{"id":228,"date":"2017-10-16T13:16:53","date_gmt":"2017-10-16T17:16:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/?p=228"},"modified":"2022-02-19T19:36:14","modified_gmt":"2022-02-20T00:36:14","slug":"potential","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/grammar\/potential","title":{"rendered":"Potential Form"},"content":{"rendered":"

Expressing the ability to do something<\/h2>\n

In Japanese, the ability to do a certain action is expressed by conjugating the verb rather than adding a word such as the words “can” or “able to” in the case of English. All verbs conjugated into the potential form become a ru-verb.<\/p>\n

The Potential Form<\/h2>\n

Vocabulary<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. \u898b\u308b \u3010\u307f\u30fb\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to see<\/li>\n
  2. \u904a\u3076 \u3010\u3042\u305d\u30fb\u3076\u3011 (u-verb) – to play<\/li>\n
  3. \u3059\u308b (exception) – to do<\/li>\n
  4. \u6765\u308b \u3010\u304f\u30fb\u308b\u3011 (exception) – to come<\/li>\n
  5. \u51fa\u6765\u308b \u3010\u3067\u30fb\u304d\u30fb\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to be able to do<\/li>\n
  6. \u98df\u3079\u308b \u3010\u305f\u30fb\u3079\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to eat<\/li>\n
  7. \u7740\u308b \u3010\u304d\u30fb\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to wear<\/li>\n
  8. \u4fe1\u3058\u308b \u3010\u3057\u3093\u30fb\u3058\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to believe<\/li>\n
  9. \u5bdd\u308b \u3010\u306d\u30fb\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to sleep<\/li>\n
  10. \u8d77\u304d\u308b \u3010\u304a\u30fb\u304d\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to wake; to occur<\/li>\n
  11. \u51fa\u308b \u3010\u3067\u30fb\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to come out<\/li>\n
  12. \u639b\u3051\u308b \u3010\u304b\u30fb\u3051\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to hang<\/li>\n
  13. \u8abf\u3079\u308b \u3010\u3057\u3089\u30fb\u3079\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to investigate<\/li>\n
  14. \u8a71\u3059 \u3010\u306f\u306a\u30fb\u3059\u3011 (u-verb) – to speak<\/li>\n
  15. \u66f8\u304f \u3010\u304b\u30fb\u304f\u3011 (u-verb) – to write<\/li>\n
  16. \u5f85\u3064 \u3010\u307e\u30fb\u3064\u3011 (u-verb) – to wait<\/li>\n
  17. \u98f2\u3080 \u3010\u306e\u30fb\u3080\u3011 (u-verb) – to drink<\/li>\n
  18. \u53d6\u308b \u3010\u3068\u30fb\u308b\u3011 (u-verb) – to take<\/li>\n
  19. \u6b7b\u306c \u3010\u3057\u30fb\u306c\u3011 (u-verb) – to die<\/li>\n
  20. \u8cb7\u3046 \u3010\u304b\u30fb\u3046\u3011 (u-verb) – to buy<\/li>\n
  21. \u6f22\u5b57 \u3010\u304b\u3093\u30fb\u3058\u3011 – Kanji<\/li>\n
  22. \u6b8b\u5ff5 \u3010\u3056\u3093\u30fb\u306d\u3093\u3011 (na-adj) – unfortunate<\/li>\n
  23. \u4eca\u9031\u672b \u3010\u3053\u3093\u30fb\u3057\u3085\u3046\u30fb\u307e\u3064\u3011 – this weekend<\/li>\n
  24. \u884c\u304f \u3010\u3044\u30fb\u304f\u3011 (u-verb) – to go<\/li>\n
  25. \u3082\u3046 – already<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Once again, the conjugation rules can be split into three major groups: ru-verbs, u-verbs, and exception verbs. However, the potential form of the verb \u300c\u3059\u308b<\/span>\u300d (meaning “to do”) is a special exception because it becomes a completely different verb: \u300c\u3067\u304d\u308b<\/span>\u300d \uff08\u51fa\u6765\u308b<\/span>\uff09<\/p>\n

