). So, 食べる (taberu - to eat) becomes 食べられる (taberareru - can eat), and 見る (miru - to see) becomes 見られる (mirareru - can see).
There are also irregular verbs: する (suru - to do) transforms into できる (dekiru - can do), and 来る (kuru - to come) becomes 来られる (korareru - can come). Mastering these conjugations is fundamental for expressing ability in Japanese.
A crucial nuance often missed by learners is Mastering 'Can Do': Using が instead of を with potential forms. When a verb is in its potential form, the object that was previously marked by を (o) will usually be marked by が (ga) instead. For instance, instead of 日本語を話します (Nihongo o hanashimasu - I speak Japanese), you'd say 日本語が話せます (Nihongo ga hanasemasu - I can speak Japanese).
This small change makes your Japanese sound much more natural.
For a more formal or general way to express ability or possibility, you can use the Formal Ability: Using 'Koto Ga Dekiru' construction. This involves taking a verb in its plain form, adding こと (koto - thing/fact), and then ができる (ga dekiru - can do). For example, 漢字を読むことができます (Kanji o yomu koto ga dekimasu - I can read kanji).
This structure is versatile and can be used even when the verb itself doesn't directly take an object with を.
Finally, to express growth or the process of *becoming* able to do something, we use Becoming able to do something (～ようになる). This pattern, attached to the plain form of a verb (or potential form), indicates a change in state or ability over time. For example, 日本語が話せるようになりました (Nihongo ga hanaseru you ni narimashita - I have become able to speak Japanese).
This highlights the journey and development, making it perfect for describing your progress!

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: 私は日本語を話せます。
✓ Correct: 私は日本語が話せます。 (Watashi wa Nihongo ga hanasemasu.)
*Explanation:* When using a potential verb, the object of the verb typically changes from を (o) to が (ga). While を is sometimes heard informally, が is the standard and most natural particle for potential forms.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 食べるる (taberuru)
✓ Correct: 食べられる (taberareru)
*Explanation:* A common mistake is misconjugating Ru-verbs into their potential form. Remember, for Ru-verbs, you drop the -ru and add -られる (-rareru), not just add another -ru.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 泳げる。 (Oyogeru. - I can swim.) (When you want to say you *became* able to swim)
✓ Correct: 泳げるようになりました。 (Oyogeru you ni narimashita. - I have become able to swim.)
*Explanation:* While 泳げる correctly states I can swim, if you want to express the *process* or *change* of gaining that ability, ～ようになる is essential. It highlights that this is a new capability you've developed over time.

Real Conversations

A

A

日本語、話せますか？ (Nihongo, hanasemasu ka? - Can you speak Japanese?)
B

B

はい、少し話せます。漢字も少し読めますよ。 (Hai, sukoshi hanasemasu. Kanji mo sukoshi yomemasu yo. - Yes, I can speak a little. I can read some kanji too.)
A

A

最近、料理をするようになりましたか？ (Saikin, ryouri o suru you ni narimashita ka? - Have you started being able to cook recently?)
B

B

ええ、一人暮らしを始めてから、自分でご飯が作れるようになりました。 (Ee, hitorigurashi o hajimete kara, jibun de gohan ga tsukureru you ni narimashita. - Yes, since I started living alone, I've become able to cook my own meals.)
A

A

この美術館では、写真撮影をすることができますか？ (Kono bijutsukan de wa, shashin satsuei o suru koto ga dekimasu ka? - Is it possible to take photos in this museum?)
B

B

いいえ、残念ながら、ここでは写真撮影をすることができません。 (Iie, zannen nagara, koko de wa shashin satsuei o suru koto ga dekimasen. - No, unfortunately, you cannot take photos here.)

Quick FAQ

Q

What's the main difference between using the potential form (e.g., 話せる) and ～ことができる (e.g., 話すことができる)?

The potential form expresses inherent personal ability or capability (e.g., I can speak). ～ことができる is broader; it can express personal ability but also general possibility or permission (e.g.,

It is possible to speak
or
You are allowed to speak
). It's often used in more formal contexts or when the verb is already transitive.

Q

Why do we use が instead of を with potential verbs in Japanese grammar?

When a verb becomes potential, it shifts focus from the *action* done to the *object* itself, emphasizing its potential-ness. The object becomes the subject of the potential ability, hence the use of が to mark it.

Q

Can ～ようになる be used for things other than personal ability or growth?

Yes! While often used for personal development, ～ようになる can also describe general changes or developments in situations or states. For example, 寒くなる (samuku naru - to become cold) could become 寒くなるようになりました (samuku naru you ni narimashita - it has become cold).

Q

How do I express that I *used* to be able to do something but can't anymore?

You would use the past tense of the potential form, often combined with ～なくなった to emphasize the cessation of ability. For example, 昔は泳げましたが、今は泳げなくなりました (Mukashi wa oyogemashita ga, ima wa oyogenaku narimashita - I used to be able to swim, but now I can't anymore).

