Potential Form: Can you do it? (U-verbs)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
To say you can do something with a U-verb, change the final 'u' sound to 'e' and add 'ru'.
- Change the final 'u' vowel to 'e' (e.g., iku -> ike).
- Add 'ru' to the end (e.g., ike -> ikeru).
- Treat the result as a standard Ru-verb for further conjugation.
Overview
Japanese verbs undergo significant transformations to convey different meanings, and the potential form is a crucial example. This grammatical structure allows you to express ability or possibility—the equivalent of "can" or "be able to" in English. For Japanese U-verbs (also known as Godan verbs), this transformation follows a specific pattern that changes the verb's ending and, importantly, its grammatical classification, effectively turning it into a Ru-verb (Ichidan verb).
Understanding this shift is fundamental for discussing skills, capabilities, and situational allowances, enabling you to communicate nuanced meanings beyond simple actions. Mastery of the potential form is a key indicator of intermediate proficiency, opening up a broader range of expressive capabilities in conversation.
Unlike English, where "can" is an auxiliary verb preceding the main verb, Japanese integrates this concept directly into the verb's morphology. This direct conjugation highlights a core aspect of Japanese grammar: verbs are highly inflected to carry rich semantic information. By learning to form the potential form, you gain the ability to state what you are capable of doing, or what circumstances permit, rather than just what you do habitually or intend to do.
For example, instead of merely saying 日本語を話す (Nihongo o hanasu, "I speak Japanese"), you can express 日本語が話せる (Nihongo ga hanaseru, "I can speak Japanese"), clearly indicating a skill or ability.
This form is highly versatile and frequently used in daily communication, making it indispensable for B1-level learners. It provides a concise way to express capacity, making your Japanese sound more natural and sophisticated. The grammatical change from a U-verb to an Ichidan-type verb in its potential form also simplifies subsequent conjugations, as all Ichidan verbs follow a predictable pattern for negative, past, and other forms.
This consistency is a boon for learners, reducing complexity once the initial potential form is mastered.
Conjugation Table
| Original Verb Ending | Example U-Verb (Dictionary Form) | Potential Form (Casual) | Potential Form (Polite) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| :--------------------- | :--------------------------------- | :------------------------ | :------------------------ | |||||
| -う (u) | {買う | かう} (kau, to buy) |
{買える | かえる} (kaeru) |
{買えます | かえます} (kaemasu) |
||
| -く (ku) | {書く | かく} (kaku, to write) |
{書ける | かける} (kakeru) |
{書けます | かけます} (kakemasu) |
||
| -ぐ (gu) | {泳ぐ | およぐ} (oyogu, to swim) |
{泳げる | およげる} (oyogeru) |
{泳げます | およげます} (oyogemasu) |
||
| -す (su) | {話す | はなす} (hanasu, to speak) |
{話せる | はなせる} (hanaseru) |
{話せます | はなせます} (hanasemasu) |
||
| -つ (tsu) | {待つ | まつ} (matsu, to wait) |
{待てる | まてる} (materu) |
{待てます | まてます} (matemasu) |
||
| -ぬ (nu) | {死ぬ | しぬ} (shinu, to die) |
{死ねる | しねる} (shineru) |
{死ねます | しねます} (shinemasu) |
||
| -ぶ (bu) | {呼ぶ | よぶ} (yobu, to call) |
{呼べる | よべる} (yoberu) |
{呼べます | よべます} (yobemasu) |
||
| -む (mu) | {読む | よむ} (yomu, to read) |
{読める | よめる} (yomeru) |
{読めます | よめます} (yomemasu) |
||
| -る (ru) | {走る | はしる} (hashiru, to run) |
{走れる | はしれる} (hashireru) |
{走れます | はしれます} (hashiremasu) |
||
Note that the る (ru) ending for U-verbs (e.g., {走る |