    Rules for creating potential form<\/span><\/p>\n
      \n
    • For ru-verbs:<\/b> Replace the \u300c\u308b\u300d with \u300c\u3089\u308c\u308b\u300d.
      \nExample: \u898b\u308b<\/span><\/em><\/span> \u2192 \u898b\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n
    • For u-verbs<\/b>: Change the last character from a \/ u \/ vowel sound to the equivalent \/ e \/ vowel sound and add \u300c\u308b\u300d.
      \nExample: \u904a\u3076<\/span><\/em><\/span> \u2192 \u904a\u3079<\/em><\/span> \u2192 \u904a\u3079\u308b<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n
    • Exceptions:<\/b>\n
        \n
      1. \u300c\u3059\u308b<\/span>\u300d becomes \u300c\u3067\u304d\u308b<\/span>\u300d<\/li>\n
      2. \u300c\u304f\u308b<\/span>\u300d becomes \u300c\u3053\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/span>\u300d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        \u203bRemember that all potential verbs become ru-verbs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
        Sample ru-verbs<\/caption>\n
        Plain<\/th>\nPotential<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
        \u98df\u3079\u308b<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n\u98df\u3079\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        \u7740\u308b<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n\u7740\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        \u4fe1\u3058\u308b<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n\u4fe1\u3058\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        \u5bdd\u308b<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n\u5bdd\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        \u8d77\u304d\u308b<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n\u8d77\u304d\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        \u51fa\u308b<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n\u51fa\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        \u639b\u3051\u308b<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n\u639b\u3051\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        \u8abf\u3079\u308b<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n\u8abf\u3079\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
        Sample u-verbs<\/caption>\n
        Plain<\/th>\nPotential<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
        \u8a71\u3059<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n\u8a71\u305b\u308b<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        \u66f8\u304f<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n\u66f8\u3051\u308b<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        \u904a\u3076<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n\u904a\u3079\u308b<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        \u5f85\u3064<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n\u5f85\u3066\u308b<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        \u98f2\u3080<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n\u98f2\u3081\u308b<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        \u53d6\u308b<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n\u53d6\u308c\u308b<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        \u6b7b\u306c<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n\u6b7b\u306d\u308b<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        \u8cb7\u3046<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n\u8cb7\u3048\u308b<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
        Exception Verbs<\/caption>\n
        Plain<\/th>\nPotential<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
        \u3059\u308b<\/span><\/td>\n\u3067\u304d\u308b<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        \u304f\u308b<\/span><\/td>\n\u3053\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

        It is also possible to just add \u300c\u308c\u308b\u300d instead of the full \u300c\u3089\u308c\u308b\u300d for ru-verbs. For example, \u300c\u98df\u3079\u308b<\/span>\u300d becomes \u300c\u98df\u3079\u308c\u308b<\/span>\u300d instead of \u300c\u98df\u3079\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/span>\u300d. I suggest learning the official \u300c\u3089\u308c\u308b\u300d conjugation first because laziness can be a hard habit to break and the shorter version, though common, is considered to be slang.<\/p>\n

        Examples<\/h3>\n
          \n
        1. \u6f22\u5b57<\/span>\u306f\u66f8\u3051\u307e\u3059<\/span>\u304b<\/em>\uff1f
          \nCan you write kanji?<\/li>\n
        2. \u6b8b\u5ff5<\/span>\u3060\u304c\u3001\u4eca\u9031\u672b<\/span>\u306f\u884c\u3051\u306a\u3044<\/span><\/em>\u3002
          \nIt’s unfortunate, but can’t go this weekend.<\/li>\n
        3. \u3082\u3046<\/span>\u4fe1\u3058\u3089\u308c\u306a\u3044<\/span><\/em>\u3002
          \nI can’t believe it already.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Potential forms do not have direct objects<\/h2>\n

