Mastering 'Can Do': Using が instead of を (Potential Form)
を to が to sound natural and emphasize your ability correctly.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
When you change a verb to its potential form (can do), the object particle 'o' must change to 'ga'.
- Change the verb to potential form: {読む|よむ} (read) becomes {読める|よめる} (can read).
- Replace the object marker 'o' with 'ga': {本を読める|ほんをよめる} becomes {本が読める|ほんがよめる}.
- The particle 'ga' emphasizes the ability or the object being capable of being acted upon.
Overview
Japanese grammar often presents learners with nuanced particle usage, and few shifts are as significant or initially perplexing as the change from を to が when a transitive verb is put into its potential form. This phenomenon, which can feel like a sudden rule change, is rooted in a fundamental linguistic principle: potential verbs describe a state or capability rather than a direct action. When you say you can eat an apple, the focus shifts from the act of eating to the apple's eatability (or your capability regarding the apple). The particle が is intrinsically linked to marking the subject of a state, quality, or existence, much like its use with adjectives (きれいだ – きれい が 好き) or stative verbs (分かる – 日本語 が 分かる).
Therefore, mastering this particle switch is not merely about memorizing a rule but understanding this deeper grammatical logic. It allows for more natural and precise expression of ability and possibility, a hallmark of intermediate Japanese proficiency. For instance, instead of 本{ほん}を{読{よ}む (to read a book), you would say 本{ほん}が{読{よ}める (can read a book).
This transformation reflects a change in the verb's semantic role within the sentence.
Conjugation Table
| Verb Group | Dictionary Form Example | Casual Potential Form | Polite Potential Form | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| :----------- | :---------------------- | :-------------------- | :--------------------- | :------------------------------------------------ | ||
| Group 1 | 書{か}く (to write) |
書{か}ける |
書{か}けます |
Change u to eru. |
||
(Godan) |
泳{およ}ぐ (to swim) |
泳{およ}げる |
泳{およ}げます |
|||
話{はな}す (to speak) |
話{はな}せる |
話{はな}せます |
||||
待{ま}つ (to wait) |
待{ま}てる |
待{ま}てます |
||||
飲{の}む (to drink) |
飲{の}める |
飲{の}めます |
||||
| Group 2 | 食{た}べる (to eat) |
食{た}べられる |
食{た}べられます |
Add られる (often shortened to れる). |
||
(Ichidan) |
見{み}る (to see) |
見{み}られる |
見{み}られます |
|||
開{あ}ける (to open) |
開{あ}けられる |
開{あ}けられます |
||||
| Irregular | する (to do) |
できる |
できます |
Unique conjugation. | ||
来{く}る (to come) |
来{こ}られる |
来{こ}られます |
Or 来{く}る itself when used in certain contexts. |
How This Grammar Works
を. For example, in ペンを{持{も}つ (to hold a pen), ペン is the direct object of the action 持{も}つ.持{も}つ becomes 持{も}てる (can hold), its function in the sentence changes. The verb no longer describes an action being performed on the pen, but rather describes a state of capability or possibility concerning the pen. The pen becomes the subject of this capability.ペンが{持{も}てる translates more literally as "Regarding the pen, holding it is possible," or "The pen is able to be held." This is analogous to how が marks the subject of adjectives (この{本{ほん}が{難{むずか}しい – This book is difficult) or stative verbs (彼{かれ}は{英語{えいご}が{分{わ}かる – He understands English).が.コーヒーを{飲{の}む (to drink coffee). Here, コーヒー is the direct object. When potentialized to コーヒーが{飲{の}める (can drink coffee), コーヒー is now the entity about which the possibility (飲{の}める) is stated.が is not merely an alternative particle but a grammatically essential one for the potential form in formal and standard Japanese.Formation Pattern
Godan verbs): Change the final u sound of the dictionary form to the e sound in the same column, then add る (ru).
書{か}く (kaku) → 書{か}ける (kakeru) – can write
読{よ}む (yomu) → 読{よ}める (yomeru) – can read
Ichidan verbs): Remove the final る (ru) from the dictionary form and add られる (rareru).