はしる}) becomes れる (reru) in its potential form, distinguishing it from Ichidan verbs whose potential form ends in られる (rareru). This is a common point of confusion, so pay close attention to the original verb's classification. For example, {入る |
はいる} (hairu, to enter) is a U-verb, so its potential form is {入れる |
はいる} (haireru, can enter). Its polite form is {入れます |
はいれます} (hairemasu). |
How This Grammar Works
u-column kana of a U-verb to its corresponding e-column kana, you're performing a regular and predictable sound change that inherently marks the verb as possessing potential meaning.る (ru) and adding ない (nai) for casual speech (読める → 読めない, "cannot read"), or ません (masen) for polite speech (読めます → 読めません, "cannot read").o) to が (ga). When a verb is in its potential form, it no longer expresses a direct, transitive action on an object. Instead, it describes a state of capability or possibility regarding that object.が. Consider 本を読む (hon o yomu, "read a book") versus 本が読める (hon ga yomeru, "can read a book"). In the former, 本 is the direct recipient of the action; in the latter, 本 is the item about which the capability of reading exists.を used with the potential form, が remains the grammatically standard and most common choice, especially for learners aiming for natural and correct Japanese.Formation Pattern
く for 書く, ぐ for 泳ぐ, す for 話す, つ for 待つ, ぬ for 死ぬ, ぶ for 呼ぶ, む for 読む, る for 走る, or just う for 買う).
う → える
く → ける
ぐ → げる
す → せる
つ → てる
ぬ → ねる
ぶ → べる
む → める
る → れる
ます (masu) to this new stem, dropping the final る (ru) (e.g., 読める → 読めます).
utau, to sing): The final kana is う. Change う to える. Result: 歌える (utaeru, can sing). Polite: 歌えます (utaemasu).
kiku, to listen/ask): The final kana is く. Change く to ける. Result: 聞ける (kikeru, can hear/ask). Polite: 聞けます (kikemasu).
motsu, to hold/carry): The final kana is つ. Change つ to てる. Result: 持てる (moteru, can hold/carry). Polite: 持てます (motemasu).
When To Use It
- 1Expressing Ability (Skill or Capability):
- 私は漢字が読めます。 (
Watashi wa kanji ga yomemasu.) - "I can read kanji." (Possess the skill) - 彼は一日に１０キロ走れます。 (
Kare wa ichinichi ni jukkiro hashiremasu.) - "He can run 10 kilometers in a day." (Possesses the physical ability) - 彼女はフランス語を話せますか。 (
Kanojo wa Furansugo o hanasemasu ka.) - "Can she speak French?" (Querying her language skill)
- 1Expressing Possibility/Circumstance (Situational Allowance):
- このスーパーではクレジットカードが使えます。 (
Kono suupaa de wa kurejitto kaado ga tsukaemasu.) - "You can use credit cards at this supermarket." (The situation allows it) - この部屋からは富士山が見えます。 (
Kono heya kara wa Fujisan ga miemasu.) - "You can see Mt. Fuji from this room." (The view is available; the situation allows for seeing) - 図書館は静かなので、集中して勉強ができます。 (This example uses できる for 勉強する.) Let's rephrase for a U-verb: 図書館は静かなので、ゆっくり本が読めます。 (
Toshokan wa shizuka na node, yukkuri hon ga yomemasu.) - "The library is quiet, so I can read books at leisure." (The environment enables it)
miru, to see) and 聞く (kiku, to hear/listen). While 見る is an Ichidan verb and its potential form is 見られる, it has an irregular potential verb 見える (mieru) for natural visibility (e.g., "can be seen naturally"). Similarly, 聞く is a U-verb (聞ける), but for natural hearing, 聞こえる (kikoeru) is used.Common Mistakes
- 1Particle Confusion: を (
o) vs. が (ga)
を (o), potential verbs predominantly use が (ga). The switch happens because the potential form transforms the verb from expressing a direct action into describing a state of capability or possibility concerning the noun. The noun then becomes the focus of this state, hence requiring が.- Incorrect/Informal: 日本語を話せる。(While sometimes heard in very casual, abbreviated speech, it's not standard.)