          Vocabulary<\/h3>\n
            \n
          1. \u5bcc\u58eb\u5c71 \u3010\u3075\u30fb\u3058\u30fb\u3055\u3093\u3011 – Mt. Fuji<\/li>\n
          2. \u767b\u308b \u3010\u306e\u307c\u30fb\u308b\u3011 (u-verb) – to climb<\/li>\n
          3. \u91cd\u3044 \u3010\u304a\u3082\u30fb\u3044\u3011 (i-adj) – heavy<\/li>\n
          4. \u8377\u7269 \u3010\u306b\u30fb\u3082\u3064\u3011 – baggage<\/li>\n
          5. \u6301\u3064 \u3010\u3082\u30fb\u3064\u3011 (u-verb) – to hold<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            The potential form indicates that something is possible but no actual action is actually taken. While the potential form is still a verb, because it is describing the state of feasibility, in general, you don’t want to use the direct object \u300c\u3092\u300d as you would with the non-potential form of the verb. For example the following sentences sound unnatural.<\/p>\n

              \n
            1. \u5bcc\u58eb\u5c71<\/span>\u3092<\/span><\/em>\u767b\u308c\u305f<\/span>\u3002<\/li>\n
            2. \u91cd\u3044<\/span>\u8377\u7269<\/span>\u3092<\/span><\/em>\u6301\u3066\u307e\u3059<\/span>\u3002<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              Here are the versions using either \u300c\u304c\u300d or \u300c\u306f\u300d instead:<\/p>\n

                \n
              1. \u5bcc\u58eb\u5c71<\/span>\u304c<\/em>\u767b\u308c\u305f<\/span>\u3002
                \nWas able to climb Fuji-san.<\/li>\n
              2. \u91cd\u3044<\/span>\u8377\u7269<\/span>\u306f<\/em>\u6301\u3066\u307e\u3059<\/span>\u3002
                \nAm able to hold heavy baggage.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                Are \u300c\u898b\u3048\u308b<\/span>\u300d and \u300c\u805e\u3053\u3048\u308b<\/span>\u300d exceptions?<\/h2>\n

                Vocabulary<\/h3>\n
                  \n
                1. \u898b\u3048\u308b \u3010\u307f\u30fb\u3048\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to be visible<\/li>\n
                2. \u805e\u3053\u3048\u308b \u3010\u304d\u30fb\u3053\u3048\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to be audible<\/li>\n
                3. \u4eca\u65e5 \u3010\u304d\u3087\u3046\u3011 – today<\/li>\n
                4. \u6674\u308c\u308b \u3010\u306f\u30fb\u308c\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to be sunny<\/li>\n
                5. \u5bcc\u58eb\u5c71 \u3010\u3075\u30fb\u3058\u30fb\u3055\u3093\u3011 – Mt. Fuji<\/li>\n
                6. \u53cb\u9054 \u3010\u3068\u3082\u30fb\u3060\u3061\u3011 – friend<\/li>\n
                7. \u304a\u304b\u3052 – thanks to<\/li>\n
                8. \u6620\u753b \u3010\u3048\u3044\u30fb\u304c\u3011 – movie<\/li>\n
                9. \u305f\u3060 – free of charge; only<\/li>\n
                10. \u898b\u308b \u3010\u307f\u30fb\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to see<\/li>\n
                11. \u3053\u3068 – event, matter<\/li>\n
                12. \u51fa\u6765\u308b \u3010\u3067\u30fb\u304d\u30fb\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to be able to do<\/li>\n
                13. \u4e45\u3057\u3076\u308a \u3010\u3072\u3055\u30fb\u3057\u3076\u308a\u3011 – after a long time<\/li>\n
                14. \u5f7c \u3010\u304b\u308c\u3011 – he; boyfriend<\/li>\n
                15. \u58f0 \u3010\u3053\u3048\u3011 – voice<\/li>\n
                16. \u805e\u304f \u3010\u304d\u30fb\u304f\u3011 (u-verb) – to ask; to listen<\/li>\n
                17. \u5468\u308a \u3010\u307e\u308f\u30fb\u308a\u3011 – surroundings<\/li>\n
                18. \u3046\u308b\u3055\u3044 (i-adj) – noisy<\/li>\n
                19. \u8a00\u3046 \u3010\u3044\u30fb\u3046\u3011 (u-verb) – to say<\/li>\n
                20. \u3042\u307e\u308a\uff0f\u3042\u3093\u307e\u308a – not very (when used with negative)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  There are two verbs \u300c\u898b\u3048\u308b<\/span>\u300d and \u300c\u805e\u3053\u3048\u308b<\/span>\u300d that mean that something is visible and audible, respectively. When you want to say that you can see or hear something, you’ll want to use these verbs. If however, you wanted to say that you were given the opportunity to see or hear something, you would use the regular potential form. However, in this case, it is more common to use the type of expression as seen in example 3.<\/p>\n

