{"id":491,"date":"2017-10-16T19:45:57","date_gmt":"2017-10-16T23:45:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/?p=491"},"modified":"2017-10-17T15:14:11","modified_gmt":"2017-10-17T19:14:11","slug":"expressing-potential","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/complete\/potential","title":{"rendered":"Expressing potential"},"content":{"rendered":"

Potential Form<\/h2>\n

The potential form describes the feasibility of an action. The rules for changing a verb into the potential form is given below. All verbs in the potential form become ru-verbs.<\/p>\n

\nRules for conjugating to potential form<\/span><\/p>\n
    \n
  • For ru-verbs:<\/b> Replace the \u300c\u308b\u300d with \u300c\u3089\u308c\u308b\u300d
    \nExample<\/p>\n
      \n
    1. \u98df\u3079\u308b<\/strike>\uff0b\u3089\u308c\u308b = \u98df\u3079\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/em><\/li>\n
    2. \u51fa\u308b<\/strike>\uff0b\u3089\u308c\u308b = \u51fa\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n
    3. For u-verbs:<\/b> Replace the u-vowel sound with the e-vowel equivalent and attach \u300c\u308b\u300d.
      \nExample<\/p>\n
        \n
      1. \u98f2\u3080<\/strike>\uff0b\u3081\uff0b\u308b = \u98f2\u3081\u308b<\/em><\/li>\n
      2. \u6301\u3064<\/strike>\uff0b\u3066\uff0b\u308b = \u6301\u3066\u308b<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n
      3. Exceptions:<\/b>\n
          \n
        1. \u3059\u308b \u2192 \u51fa\u6765\u308b\u3010\u3067\u30fb\u304d\u30fb\u308b\u3011<\/li>\n
        2. \u304f\u308b \u2192 \u3053\u3089\u308c\u308b<\/li>\n
        3. \u3042\u308b \u2192 \u3042\u308a\u5f97\u308b \u3010\u3042\u308a\u30fb\u3046\u308b\uff0f\u3042\u308a\u30fb\u3048\u308b\u3011<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n

          Example<\/h3>\n
            \n
          1. \u6f22\u5b57 \u3010\u304b\u3093\u30fb\u3058\u3011 – Kanji<\/li>\n
          2. \u8aad\u3080 \u3010\u3088\u30fb\u3080\u3011(u-verb) – to read<\/li>\n
          3. \u660e\u65e5 \u3010\u3042\u3057\u305f\u3011 – tomorrow<\/li>\n
          4. \u4ed5\u4e8b \u3010\u3057\u30fb\u3054\u3068\u3011 – work<\/li>\n
          5. \u4eca\u65e5 \u3010\u304d\u3087\u3046\u3011 – today<\/li>\n
          6. \u98f2\u3080 \u3010\u306e\u30fb\u3080\u3011(u-verb) – to drink<\/li>\n
          7. \u30a4\u30d9\u30f3\u30c8 – event<\/li>\n
          8. \u6e96\u5099 \u3010\u3058\u3085\u3093\u30fb\u3073\u3011 – preparation<\/li>\n
          9. \uff5e\u307e\u3067 (particle) – until \uff5e<\/li>\n
          10. \u51fa\u6765\u308b \u3010\u3067\u30fb\u304d\u30fb\u308b\u3011(ru-verb) – to be able to do<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
              \n
            1. \u6f22\u5b57\u306f\u8aad\u3081\u307e\u3059<\/em>\u304b\uff1f
              \nCan (you) read Kanji?<\/li>\n
            2. \u660e\u65e5\u306f\u4ed5\u4e8b\u3060\u304b\u3089\u3001\u4eca\u65e5\u306f\u3042\u307e\u308a\u98f2\u3081\u306a\u3044<\/em>\u3002
              \nTomorrow is work so can’t drink very much today.<\/li>\n
            3. \u30a4\u30d9\u30f3\u30c8\u306e\u6e96\u5099\u306f\u660e\u65e5\u307e\u3067\u51fa\u6765\u308b<\/em>\uff1f
              \nCan (you) do preparations for (the) event by tomorrow?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              For ru-verbs, you can drop the \u300c\u3089\u300d from \u300c\u3089<\/em>\u308c\u308b\u300d. For example, the potential form \u300c\u98df\u3079\u308b\u300d can also be expressed as \u300c\u98df\u3079\u308c\u308b\u300d instead of \u300c\u98df\u3079\u3089<\/strike>\u308c\u308b\u300d. However, you should practice with the full conjugation as the shorter form is more casual.<\/p>\n