Cultural Context

These expressions of ability and growth subtly reflect Japanese cultural values. The emphasis on ～ようになる highlights the importance of continuous effort (努力 - doryoku) and self-improvement, a deeply ingrained concept in Japan. It's common to express humility even when possessing a high skill level, often downplaying one's abilities.
Conversely, acknowledging one's *growth* using ～ようになる can be seen as a humble way to share progress, showing dedication rather than boasting. This linguistic nuance mirrors the cultural appreciation for the journey of learning and mastery.

팁과 요령 (4)

🎯

조사 'Ga'로 갈아타기

가능형 동사와 함께 쓸 때는 'wo' 대신 'ga'를 써보세요. 틀린 건 아니지만 «日本語が話せる»처럼 'ga'를 써야 훨씬 원어민 같아요.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 가능형: 할 수 있나요? (U-동사)
💡

조사의 마법

가능형을 쓸 때는 '을/를'에 해당하는 を 대신 が를 써야 훨씬 자연스러워요! «納豆が食べられますか。»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 일본어 가능형: ru동사로 '할 수 있다' 말하기 (～られる)
⚠️

조사 'を'의 함정

초보자가 가장 많이 틀리는 부분이에요! 'できる' 앞에는 'を'가 아니라 꼭 'が'를 써주세요. «テニスができます»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 일본어 가능형: 할 수 있어요? 올 수 있어요? (Suru/Kuru)
💡

상태의 마음가짐

'스시가 맛있다'처럼 '스시를 먹을 수 있는 상태'라고 생각하면 が가 훨씬 자연스러워요. «寿司が食べられる。»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 할 수 있다 마스터하기: を 대신 が 사용하기 (가능형)

핵심 어휘 (5)

泳ぐ(およぐ) to swim 食べる(たべる) to eat 運転する(うんてんする) to drive 日本語(にほんご) Japanese language 漢字(かんじ) Kanji

Real-World Preview

coffee

Talking about new skills

Review Summary

  • U-verb (u->e) + ru
  • Verb(dictionary) + you ni naru

자주 하는 실수

Potential verbs require 'ga' instead of 'wo'. This is a common slip for learners used to transitive verbs.

Wrong: 日本語を話せる (Nihongo o hanaseru)
정답: 日本語が話せる (Nihongo ga hanaseru)

Adding 'reru' instead of 'rareru' to Ru-verbs is a common conjugation error.

Wrong: 食べるれる (Taberureru)
정답: 食べられる (Taberareru)

When discussing ability, the verb inside 'you ni naru' should also be in the potential form.

Wrong: 泳ぐようになる (Oyogu you ni naru)
정답: 泳げるようになる (Oyogeru you ni naru)

이 챕터의 규칙 (6)

1

가능형: 할 수 있나요? (U-동사)

B1
U-동사로 '~할 수 있다'고 말하고 싶을 땐, 마지막 모음을 'u'에서 'e'로 바꾸고 «る»를 붙여주면 끝이에요!
Ashita, paatii ni ikeru?
10 예문
2

일본어 가능형: ru동사로 '할 수 있다' 말하기 (～られる)

B1
ru동사 뒤에 «られる»를 붙여서 나의 능력이나 가능성을 멋지게 표현해 보세요! «られる» «가(が) 조사» «라누키»
納豆が食べられますか。
11 예문
3

일본어 가능형: 할 수 있어요? 올 수 있어요? (Suru/Kuru)

B1
불규칙 동사인 'する'와 'くる'의 가능형인 «できる»와 «こられる»만 마스터하면 일본어로 능력과 가능성을 자연스럽게 표현할 수 있어요!
明日の会議に来られますか？
10 예문
4

할 수 있다 마스터하기: を 대신 が 사용하기 (가능형)

B1
가능형을 쓸 때는 을/를(を) 대신 이/가(가)를 써서 «자연스러운 뉘앙스»를 살려보세요. «が» «가능형» «능력 강조»
漢字が読めますか？
10 예문
5

정중한 가능 표현: 'Koto Ga Dekiru' (할 수 있다)

B1
격식 있는 자리에서 능력이나 가능성을 말하고 싶을 때 koto ga dekiru를 사용해서 문장을 명사처럼 만들어보세요.
Kono saito de chiketto o yoyaku suru koto ga dekim...
10 예문
6

~하게 되다 / ~할 수 있게 되다 (～ようになる)

B1
새로운 상태에 도달했거나 습관이 생겼을 때 «～ようになる»를 써보세요. 실력이 쑥쑥 늘고 있다는 걸 보여주는 아주 긍정적인 표현이에요!
毎日日本語を勉強するようになった。
10 예문

Next Steps

You've done an incredible job mastering these complex verb forms! Keep practicing, and you'll see your daily Japanese conversation improve rapidly.

Practice potential conjugation with flashcards

Continue to: The Passive Voice: Actions and Impacts

빠른 연습 (10)

'화면을 볼 수 있습니다'라는 올바른 문장을 고르세요.