                  Examples<\/h3>\n
                    \n
                  1. \u4eca\u65e5<\/span>\u306f\u6674\u308c\u3066<\/span>\u3001\u5bcc\u58eb\u5c71<\/span>\u304c\u898b\u3048\u308b<\/span>\u3002
                    \n(It) cleared up today and Fuji-san is visible.<\/li>\n
                  2. \u53cb\u9054<\/span>\u306e\u304a\u304b\u3052<\/span>\u3067\u3001\u6620\u753b<\/span>\u306f\u305f\u3060<\/span>\u3067\u898b\u3089\u308c\u305f<\/span>\u3002
                    \nThanks to (my) friend, (I) was able to watch the movie for free.<\/li>\n
                  3. \u53cb\u9054<\/span>\u306e\u304a\u304b\u3052<\/span>\u3067\u3001\u6620\u753b<\/span>\u3092\u305f\u3060<\/span>\u3067\u898b\u308b<\/span>\u3053\u3068<\/span>\u304c\u3067\u304d\u305f<\/span>\u3002
                    \nThanks to (my) friend, (I) was able to watch the movie for free.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                    You can see that example 3 uses the generic noun for an event to say literally, “The event of seeing movie was able to be done.” which essentially means the same thing as \u300c\u898b\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/span>\u300d. You can also just use generic noun substitution to substitute for \u300c\u3053\u3068<\/span>\u300d.<\/p>\n

                      \n
                    1. \u53cb\u9054<\/span>\u306e\u304a\u304b\u3052<\/span>\u3067\u3001\u6620\u753b<\/span>\u3092\u305f\u3060<\/span>\u3067\u898b\u308b<\/span>\u306e<\/em>\u304c\u3067\u304d\u305f<\/span>\u3002<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                      Here’s some more examples using \u300c\u805e\u304f<\/span>\u300d, can you tell the difference? Notice that \u300c\u805e\u3053\u3048\u308b<\/span>\u300d always means “audible” and never “able to ask”.<\/p>\n

                        \n
                      1. \u4e45\u3057\u3076\u308a<\/span>\u306b\u5f7c<\/span>\u306e\u58f0<\/span>\u304c\u805e\u3051\u305f<\/span><\/em>\u3002
                        \nI was able to hear his voice for the first time in a long time.<\/li>\n
                      2. \u5468\u308a<\/span>\u304c\u3046\u308b\u3055\u304f\u3066<\/span>\u3001\u5f7c<\/span>\u304c\u8a00\u3063\u3066\u3044\u308b<\/span>\u3053\u3068<\/span>\u304c\u3042\u3093\u307e\u308a<\/span>\u805e\u3053\u3048\u306a\u304b\u3063\u305f<\/span><\/em>\u3002
                        \nThe surroundings were noisy and I couldn’t hear what he was saying very well.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                        \u300c\u3042\u308b<\/span>\u300d, yet another exception<\/h2>\n