- Correct: 日本語が話せる。 (
Nihongo ga hanaseru.) - "I can speak Japanese." - Incorrect: この本を読めない。
- Correct: この本が読めない。 (
Kono hon ga yomenai.) - "I can't read this book."
が when using the potential form with a direct object. This rule applies even if the original verb took を.- 1Confusing U-verbs and Ru-verbs Potential Forms
u-to-e + る pattern (e.g., 書くる and add られる (e.g., 食べる → 食べられる, "can eat"). A common mistake is applying the U-verb rule to Ichidan verbs.- Incorrect: 食べれる (Using U-verb rule on Ichidan verb 食べる). This is known as
ラ抜き言葉(Ra-nuki kotoba, "Ra-dropped speech") and is informal, non-standard slang, though increasingly common. - Correct: 食べられる (
Taberareru.) - "Can eat."
miru, to see) is an Ichidan verb, so its standard potential is 見られる (mirareru), not 見れる (mireru).- 1Verbs That Don't Form a Potential Form (or have irregular forms)
aru, to exist for inanimate objects) and いる (iru, to exist for animate objects), generally do not form a potential form in the same way. Things either exist or they don't; they don't have the ability to exist. While philosophical exceptions might be imagined, for practical purposes, these are not used in the potential form. Similarly, as noted in the "When To Use It" section, 見える (mieru) and 聞こえる (kikoeru) are specific verbs for natural sight and hearing, distinct from the conjugated potential forms of 見る and 聞く.- Correct Usage: You would typically say something like できる (
dekiru, "can do" / "is possible") if you mean something like "can be found" or "is available."
Contrast With Similar Patterns
~える) from these similar patterns is crucial for precise communication.- 1Potential Form (
~える) vs. ことができる (koto ga dekiru)
- Potential Form (
~える): This is the more natural, idiomatic, and frequently used expression in everyday conversation. It's concise and blends the meaning of potential directly into the verb. It often implies a more inherent or readily available ability/possibility. - 私は速く走れます。 (
Watashi wa hayaku hashiremasu.) - "I can run fast." (Natural, conversational) - この問題は解ける。 (
Kono mondai wa tokeru.) - "I can solve this problem." (Direct ability)
- ことができる (
koto ga dekiru): This construction (verb in dictionary form +こと+が+できる) is generally more formal, often sounding more objective or detached. It places emphasis on the fact or act of doing something as being possible, rather than the inherent capability. It's commonly used in written Japanese, official statements, or when explaining a general rule or capability rather than a personal one. - 私は速く走ることができます。 (
Watashi wa hayaku hashiru koto ga dekimasu.) - "It is possible for me to run fast." (More formal, emphasizes the possibility of the action) - この問題を解くことができる。 (
Kono mondai o toku koto ga dekiru.) - "It is possible to solve this problem." (More general possibility, noteをcan be used here)
~える as "I can (do X)" and こと が できる as "(Doing X) is possible."- 1Potential Form (
~える) vs. Ru-verb Potential Form (~られる)
- U-verbs (
~える): As covered, change theu-column kana toe-column and addる. (読む → 読める) - Ru-verbs (
~られる): Drop the finalるand addられる. (食べる → 食べられる)
ラ抜き言葉 (Ra-nuki kotoba, e.g., 食べれる instead of 食べられる) stems from applying the U-verb pattern to Ru-verbs. While common informally, it's grammatically incorrect in standard Japanese.- 1Potential Form (
~える) vs. Potentialできる(dekiru) for する and くる verbs
suru, to do) and くる (kuru, to come) have their own unique potential forms.- する becomes できる (
dekiru, can do). - くる becomes こられる (
korareru, can come).
