"-(ra)reru" vs. "Koto ga Dekiru": How to Express "Can Do" in Japanese (Complete Guide)
Quick quiz: Which is correct Japanese, 「食べられる」 (taberareru) or 「食べれる」 (tabereru)?
If you check a textbook or take the JLPT, "taberareru" is the only correct answer. But step into a cafe or izakaya in Tokyo, and you will overwhelmingly hear native speakers saying "tabereru".
Why do Japanese people intentionally use "incorrect" grammar every single day? Are they just lazy? ...No. As you'll see later, there's a brilliant, life-saving reason behind this native habit.
Today, we're going to master the Potential Form (how to say "can" or "be able to"). We'll break your reliance on robotic textbook phrases and unlock the snappy, natural Japanese that natives actually use.
⚡ The Golden Rules of "Can Do"
💡 Rule 1: Graduate from "~Koto ga dekimasu"
While grammatically perfect, ~koto ga dekimasu is too long and sounds stiff in casual conversation. Native speakers prefer the much shorter Potential Form (-rareru / -eru).
💡 Rule 2: Shift 'o' (を) to 'ga' (が)
When using the potential form, the object marker を (o) naturally becomes が (ga).
❌ 日本語を話せる ➔ ⭕️ 日本語が話せる
Why You Need the Potential Form (3 Key Uses)
Once you master this conjugation, you can navigate almost any situation where you need to declare your abilities, check rules, or confirm availability.
1. Highlighting Skills
日本語が話せます。
(Nihongo ga hanasemasu.)
"I can speak Japanese."
Essential for self-introductions or interviews to smoothly state what you are capable of doing.
2. Situational Availability
明日のパーティーに行けます！
(Ashita no pātī ni ikemasu!)
"I can go to tomorrow's party!"
Used to express that you are able to do something because your schedule or situation allows it.
3. Checking Rules
この水、飲めますか？
(Kono mizu, nomemasu ka?)
"Can I drink this water?"
A very quick and natural way to ask if something is safe, edible, or permitted.
Why Natives use "Ra-nuki Kotoba" (Beware of Bears!)
Remember the quiz at the beginning? Textbooks teach you that the potential form of 食べる (taberu) is 食べられる (taberareru). But natives often drop the "ra" and just say 食べれる (tabereru). This is known as Ra-nuki Kotoba (ra-dropped words).
Is it just lazy slang? Not quite. Dropping the "ra" is actually a clever way to avoid a terrifying misunderstanding. In Japanese, the formal word 食べられる has two completely different meanings: Potential (Can eat) and Passive (To be eaten). Let's look at two sentences:
森でクマに食べられる
(Mori de kuma ni taberareru)
Passive: "I will be eaten by a bear in the forest!"
北海道でクマの肉が食べられる
(Hokkaidō de kuma no niku ga taberareru)
Potential: "You can eat bear meat in Hokkaido!"
If the context is slightly ambiguous, using "taberareru" can flip the meaning and cause a panic! By intentionally using the "incorrect" 食べれる (tabereru), natives make it 100% clear: "I am talking about ability, not being eaten!" While you should use "taberareru" on tests or in formal emails, using "tabereru" in casual chats will make you sound incredibly natural.
The Conjugation Guide
How do we construct these forms? The rules, as always, depend on the verb's group. Don't worry, they are much simpler than the Te-form!
Group 1 (u-verbs): The "e" Sound Shift
Change the final hiragana from the u-column to the e-column, and add る (ru).
| Dictionary Form | Potential Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 書く (kaku) | 書ける (kakeru) | can write |
| 飲む (nomu) | 飲める (nomeru) | can drink |
| 話す (hanasu) | 話せる (hanaseru) | can speak |
Group 2 (ru-verbs): Swap for "rareru"
Drop the final る (ru) and add られる (rareru). (Remember, in casual speech, this becomes れる (reru)!)
食べる (taberu) → 食べられる (taberareru)
見る (miru) → 見られる (mirareru)
Group 3 (Irregular Verbs)
There are only two. Memorize them!
する (suru) → できる (dekiru)
来る (kuru) → 来られる (korareru) *Casually: 来れる (koreru)
⚠️ Pro Tip: They all become Group 2!
Notice that every single potential form ends in an "e-sound + ru" (like nomeru, taberareru). This means they now conjugate exactly like Group 2 verbs! For example, 飲める becomes 飲めます, 飲めない, 飲めて.
Summary: Talk About Your Skills 🚀
Congratulations! You've just graduated from the robotic "koto ga dekimasu" and unlocked the fluid, natural potential form. By making this small shift, your conversations will instantly sound more authentic.
Now it's time to build muscle memory. Let's practice saying what you can do!
Practice the Potential Pattern →