다음 중 맞는 문장은?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {画面|가면}가 {見られます|미られます}。
{見る|미る}의 가능형은 {見られる|미られる}이며, 능력의 대상을 나타낼 때는 조사 が를 쓰는 것이 자연스러워요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 일본어 가능형: ru동사로 '할 수 있다' 말하기 (～られる)

습관을 그만두었을 때 쓰는 표현 중 틀린 부분을 찾아보세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

{煙草|たばこ}를 {吸|す}わないになりました。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {吸|수}わなくなりました。
습관이 멈췄을 때는 'ない'를 'なくなる'로 바꾸는 게 가장 자연스러워요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: ~하게 되다 / ~할 수 있게 되다 (～ようになる)

'yomu'(읽다)의 올바른 가능형은 무엇일까요?

알맞은 형태를 고르세요:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: よめる (yomeru)
'mu'로 끝나는 U-동사는 'mu'를 'me'로 바꾸고 'ru'를 붙입니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 가능형: 할 수 있나요? (U-동사)

'운동을 하기 시작했습니다(습관)'라는 뜻으로 올바른 문장은 무엇일까요?

다음 중 맞는 문장을 고르세요:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {運動|うんどう}するようになりました。
새로운 습관을 말할 때는 '동사 사전형 + ようになる'가 정석이에요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: ~하게 되다 / ~할 수 있게 되다 (～ようになる)

조사 실수를 고쳐보세요.

日本語を話せる (Nihongo wo hanaseru)를 더 자연스럽게 바꾸면:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 日本語가話せる (Nihongo ga hanaseru)
가능형 문장에서는 목적어 조사 'wo'가 보통 능력을 나타내는 'ga'로 바뀝니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 가능형: 할 수 있나요? (U-동사)

'한자를 읽을 수 있게 되었습니다'라는 문장을 완성해 보세요.

{漢字|かんじ}가 {___} ようになりました。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {読|よ}める
능력을 나타낼 때는 '읽다'의 가능형인 «「読める」»를 써야 해요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: ~하게 되다 / ~할 수 있게 되다 (～ようになる)

문법적으로 올바른 문장을 고르세요.

'수영할 수 있습니다'를 올바르게 말한 것은?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {泳ぐ|およぐ}ことができます。
기본형인 {泳ぐ|およぐ}만이 'koto ga dekiru'와 연결될 수 있어요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 정중한 가능 표현: 'Koto Ga Dekiru' (할 수 있다)

'내일은 못 가요'라는 캐주얼한 문장에서 틀린 점을 찾으세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

{明日|내일}은 {来|코}れないです。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 라누키(ら抜き) 회화체로 맞는 문장이에요.
회화에서는 {来られる|코られる}를 {来れる|코れる}로 짧게 말하는 경우가 많고 아주 자연스럽게 받아들여져요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 일본어 가능형: ru동사로 '할 수 있다' 말하기 (～られる)

가능형을 사용하여 문장을 완성하세요.

私は漢字が ___ (kaku - 쓰다).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 書ける (kakeru)
Kaku(쓰다)는 'ku'로 끝나요. 'ku'를 'ke'로 바꾸고 'ru'를 붙여서 'kakeru'(쓸 수 있다)를 만듭니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 가능형: 할 수 있나요? (U-동사)

빈칸에 알맞은 형태를 채워보세요.

この店でクレジットカードを ___ ことができます。(이 가게에서 신용카드를 사용할 수 있습니다.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 使う
'koto ga dekiru' 앞에는 항상 동사의 기본형이 와야 해요. {使う|つかう}가 기본형입니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 정중한 가능 표현: 'Koto Ga Dekiru' (할 수 있다)

Score: /10

자주 묻는 질문 (6)

아니요, 1그룹(U-동사)에만 해당돼요. 2그룹(Ru-동사)인 «食べる»는 «食べられる»가 되고, 3그룹인 «する»는 «できる», «来る»는 «来られる»로 변해요.
보통은 아니에요. '가도 될까요?' 같은 허락은 «行ってもいいですか？»를 써요. «行ける？»는 물리적으로 갈 수 있는지나 상황적 가능성을 묻는 느낌이에요.
보통 끝이 iru나 eru로 끝나는 동사들이에요. taberu나 miru처럼 마지막 る만 쏙 빼고 바꾸면 돼서 아주 규칙적이죠.
네, 하지만 {話す|はなす}는 u동사라 {話せる|はなせる}가 돼요. ru동사인 {覚える|おぼえる}(외우다)는 {覚えられる|おぼえられる}가 된답니다.
일본어에서 '할 수 있다'는 뜻을 가진 별개의 뿌리를 가져오기 때문이에요. 그냥 세트로 외우는 게 제일 편해요! «できる»
네, 하지만 문장이 너무 길고 딱딱하게 들려요. 일상 대화에서는 그냥 «できる»가 훨씬 자연스러워요.
이전 챕터
Mastering Kanji Foundations
다음 챕터
The Passive Voice: Actions and Impacts
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