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'.
你将学到什么
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!
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可能形：你能做吗？（五段动词）想要表达“能”做某事，只需把五段动词结尾的
u音转为e音并加上ru。记住 «が» 是它的好搭档！ -
日语可能态：如何用る动词表示“我能做”（～られる）掌握 ru-动词可能形，只需加上 «られる»，就能自信表达你的“超能力”和“数字化可能”！
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日语可能态：你能做到吗？ (Suru/Kuru)掌握这两个不规则动词的可能形 «できる» 和 «{来|こ}られる»，你就能自如地表达能力或可能性啦！
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掌握“能做”：使用 が 代替 を (可能形)When using potential verbs, switch
をtoがto sound natural and emphasize your ability correctly. -
正式能力表达：使用 'Koto Ga Dekiru' (能做)想显得更专业、更正式？用“动词原形”加上 «こと» 变名词，再接 «ができます»。这就是日语里超稳重的“能力”表达法！
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变得能够做某事 / 开始做某事 (～ようになる)想描述你从“不会”到“会”的华丽蜕变，或者开启了一个崭新的“生活习惯”，用 «～ようになる» 就对啦！
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
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1
By the end you will be able to: Convert any verb into its potential form to describe what is possible.
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2
By the end you will be able to: Use the 'ga' particle correctly with potential verbs in conversation.
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3
By the end you will be able to: Describe a new skill you have recently acquired using '～ようになる'.
章节指南
Overview
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.
How This Grammar Works
can do or am able to dowith verbs. For U-verbs, you change the final -u sound to an -eru sound.
Common Mistakes
- 1✗ Wrong: 私は日本語を話せます。
- 1✗ Wrong: 食べるる (taberuru)
- 1✗ Wrong: 泳げる。 (Oyogeru. - I can swim.) (When you want to say you *became* able to swim)
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
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Quick FAQ
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 speakor
You are allowed to speak). It's often used in more formal contexts or when the verb is already transitive.
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.
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).
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
关键例句 (6)
技巧与窍门 (4)
助词 'Ga' 的切换
ga 代替 wo。虽然 wo 也不算错，但 ga 听起来更自然，因为它描述的是一种“状态”而非“动作”。例如：«日本語が話せる。»助词大变身
助词陷阱
Particle Swap
核心词汇 (5)
Real-World Preview
Talking about new skills
Review Summary
- U-verb (u->e) + ru
- Verb(dictionary) + you ni naru
常见错误
Potential verbs require 'ga' instead of 'wo'. This is a common slip for learners used to transitive verbs.
Adding 'reru' instead of 'rareru' to Ru-verbs is a common conjugation error.
When discussing ability, the verb inside 'you ni naru' should also be in the potential form.
本章规则 (6)
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
快速练习 (10)
この問題は解決 ___。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 掌握“能做”：使用 が 代替 を (可能形)
食べる -> ?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 掌握“能做”：使用 が 代替 を (可能形)
{日本語|にほんご}が____。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 日语可能态：你能做到吗？ (Suru/Kuru)
选择正确的句子：
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 变得能够做某事 / 开始做某事 (～ようになる)
{汉字|かんじ}が {___} ようになりました。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 变得能够做某事 / 开始做某事 (～ようになる)
Find and fix the mistake:
{明日|あした}、{学校|がっこう}に{来|く}られますか？
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 日语可能态：你能做到吗？ (Suru/Kuru)
本 ___ 読めます。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 掌握“能做”：使用 が 代替 を (可能形)
日本語を話せる (Nihongo wo hanaseru) 通常被替换为：
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 可能形：你能做吗？（五段动词）
Find and fix the mistake:
{明日|あした}は{来|こ}れないです。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 日语可能态：如何用る动词表示“我能做”（～られる）
私はもっとたくさん___。
る 并加上 られる 来表达能力。frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 日语可能态：如何用る动词表示“我能做”（～られる）
Score: /10
常见问题 (6)
taberu 要变成 taberareru。suru 变成 dekiru，kuru 变成 korareru。Itte mo ii desu ka?。
Ikeru? 听起来更像是问“你身体状况能去吗？”或“客观上有可能去吗？”。iru 或 eru，比如 taberu 或 miru。它们的变形非常规律，直接去掉 る 就行。{話す|はなす} 是 u-动词，所以变成 {話せる|はなせる}。如果是 ru-动词如 {覚える|おぼえる}，则变成 {覚えられる|おぼえられる}。