              Example<\/h3>\n
                \n
              1. \u30d0\u30b9 – bus<\/li>\n
              2. \uff5e\u6642 \u3010\uff5e\u3058\u3011 – hour counter<\/li>\n
              3. \u51fa\u308b \u3010\u3067\u30fb\u308b\u3011(ru-verb) – to come out<\/li>\n
              4. \u8d77\u304d\u308b \u3010\u304a\u30fb\u304d\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to occur; to awake<\/li>\n
              5. \u6c17\u5206 \u3010\u304d\u30fb\u3076\u3093\u3011 – feeling<\/li>\n
              6. \u60aa\u3044 \u3010\u308f\u308b\u30fb\u3044\u3011(i-adj) – bad<\/li>\n
              7. \u3042\u307e\u308a – not very (when used with negative)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                  \n
                1. \u30d0\u30b9\u306f\u30017\u6642\u306b\u51fa\u308b\u304b\u3089\u30015\u6642\u306b\u8d77\u304d\u308c\u308b<\/em>\uff1f
                  \nBus is leaving at 7 so (are you) able to wake up at 5?<\/em><\/p>\n
                2. \u6c17\u5206\u304c\u60aa\u3044\u304b\u3089\u3001\u4eca\u65e5\u306f\u3042\u307e\u308a\u98df\u3079\u308c\u306a\u3044<\/em>\u3002
                  \nDon’t feel good (lit:feeling is bad) so can’t eat very much today.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  Events that are possible<\/h2>\n

                  Another way to express potential is to use the noun for a generic event: \u300c\u3053\u3068\u300d\uff08\u4e8b\uff09 and \u300c\u3067\u304d\u308b\u300d. This is used to describe an event that is possible and is more generic than conjugating the verb directly to the potential form.<\/p>\n

                  Example<\/h3>\n
                    \n
                  1. \u3053\u3053 – here<\/li>\n
                  2. \u30bf\u30d0\u30b3 – cigarette<\/li>\n
                  3. \u51fa\u6765\u308b \u3010\u3067\u30fb\u304d\u30fb\u308b\u3011(ru-verb) – to be able to do<\/li>\n
                  4. \u5438\u3046 \u3010\u3059\u30fb\u3046\u3011 – to breathe in; to smoke<\/li>\n
                  5. \u3053\u3068 – matter; event<\/li>\n
                  6. \u3053\u306e – this<\/li>\n
                  7. \u30c6\u30ec\u30d3 – TV<\/li>\n
                  8. \u756a\u7d44 \u3010\u3070\u3093\u30fb\u3050\u307f\u3011 – program (e.g. TV)<\/li>\n
                  9. \u307e\u3060 – not yet<\/li>\n
                  10. \u30a4\u30f3\u30bf\u30fc\u30cd\u30c3\u30c8 – internet<\/li>\n
                  11. \u898b\u308b \u3010\u307f\u30fb\u308b\u3011(ru-verb) – to see<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                      \n
                    1. \u3053\u3053\u3067\u30bf\u30d0\u30b3\u3092\u5438\u3046\u3053\u3068\u306f\u3001\u3067\u304d\u307e\u3059\u304b<\/em>\uff1f
                      \nAble to smoke cigarette here? <\/li>\n
                    2. \u3053\u306e\u30c6\u30ec\u30d3\u756a\u7d44\u306f\u307e\u3060\u30a4\u30f3\u30bf\u30fc\u30cd\u30c3\u30c8\u3067\u898b\u308b\u3053\u3068\u304c\u3067\u304d\u307e\u305b\u3093<\/em>\u3002
                      \nNot able to watch this TV show on the internet yet.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                      As you can see from the examples, this pattern is used to describe what is possible (or not) in general rather than for a specific person or thing.<\/p>\n

                      Other potential verbs<\/h2>\n
                        \n
                      1. \u898b\u3048\u308b \u3010\u307f\u30fb\u3048\u308b\u3011 – to be visible<\/li>\n
                      2. \u805e\u3053\u3048\u308b \u3010\u304d\u30fb\u3053\u3048\u308b\u3011 – to be audible<\/li>\n
                      3. \u3042\u308a\u5f97\u308b\u3000\u3010\u3042\u308a\u30fb\u3046\u308b\uff0f\u3042\u308a\u30fb\u3048\u308b\u3011 – able to exist<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                        The potential form of \u300c\u898b\u308b\u300d and \u300c\u805e\u304f\u300d \uff08\u300c\u898b\u3089\u308c\u308b\u300d and \u300c\u805e\u3051\u308b\u300d respectively\uff09 are only used to describe the ability to see and hear, not whether something is visible or audible. Japanese has two separate verbs to describe the latter: \u300c\u898b\u3048\u308b\u300d and \u300c\u805e\u3053\u3048\u308b\u300d. The examples below show the difference between the ability or capability to see\/hear versus what is visible\/audible.<\/p>\n