できる is a very common word itself, meaning "can do" or "is possible," and also forms the potential of する.- 1Potential Form (
~える) vs. Passive/Honorific Forms
kaku, to write) is 書かれる (kakareru), while its potential form is 書ける (kakeru). However, for Ru-verbs, the potential (~られる), passive (~られる), and honorific (~られる) forms are often identical (e.g., 食べる → 食べられる for all three).- 私は先生に呼ばれる。 (
Watashi wa sensei ni yobareru.) - "I am called by the teacher." (Passive of 呼ぶ) - 私は先生を呼べる。 (
Watashi wa sensei o yoberu.) - "I can call the teacher." (Potential of 呼ぶ)
Real Conversations
The potential form is a cornerstone of natural Japanese conversation. It's used to discuss personal abilities, limitations, and the practical possibilities of daily life, whether in casual chats, online interactions, or more formal discussions. Observing how native speakers integrate it reveals its versatility.
1. Discussing Personal Abilities/Skills:
- A: このアプリ、使えますか？ (Kono apuri, tsukaemasu ka?) - "Can you use this app?" (Polite, asking about skill)
B
Ee, daijoubu desu. Sugu tsukaemasu yo.) - "Yes, it's fine. I can use it right away."- あ、田中さん、日本語読めますか？この張り紙。 (A, Tanaka-san, Nihongo yomemasu ka? Kono harigami.) - "Ah, Tanaka-san, can you read Japanese? This notice."
2. Expressing Possibility Due to Circumstances:
- この席、座れますか？ (Kono seki, suwaremasu ka?) - "Can I sit in this seat?" (Is it possible/available? 座る is a U-verb)
B
Hai, douzo.) - "Yes, please go ahead."- この時間でも、まだ銀行で両替できますか？ (Kono jikan demo, mada ginkou de ryougae dekimasu ka?) - "Even at this hour, can I still exchange money at the bank?" (Asking if the situation allows for it, できる is the potential of する for 両替する).
3. Expressing Inability or Impossibility (Negative Form):
- ごめんなさい、今日はちょっと行けません。 (Gomen nasai, kyou wa chotto ikemasen.) - "Sorry, I can't go today." (Casual 行く (iku, to go) → 行ける (ikeru) → 行けません)
- この映画、面白そうだけど、字幕なしじゃ見れないな。 (Kono eiga, omoshirosou dakedo, jimaku nashi ja mirenai na.) - "This movie looks interesting, but I can't watch it without subtitles." (Informal 見れる (mireru) as ラ抜き言葉 for 見られる, implying the speaker's ability to comprehend without subtitles. Standard would be 見られない)
4. Cultural Observation: The directness of the potential form, especially in its negative, is a common way to politely decline or express limitations without elaborate excuses. Saying できません (dekimasen) or 行けません (ikemasen) often suffices, indicating a straightforward inability rather than a refusal. In many social contexts, a simple statement of inability or impossibility is often more respectful than a convoluted excuse.
Another interesting point is the use of 見える (mieru) and 聞こえる (kikoeru). Instead of actively asking "Can you see it?" with 見られますか？, it's often more natural to ask 見えますか？ (Miemasu ka?), implying "Is it visible (to you)?" This shift highlights the passive nature of perception versus active exertion of ability.
These examples illustrate how the potential form is woven into the fabric of daily communication, making it indispensable for any learner aiming for authentic expression.
Progressive Practice
Mastering the potential form requires consistent and targeted practice. Moving beyond rote conjugation, effective progressive practice involves applying the form in increasingly complex contexts, solidifying both your grammatical accuracy and your intuitive understanding of its usage.
Initial Conjugation Drills:
- Start with a list of common U-verbs (e.g., 書く, 読む, 話す, 泳ぐ, 買う, 待つ, 取る, 立つ).
- Conjugate each into its casual potential form, then its polite potential form. Focus on the u-column to e-column shift. (e.g., 書く → 書ける → 書けます)
- Practice the negative forms as well: casual negative (~ない) and polite negative (~ません). (e.g., 書けない, 書けません)
Particle Awareness Exercises:
- Take simple transitive sentences using を and rewrite them using the potential form, ensuring the correct particle change to が.
