Speakable Japanese

How to Express Potential in Japanese: Natural "Can Do" Form (...rareru)

Hello! In the previous lesson, you studied the convenient expression '〜ことができます' (koto ga dekimasu) for talking about abilities and possibilities.
In this lesson, we will master another, shorter method that is very often used in conversation. This is the method of transforming the verb itself into the 'potential form (kanou-kei)'. If you learn to use it, your Japanese will sound even more natural and fluent!

🎯 Lesson Goal

Learn to talk about your abilities and possibilities more simply and naturally by transforming verbs into the 'potential form'!

Step 1 Discover

Let's look at how the potential form is used in a real conversation. Let's listen to Leo and Mei.

🧑‍🦱
Leo

メイさんは、日本語が話せますか？

(Mei-san wa, Nihongo ga hanasemasu ka?)

👩‍🦰
Mei

はい、少し話せます。漢字も読めますよ。

(Hai, sukoshi hanasemasu. Kanji mo yomemasu yo.)

💡

Did you notice?

When using the potential form to indicate 'what' you can do, the particle「が」(ga)is often used instead of 「を」(o). (e.g., 日本語を話します → 日本語が話せます)

Step 2 The Pattern

Here is the basic sentence structure for expressing potential.

Basic Chunk

私は が ます。

(Watashi wa ga masu.)

🔑 Rule 1: Group 1 Verbs (u-ending)

Change the last vowel sound from the 'u' row to the 'e' row, and add ます (masu).
書く (kaku) → 書けます (kakemasu)
泳ぐ (oyogu) → 泳げます (oyogemasu)
読む (yomu) → 読めます (yomemasu)

🌟 Rule 2: Group 2 & Irregular Verbs

Group 2 (-ru ending): Drop 'ru' and add 'raremasu'.
食べる (taberu) → 食べられます (taberaremasu)
Irregular:
来る (kuru - to come) → 来られます (koraremasu)
する (suru - to do) → できます (dekimasu)

Step 3 Pattern Practice

Let's practice the "can do" form! Swap the words in the sentence and read these out loud.

  • Ability Read Kanji

    私は 漢字 が 読めます。

    (Watashi wa kanji ga yomemasu.)

  • Ability Use PayPay

    この店では、PayPay が 使えます。

    (Kono mise dewa, PayPay ga tsukaemasu.)

  • Ability Play an instrument

    彼はどんな 楽器 でも 弾けます。

    (Kare wa donna gakki demo hikemasu.)

Step 4 Make It Yours!

This is the most important step! Tell us what you can and cannot do, this time using the 'potential form'.

👉 私は NOUN が VERB ます。

Vocabulary Cheat Sheet

Example Nouns

  • 日本語 nihongo (Japanese)
  • 車 kuruma (car)
  • ピアノ piano (piano)
  • 辛いもの karai mono (spicy food)

Potential Form Verbs

  • 話せます hanasemasu (can speak)
  • 読めます yomemasu (can read)
  • 食べられます taberaremasu (can eat)
  • 行けます ikemasu (can go)

Bonus Go Beyond the Basics

In real life, you'll also need to say "I CANNOT do it" and speak casually with friends. Here’s a quick guide to leveling up your conversation!

🙅‍♀️ 1. I CANNOT (Negative)

Basic / Formal (-masen)

寿司が 食べられません。

(Sushi ga taberaremasen.)

Casual (Friends) (-nai)

寿司が 食べられない。

(Sushi ga taberarenai.)

🤝 2. Friendly & Casual (Affirmative)

Just the dictionary form

漢字が 読める。

(Kanji ga yomeru. - Dropping "masu")

With friendly emphasis ("yo")

漢字が 読めるよ。

(Kanji ga yomeru yo.)

Summary Lesson Review

Potential Form: Transform verbs directly into the Potential Form to naturally express abilities (e.g., 書ける / 食べられる).

Particle Shift: When using the potential form, the object marker is often changed from 「を」(o) to 「が」(ga).

Negative Form: Use 〜られません (raremasen) or the casual 〜られない (rarenai) to state inability.

Practice Drill

1 / X Polite

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