                        Vocabulary<\/h3>\n
                          \n
                        1. \u305d\u3093\u306a – that sort of<\/li>\n
                        2. \u3053\u3068 – event, matter<\/li>\n
                        3. \u6709\u308a\u5f97\u308b \u3010\u3042\u30fb\u308a\u30fb\u3048\u30fb\u308b\uff0f\u3042\u30fb\u308a\u30fb\u3046\u30fb\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to possibly exist<\/li>\n
                        4. \u5f7c \u3010\u304b\u308c\u3011 – he; boyfriend<\/li>\n
                        5. \u5bdd\u574a\u3010\u306d\u30fb\u307c\u3046\u3011 – oversleep<\/li>\n
                        6. \u3059\u308b (exception) – to do<\/li>\n
                        7. \u305d\u308c – that<\/li>\n
                        8. \u8a71 \u3010\u306f\u306a\u3057\u3011 – story<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                          You can say that something has a possibility of existing by combining \u300c\u3042\u308b<\/span>\u300d and the verb \u300c\u5f97\u308b<\/span>\u300d to produce \u300c\u3042\u308a\u5f97\u308b<\/span>\u300d. This essentially means \u300c\u3042\u308b<\/span>\u3053\u3068<\/span>\u304c\u3067\u304d\u308b<\/span>\u300d except that nobody actually says that, they just use \u300c\u3042\u308a\u5f97\u308b<\/span>\u300d. This verb is very curious in that it can be read as either \u300c\u3042\u308a\u3046\u308b<\/span>\u300d or \u300c\u3042\u308a\u3048\u308b<\/span>\u300d, however<\/i>; all the other conjugations such as \u300c\u3042\u308a\u3048\u306a\u3044<\/span>\u300d\u3001\u300c\u3042\u308a\u3048\u305f<\/span>\u300d\u3001and \u300c\u3042\u308a\u3048\u306a\u304b\u3063\u305f<\/span>\u300d only have one possible reading using \u300c\u3048\u300d.<\/p>\n

                          Examples<\/h3>\n
                            \n
                          1. \u305d\u3093\u306a<\/span>\u3053\u3068<\/span>\u306f\u3042\u308a\u3046\u308b<\/span><\/em>\u3002
                            \nThat kind of situation\/event is possible (lit: can exist).<\/li>\n
                          2. \u305d\u3093\u306a<\/span>\u3053\u3068<\/span>\u306f\u3042\u308a\u3048\u308b<\/span><\/em>\u3002
                            \nThat kind of situation\/event is possible (lit: can exist).<\/li>\n
                          3. \u305d\u3093\u306a<\/span>\u3053\u3068<\/span>\u306f\u3042\u308a\u3048\u306a\u3044<\/span><\/em>\u3002
                            \nThat kind of situation\/event is not possible (lit: cannot exist).<\/li>\n
                          4. \u5f7c<\/span>\u304c\u5bdd\u574a<\/span>\u3057\u305f<\/span>\u3053\u3068<\/span>\u3082\u3042\u308a\u3046\u308b<\/span><\/em>\u306d\u3002
                            \nIt’s also possible that he overslept. (lit: The event that he overslept also possibly exists.)<\/li>\n
                          5. \u305d\u308c<\/span>\u306f\u3001\u3042\u308a\u3048\u306a\u3044<\/span><\/em>\u8a71<\/span>\u3060\u3088\u3002
                            \nThat’s an impossible story\/scenario. (lit: That story\/scenario cannot exist.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                            Expressing the ability to do something In Japanese, the ability to do a certain action is expressed by conjugating the verb rather than adding a word such as the words “can” or “able to” in the case of English. All verbs conjugated into the potential form become a ru-verb. The Potential Form Vocabulary \u898b\u308b \u3010\u307f\u30fb\u308b\u3011 … <\/p>\n

                            Continue reading “Potential Form”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"series":[4],"class_list":["post-228","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-essential-grammar","series-grammar-guide"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/228","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=228"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/228\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1736,"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/228\/revisions\/1736"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=228"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=228"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=228"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=228"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}