                        Example<\/h3>\n
                          \n
                        1. \u5f8c\u308d \u3010\u3046\u3057\u30fb\u308d\u3011 – behind<\/li>\n
                        2. \u753b\u50cf \u3010\u304c\u30fb\u305e\u3046\u3011 – screen; image; picture<\/li>\n
                        3. \u30d1\u30bd\u30b3\u30f3 – PC, computer<\/li>\n
                        4. \u53e4\u3044 \u3010\u3075\u308b\u30fb\u3044\u3011(i-adj) – old<\/li>\n
                        5. \u9045\u3044 \u3010\u304a\u305d\u30fb\u3044\u3011(i-adj) – late; slow<\/li>\n
                        6. \u52d5\u753b \u3010\u3069\u3046\u30fb\u304c\u3011 – video<\/li>\n
                        7. \u79c1 \u3010\u308f\u305f\u3057\u3011 – me; myself; I<\/li>\n
                        8. \u58f0 \u3010\u3053\u3048\u3011 – voice<\/li>\n
                        9. \u30e9\u30b8\u30aa – radio<\/li>\n
                        10. \u30cd\u30c3\u30c8 – net, network, internet<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                            \n
                          1. \u5f8c\u308d\u304b\u3089\u753b\u50cf\u304c\u898b\u3048\u307e\u3059<\/em>\u304b\uff1f
                            \nCan (you) see the screen from the back? (lit: Is the screen visible from the back?)<\/li>\n
                          2. \u30d1\u30bd\u30b3\u30f3\u304c\u53e4\u304f\u3066\u9045\u3044\u304b\u3089\u3001\u52d5\u753b\u304c\u898b\u3089\u308c\u306a\u3044<\/em>\u3002
                            \nComputer is old and slow so not able to see video. (lit: Because computer is old and slow, not capable of seeing video.<\/li>\n
                          3. \u79c1\u306e\u58f0\u304c\u805e\u3053\u3048\u307e\u3059<\/em>\u304b\uff1f
                            \nCan (you) hear my voice? (lit: Is my voice audible?)<\/li>\n
                          4. \u30e9\u30b8\u30aa\u3082\u30cd\u30c3\u30c8\u3067\u805e\u3051\u308b<\/em>\u306e\uff1f
                            \n(You) can listen to radio on (the) net as well? (lit: Able to hear radio on (the) net as well?)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                            Another verb to pay attention to is \u300c\u3042\u308b\u300d, which cannot be conjugated to the potential form. Instead, to express that something can exist, you must use the verb \u300c\u3042\u308a\u5f97\u308b\u300d. This verb is very curious in that \u300c\u5f97\u300d can either be read as \u300c\u3046\u300d or \u300c\u3048\u300d but if conjugated, it must always be read as \u300c\u3048\u300d. You may wonder how often one talks about the ability to exist. In practice, this word is primarily used to describe whether a situation or event \uff08\u3053\u3068\uff09 can occur.<\/p>\n