- Original: 新聞を読む。(read the newspaper)
- Potential: 新聞が読める。(can read the newspaper)
- Create sentences where the context clearly demands が with the potential form. Pay attention to pitch accent for が when it's a particle vs. a conjunction.
Contextual Sentence Creation:
- Ability: Write sentences about personal skills or the skills of others. Include a variety of subjects and objects. (e.g., "My friend can play the guitar.", "I can't remember kanji.")
- Possibility/Circumstance: Construct sentences describing situations where an action is possible or impossible due to external factors. (e.g., "You can buy tickets at the station.", "It's too dark, so I can't see the words.")
- Practice asking questions using the potential form. (e.g., "Can you come tomorrow?", "Is it possible to hear me?")
Differentiating Similar Forms:
- Take sentences using こと が できる and rephrase them using the potential form, noting the change in nuance or formality. Discuss when each form would be more appropriate.
- Practice identifying whether a verb is a U-verb or a Ru-verb before conjugating to potential form. Actively avoid ラ抜き言葉 in your practice. If you encounter an Ichidan verb, consciously apply the ~られる rule.
Listening and Reading Comprehension:
- Actively listen for potential forms in Japanese media (anime, dramas, podcasts). Note the verb, the particle used, and the context (ability or possibility).
- Read short articles, social media posts, or simple stories and identify potential forms. Try to explain why the potential form was used in each instance.
- Pay special attention to 見える (mieru) and 聞こえる (kikoeru) versus other potential forms.
Consistent engagement with these types of progressive exercises will not only build your grammatical accuracy but also develop your intuitive grasp of when and how to deploy the potential form naturally in conversation.
Quick FAQ
No, the potential form is primarily for expressing ability or possibility, not permission. For permission, you should use the て形 + もいいですか (te-kei + mo ii desu ka) construction. For instance, "May I go to the bathroom?" would be トイレに行ってもいいですか？ (Toire ni itte mo ii desu ka?). While you can technically ask トイレに行けますか？ (Toire ni ikemasu ka?), it would sound more like "Am I able to go to the bathroom?" or "Is it possible for me to go to the bathroom?" (e.g., if there's an obstruction), rather than a request for permission.
つ (tsu), like 待つ (matsu)? How do I change those?For verbs ending in つ, the つ changes to て (te) and then る is added. So, 待つ (matsu, to wait) becomes 待てる (materu, can wait). This follows the general rule of changing the u-column kana (つ) to its e-column equivalent (て) and then adding る.
あれる (areru) a potential form for ある (aru)?No, ある (aru, to exist for inanimate objects) generally does not form a potential verb あれる. Objects or things either exist or they don't; they don't possess the "ability" to exist. If you want to express "can be found" or "is available," you would typically use phrases like あります (arimasu) in a specific context or perhaps 見つかる (mitsukaru, to be found) or できる (dekiru, to be made/formed/possible).
見える (mieru) and 聞こえる (kikoeru) instead of the potential forms of 見る (miru) and 聞く (kiku)?見える (mieru) and 聞こえる (kikoeru) are specific verbs that mean "to be visible/seen naturally" and "to be audible/heard naturally," respectively. They describe the passive reception of sensory information, where the thing seen or heard is simply perceptible. The potential forms, 見られる (mirareru, for Ichidan verb 見る) and 聞ける (kikeru, for U-verb 聞く), imply an active effort or inherent capability. For example:
- 富士山が見えます。 (
Fujisan ga miemasu.) - "Mt. Fuji is visible." (You can see it without effort.) - 私は暗いところでもよく見られます。 (
Watashi wa kurai tokoro demo yoku mirareru.) - "I can see well even in dark places." (Implies personal visual ability with effort in challenging conditions.) - 遠くの音が聞こえます。 (
Tooku no oto ga kikoemasu.) - "I can hear a sound from far away." (The sound is simply audible.) - 小声でも聞けるように、集中して聞いた。 (
Kogoe demo kikeru you ni, shuuchuu shite kiita.) - "I listened intently so I could hear even a small voice." (Implies active effort to hear.)