食{た}べる (taberu) → 食{た}べられる (taberareru) – can eat
見{み}る (miru) → 見{み}られる (mirareru) – can see
られる is often shortened to れる (e.g., 食{た}べれる), especially by younger speakers. While common, this ら抜き言葉 is not standard.
する (suru) → できる (dekiru) – can do
来{く}る (kuru) → 来{こ}られる (korareru) – can come
を to が.
を must now be marked by が. This is the crucial particle shift reflecting the verb's new stative nature.
フランス{ふらんす}{語{ご}を{話{はな}します (I speak French.)
フランス{ふらんす}{語{ご}が{話{はな}せます (I can speak French.)
漢字{かんじ}を{書{か}く (to write Kanji)
漢字{かんじ}が{書{か}ける (can write Kanji)
ケーキを{作{つく}る (to make a cake)
ケーキが{作{つく}れる (can make a cake)
を), this particle shift is irrelevant. For example, 行{い}く (to go) becomes 行{い}ける (can go), but since it never took を, no particle needs to change. The が particle would only apply to the subject of the potential ability itself, such as 私{わたし}は{明日{あした}{行{い}けます (I can go tomorrow).
When To Use It
- Expressing Personal Ability or Skill: This is perhaps the most common application. When you want to state that you possess the skill or knowledge to perform a specific action.
私{わたし}は{日本語{にほんご}が{話{はな}せます。(I can speak Japanese.) – This indicates a learned skill.日本語(Japanese language) is the subject of the capability話{はな}せる.彼{かれ}は{料理{りょうり}が{作{つく}れます。(He can cook.) – Here,料理(cooking/dish) is implicitly understood as the object of his ability.- Indicating Possibility (External Circumstances): When external conditions allow or prevent an action, the potential form is used.
この{時間{じかん}だと、{駅{えき}まで{歩{ある}いて{行{い}けます。(At this time, I can walk to the station.) – The timeこの{時間{じかん}creates the possibility.この{部屋{へや}は{Wi-Fiが{使{つか}えます。(Wi-Fi can be used in this room.) – The room's facilities make the Wi-Fi usable.- Perception Verbs (
見える,聞こえる): These verbs are inherently potential forms, derived from見{み}る(to see) and聞{き}く(to hear), and almost exclusively takeがto mark what can be seen or heard. They describe involuntary perception. 遠{とお}くに{山{やま}が{見{み}えます。(A mountain can be seen in the distance.) – The mountain is passively perceptible.音楽{おんがく}が{聞{き}こえますか？(Can you hear music?) – The music is passively audible.- Permission or Feasibility: In some contexts, it can imply permission or that something is feasible.
今夜{こんや}は{残業{ざんぎょう}が{できます。(I can work overtime tonight.) – This suggests it is possible or permitted for me to work overtime.
Common Mistakes
が particle. Recognizing these common errors is key to developing accurate and natural Japanese.- Forgetting the Particle Swap: The most prevalent mistake is using
をinstead ofがwith a potential verb, e.g.,日本語{にほんご}を{話{はな}せます. While comprehensible in casual settings, it is grammatically incorrect in standard Japanese. The fundamental misunderstanding here is failing to recognize that the potential form changes the verb's nature from active to stative, thus requiringがfor the subject of that state. This error stems from over-applying theをparticle's role with transitive verbs. - Misapplying
がto Intransitive Verbs: Only transitive verbs undergo theをtoがshift. Intransitive verbs, which never takeをin their original form (e.g.,行{い}く– to go,寝{ね}る– to sleep), do not change their particle for what would normally be their direct object, because they don't have one. Usingがwith an entity that isn't the subject of the potential capability with an intransitive potential verb is incorrect. For instance,公園{こうえん}が{行{い}けますis unnatural; one would say公園{こうえん}に{行{い}けます(I can go to the park), retainingにto mark destination. - Over-reliance on
ら抜き言葉: Whileら抜き言葉(e.g.,食{た}べれるinstead of食{た}べられる) is ubiquitous in informal speech, using it in formal contexts, academic writing, or standardized tests is considered an error. It reflects a lack of precision and a casual register inappropriate for such situations. - Confusing Potential with Passive for Ichidan Verbs: Group 2 (Ichidan) verbs have identical potential and passive forms (e.g.,
食{た}べられるcan mean both
Potential Form Conjugation
| Verb Type | Dictionary Form | Potential Form | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Group 1
|
書く (kaku)
|
書ける (kakeru)
|
本が書ける
|
|
Group 1
|
読む (yomu)
|
読める (yomeru)
|
本が読める
|
|
Group 2
|
食べる (taberu)
|
食べられる (taberareru)
|
寿司が食べられる
|
|
Group 2
|
見る (miru)
|
見られる (mirareru)
|
映画が見られる
|
|
Group 3
|
する (suru)
|
できる (dekiru)
|
仕事ができる
|
|
Group 3
|
来る (kuru)
|
来られる (korareru)
|
ここに来られる
|
Casual Potential (Ra-nuki)
| Formal | Casual (Ra-nuki) |
|---|---|
|
食べられる
|
食べれる
|
|
見られる
|
見れる
|
|
来られる
|
来れる
|
Meanings
The potential form expresses capability or possibility. It indicates that the subject has the ability to perform an action or that the action is possible under current circumstances.