ラ抜き言葉 (Ra-nuki kotoba) really that bad? I hear native speakers use it.ラ抜き言葉 (e.g., 食べれる instead of 食べられる) is indeed frequently used in casual speech by native speakers, especially younger generations. However, it is considered non-standard and grammatically incorrect in formal contexts, writing, and by many educators. For learners, it is always recommended to use the standard forms (食べられる, 見られる) to ensure grammatical accuracy and avoid sounding overly casual or uneducated. While you will encounter it, aim for the standard forms in your own speech and writing, especially at the B1 level where foundational grammar is being solidified.
U-Verb Potential Conjugation
| Dictionary | Potential | Polite Potential |
|---|---|---|
|
{書|か}く
|
{書|か}ける
|
{書|か}けます
|
|
{話|はな}す
|
{話|はな}せる
|
{話|はな}せます
|
|
{待|ま}つ
|
{待|ま}てる
|
{待|ま}てます
|
|
{死|し}ぬ
|
{死|し}ねる
|
{死|し}ねます
|
|
{遊|あそ}ぶ
|
{遊|あそ}べる
|
{遊|あそ}べます
|
|
{飲|の|む}
|
{飲|の|める}
|
{飲|の|めます}
|
|
{帰|かえ}る
|
{帰|かえ}れる
|
{帰|かえ}れます
|
|
{買|か}う
|
{買|か}える
|
{買|か}えます
|
Meanings
The potential form indicates that the subject has the ability or the environment allows for an action to be performed.
Physical Ability
Possessing the skill to perform an action.
“{日本語|にほんご}が{話|はな}せます。”
“{漢字|かんじ}が{読|よ}めます。”
Situational Possibility
Circumstances allow for the action to happen.
“この{店|みせ}で{カード|かーど}が{使|つか}えます。”
“ここで{写真|しゃしん}が{撮|と}れます。”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Verb(e) + ru
|
{行|い}ける
|
|
Negative
|
Verb(e) + nai
|
{行|い}けない
|
|
Past
|
Verb(e) + ta
|
{行|い}けた
|
|
Polite
|
Verb(e) + masu
|
{行|い}けます
|
|
Question
|
Verb(e) + ru + ka
|
{行|い}けるか？
|
|
Negative Polite
|
Verb(e) + masen
|
{行|い}けません
|
Formality Spectrum
{私|わたし}はそれができます。 (General)
それができます。 (General)
できるよ。 (General)
できんじゃん。 (General)
Potential Form Logic
U-Verb
- kaku write
Examples by Level
{日本語|にほんご}が{話|はな}せます。
I can speak Japanese.
{漢字|かんじ}が{読|よ}めます。
I can read kanji.
{泳|およ}げます。
I can swim.
{歌|うた}えます。
I can sing.
{明日|あした}は{行|い}けます。
I can go tomorrow.
{辛|から}い{物|もの}が{食|た}べられます。
I can eat spicy food.
ここで{待|ま}てますか？
Can I wait here?
{自転車|じてんしゃ}が{乗|の}れます。
I can ride a bike.
{会議|かいぎ}に{出|で}られます。
I can attend the meeting.
{予約|よやく}が{変|か}えられますか？
Can the reservation be changed?
{彼|かれ}の{話|はなし}が{聞|き}けません。
I cannot hear his story.
{明日|あした}は{休|やす}めます。
I can take a break tomorrow.
{状況|じょうきょう}が{変|か}われば、{行|い}けます。
If the situation changes, I can go.
{彼|かれ}は{多|おお}くの{言語|げんご}が{話|はな}せます。
He can speak many languages.
{問題|もんだい}が{解決|かいけつ}できます。
The problem can be solved.
{準備|じゅんび}が{整|ととの}えば{始|はじ}められます。
Once ready, we can start.