Physical Ability
Possessing the skill or physical capacity to do something.
“{泳げます|およげます}”
“{ピアノが弾けます|ぴあのがひけます}”
Situational Possibility
The environment allows for the action to occur.
“{ここで食事ができます|ここでしょくじができます}”
“{明日なら会えます|あしたならあえます}”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Verb(pot) + masu
|
話せます
|
|
Negative
|
Verb(pot) + masen
|
話せません
|
|
Past Affirmative
|
Verb(pot) + mashita
|
話せました
|
|
Past Negative
|
Verb(pot) + masen deshita
|
話せませんでした
|
|
Question
|
Verb(pot) + ka
|
話せますか
|
|
Short Affirmative
|
Verb(pot) + ru
|
話せる
|
|
Short Negative
|
Verb(pot) + nai
|
話せない
|
Formality Spectrum
これ、食べられますか？ (Dining)
これ、食べられますか？ (Dining)
これ、食べれる？ (Dining)
これ、いける？ (Dining)
Potential Form Logic
Particle
- ga replaces o
Meaning
- dekiru can do
Examples by Level
{日本語が話せます|にほんごがはなせます}
I can speak Japanese.
{寿司が食べられます|すしがたべられます}
I can eat sushi.
{漢字が書けます|かんじがかけます}
I can write kanji.
{明日行けます|あしたゆけます}
I can go tomorrow.
{ここでタバコが吸えますか|ここでたばこがすえますか}
Can I smoke here?
{この店でカードが使えます|このみせでかーどがつかえます}
I can use a card at this store.
{泳げません|およげません}
I cannot swim.
{何が買えますか|なにがかえますか}
What can I buy?
{このアプリで日本語が学べます|このあぷりでにほんごがまなべます}
You can learn Japanese with this app.
{静かな場所なら勉強できます|しずかなばしょならべんきょうできます}
I can study if it's a quiet place.
{予約が取れました|よやくがとれました}
I was able to get a reservation.
{もっと速く走れます|もっとはやくはしれます}
I can run faster.
{この問題は解決できます|このもんだいにかいけつできます}
This problem can be solved.
{彼ならこの仕事を任せられます|かれならこのしごとをまかせられます}
I can entrust this job to him.
{景色が綺麗に見えます|けしきがきれいにみえます}
The scenery can be seen beautifully.
{予定が変更できます|よていがへんこうできます}
The schedule can be changed.
{この事実は否定できません|このじじつはひていできません}
This fact cannot be denied.
{誰にも真似できない技術です|だれにもまねできないぎじゅつです}
It is a technique that no one can imitate.
{状況が改善されると信じられます|じょうきょうがかいぜんされるとしんじられます}
I can believe that the situation will be improved.
{この機会を活かせます|このきかいをいかせます}
I can make the most of this opportunity.
{その真意は汲み取れます|そのしんいはくみとれます}
I can grasp the true meaning of that.
{歴史の教訓は無視し得ません|れきしのきょうくんはむししえません}
The lessons of history cannot be ignored.
{彼には抗い難い魅力がある|かれにはあらがいがたいみりょくがある}
He has an irresistible charm.
{事態を収拾し得たのは彼だけだ|じたいをしゅうしゅうしえたのはかれだけだ}
He was the only one who could have resolved the situation.
Easily Confused
Both mean 'can'.
Some verbs already mean 'can'.
Group 2 verbs look identical.
Common Mistakes
本を読めます
本が読めます
寿司を食べれます
寿司が食べられます
日本語を話せます
日本語が話せます
行けますか？
行けますか？
分かりますができます
分かります
泳ぐことができます
泳げます
来れる
来られる
見られることができます
見られます
食べられるます
食べられます
書くことが可能だ
書けます
無視し得られる
無視し得ない
食べれる
食べられる
信じられることができる
信じられる
Sentence Patterns
___が話せます。
ここで___が食べられます。
___なら、明日行けます。
この問題は___できます。
Real World Usage
日本語が話せます。
ここで食べられますか？
来れる？
カードが使えますか？
綺麗に見える！
変更いただけます。
Particle Swap
Stative Verbs
Ra-nuki
Politeness
Smart Tips
Use 'koto ga dekiru' instead of the potential verb.
Drop the 'ra' to sound natural.
Check if it's already stative.
Use full potential forms.
Pronunciation
Ra-nuki
In casual speech, the 'ra' is often dropped for flow.
Question
話せますか↑
Rising intonation for questions.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'ga' as the 'Goal' particle for potential. You have a goal, and you can reach it!
Visual Association
Imagine a person trying to lift a heavy box. They switch from 'o' (struggling) to 'ga' (the box becomes light and they can lift it).
Rhyme
When you say 'can', change 'o' to 'ga', that's the rule, you're a star!
Story
Ken wanted to eat sushi. He said 'Sushi o taberu' (I eat sushi). Then he realized he had no money. He said 'Sushi ga taberarenai' (I cannot eat sushi). He learned the particle shift the hard way.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 sentences about things you can and cannot do in Japanese today.
Cultural Notes
The 'ra-nuki' form is standard in casual Tokyo speech.
Always use full forms like 'taberareru' in emails.
Kansai dialect often uses different potential forms like 'taberareru' vs 'taberaru'.
The potential form evolved from the passive form in classical Japanese.
Conversation Starters
何が食べられますか？
日本語で何が話せますか？
この町で何ができますか？
将来、何ができるようになりたいですか？
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
本 ___ 読めます。
食べる -> ?
Find and fix the mistake:
日本語を話せます。
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
I can swim.
Answer starts with: a...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
来る -> ?
この問題は解決 ___。
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises本 ___ 読めます。
食べる -> ?
Find and fix the mistake:
日本語を話せます。
が / 寿司 / 食べられます / 私
I can swim.
書く -> ?
来る -> ?
この問題は解決 ___。
Score: /8
Practice Bank
6 exercises{車|くるま}の{運転|うんてん} ___ できますか？
I can read this book.
{食|た}べられない / {納豆|なっとう} / が
Match these:
Choose the correct sentence:
{英語|えいご}を{話|はな}せます。
Score: /6
FAQ (8)
Potential verbs describe a state, not an action, so 'ga' marks the subject of that state.
It's casual 'ra-nuki', acceptable in speech but not in formal writing.
Most, but not stative verbs like 'wakaru'.
It's a formal alternative to potential verbs.
Conjugate as a Group 2 verb: 'taberareta'.
No, they are standard and polite.
Yes, to state your skills.
Use the negative: 'taberaremasen'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Poder + infinitive
Spanish uses an auxiliary; Japanese conjugates the main verb.
Pouvoir + infinitive
French uses auxiliary.
Können
German uses modal verbs.
Potential conjugation
N/A
Yastati' an
Arabic uses a separate verb.
Neng/Ke yi
Chinese does not conjugate.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
Potential Form: Can you do it? (U-verbs)
Overview Japanese verbs undergo significant transformations to convey different meanings, and the potential form is a cr...
Japanese Potential Form: Saying 'I Can' for ru-verbs (～られる)
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Related Videos
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