{彼|かれ}の{意図|いと}が{読|よ}めません。
I cannot read his intentions.
{不可能|ふかのう}と{思|おも}われていたことが{実現|じつげん}できます。
What was thought impossible can be realized.
{状況|じょうきょう}を{鑑|かんが}みれば、{判断|はんだん}できます。
Considering the situation, I can judge.
{彼|かれ}の{才能|さいのう}が{発揮|はっき}できます。
He can demonstrate his talent.
{古文|こぶん}が{読|よ}めるようになりたいです。
I want to become able to read classical Japanese.
{微細|びさい}な{ニュアンス|にゅあんす}が{理解|りかい}できます。
I can understand the subtle nuances.
{歴史|れきし}を{変|か}えることはできません。
History cannot be changed.
{彼|かれ}の{言動|げんどう}には{納得|なっとく}できません。
I cannot accept his behavior.
Easily Confused
Both involve changing vowels.
Common Mistakes
本を読めます
本が読めます
行くます
行けます
食べれる
食べられる
見れる
見られる
Sentence Patterns
___が___できます。
Real World Usage
会議に出られます。
Use Ga
Smart Tips
Use ga.
Pronunciation
Pitch Accent
The accent usually shifts to the 'e' syllable.
Rising
行けますか？
Question
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Change the 'u' to 'e' and add 'ru' to get to the 'can' view.
Visual Association
Imagine a person trying to lift a heavy box. They change their 'u' (uphill) effort into an 'e' (easy) effort by adding a 'ru' (rubber) band to help them lift it.
Rhyme
Change the U to an E, add RU and you'll see, the ability to be.
Story
Ken wanted to climb a mountain. He couldn't (kakenai). He added a rope (ru) to his gear. Now he can (kakeru) climb it.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 things you can do today in Japanese.
Cultural Notes
Standard usage.
Derived from the classical 'ru' suffix.
Conversation Starters
何ができますか？
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
書く -> ___
Score: /1
Practice Exercises
1 exercises書く -> ___
Score: /1
Practice Bank
13 exercises海で ___ (oyogu).
ここで ___ (matsu).
Select the correct Japanese sentence.
Which one is WRONG?
Arrange the words.
Match the pairs.
私は ___ (ikeru -> polite).
Context: 'Kono mise de kaeru.'
Wait, 'taberu' is a Ru-verb, but if it was a U-verb rule...
Translate to Japanese (Casual).
あのゲームで ___ (shinu). (Can die)
To say 'I can do my best':
Build the phrase.
Score: /13
FAQ (1)
It marks the state of ability.
Scaffolded Practice
1
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Poder
Spanish uses an auxiliary verb.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Continue With
Mastering 'Can Do': Using が instead of を (Potential Form)
Overview Japanese grammar often presents learners with nuanced particle usage, and few shifts are as significant or init...
Formal Ability: Using 'Koto Ga Dekiru' (Can Do)
Overview In Japanese, expressing ability is nuanced, often going beyond a simple "can." While the potential form (e.g.,...
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Related Grammar Rules
Japanese Potential Form: Saying 'I Can' for ru-verbs (～られる)
Overview The **potential form** in Japanese expresses ability or possibility: "can do," "is able to do," or "it is possi...
Leaving Things Messy or Unfinished (~っぱなし)
Overview At the B2 level, your focus shifts from merely constructing correct sentences to conveying precise nuance, emo...
Becoming able to do something (～ようになる)
Overview Japanese grammar often provides tools to express not just actions, but the context and trajectory surrounding...
Formal Ability: Using 'Koto Ga Dekiru' (Can Do)
Overview In Japanese, expressing ability is nuanced, often going beyond a simple "can." While the potential form (e.g.,...
Japanese Passive Form: U-Verbs (Ukemi-kei)
Overview The Japanese passive form, known as `Ukemi-kei` (`受身形`), allows you to describe an action as being performed...