                            Example<\/h3>\n
                              \n
                            1. \u305d\u308c\u306f\u3001\u3042\u308a\u3046<\/em>\u308b\u306d\u3002
                              \nThat could happen. (lit: That can exist.)<\/li>\n
                            2. \u305d\u308c\u306f\u3001\u3042\u308a\u3048<\/em>\u308b\u306d\u3002
                              \nThat could happen. (lit: That can exist.)<\/li>\n
                            3. \u305d\u308c\u306f\u3001\u3042\u308a\u3048<\/em>\u306a\u3044\u3088\u3002
                              \nThat can never happen. (lit: That can’t exist.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                              \u6f22\u5b57\u306f\u5927\u4e8b<\/h2>\n
                                \n
                              1. \u5927\u4e8b \u3010\u3060\u3044\u30fb\u3058\u3011(na-adj) – important<\/li>\n
                              2. \u6f22\u5b57 \u3010\u304b\u3093\u30fb\u3058\u3011 – Kanji<\/li>\n
                              3. \u5bbf\u984c \u3010\u3057\u3085\u304f\u30fb\u3060\u3044\u3011 – homework<\/li>\n
                              4. \u4f7f\u3046 \u3010\u3064\u304b\u30fb\u3046\u3011(u-verb) – to use<\/li>\n
                              5. \u5168\u7136 \u3010\u305c\u3093\u30fb\u305c\u3093\u3011 – not at all (when used with negative)<\/li>\n
                              6. \u8aad\u3080 \u3010\u3088\u30fb\u3080\u3011 (u-verb) – read<\/li>\n
                              7. \u3046\u307e\u3044 (i-adj) – skilled; delicious<\/li>\n
                              8. \u66f8\u304f \u3010\u304b\u30fb\u304f\u3011(u-verb) – to write<\/li>\n
                              9. \u306a\u308b\u3079\u304f – as much as possible<\/li>\n
                              10. \u7df4\u7fd2 \u3010\u308c\u3093\u30fb\u3057\u3085\u3046\u3011 – practice<\/li>\n
                              11. \u4ffa \u3010\u304a\u308c\u3011- me, myself (slang, masculine)<\/li>\n
                              12. \u5199\u3059 \u3010\u3046\u3064\u30fb\u3059\u3011(u-verb) – to copy<\/li>\n
                              13. \u65e5\u672c\u8a9e \u3010\u306b\u30fb\u307b\u3093\u30fb\u3054\u3011 – Japanese language<\/li>\n
                              14. \u305f\u304f\u3055\u3093 – a lot (amount)<\/li>\n
                              15. \u305d\u308c\u306b – besides, moreover<\/li>\n
                              16. \u305d\u3082\u305d\u3082 – in the first place, originally<\/li>\n
                              17. \u3042\u3093\u305f – you (slang)<\/li>\n
                              18. \u898b\u305b\u308b \u3010\u307f\u30fb\u305b\u308b\u3011(ru-verb) – to show<\/li>\n
                              19. \u81ea\u5206 \u3010\u3058\u30fb\u3076\u3093\u3011 – oneself<\/li>\n
                              20. \u6642 \u3010\u3068\u304d\u3011 – when<\/li>\n
                              21. \u3053\u3063\u305d\u308a – secretly<\/li>\n
                              22. \u3064\u3082\u308a – intention<\/li>\n
                              23. \u3082\u3046 – already; expression of exasperation<\/li>\n
                              24. \u4fe1\u3058\u308b \u3010\u3057\u3093\u30fb\u3058\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to believe<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                                \u30b8\u30e7\u30f3\uff1a\u30a2\u30ea\u30b9\u3061\u3083\u3093\u3001\u4f55\u3092\u3057\u3066\u3044\u308b\u306e\uff1f
                                \nJohn: Alice-chan, what (are you) doing?<\/p>\n

                                \u30a2\u30ea\u30b9\uff1a\u5bbf\u984c\u3002
                                \nAlice: Homework.<\/p>\n

                                \u30b8\u30e7\u30f3\uff1a\u3053\u308c\u306f\u4f55\uff1f\u6f22\u5b57\u3092\u4f7f\u3063\u3066\u3044\u308b\u306e\uff1f\u5168\u7136\u8aad\u3081\u306a\u3044<\/em>\u3002
                                \nJohn: What is this? (Are you) using Kanji? (I) can’t read (it) at all.<\/p>\n

                                \u30a2\u30ea\u30b9\uff1a\u6f22\u5b57\u306f\u307e\u3060\u3046\u307e\u304f\u66f8\u3051\u306a\u3044<\/em>\u304b\u3089\u3001\u306a\u308b\u3079\u304f\u6f22\u5b57\u3092\u4f7f\u3063\u3066\u7df4\u7fd2\u3092\u3057\u3066\u3044\u308b\u306e\u3002
                                \nAlice: (I) can’t write Kanji well yet so (I’m) using Kanji as much as possible and practicing.<\/p>\n

                                \u30b8\u30e7\u30f3\uff1a\u4ffa\u306f\u6f22\u5b57\u3092\u5168\u7136\u4f7f\u308f\u306a\u3044\u304b\u3089\u3001\u30a2\u30ea\u30b9\u3061\u3083\u3093\u306e\u5bbf\u984c\u304c\u5199\u305b\u306a\u3044<\/em>\u3088\u3002
                                \nJohn: I don’t use Kanji at all so (I) can’t copy Alice-chan’s homework, you know.<\/p>\n

                                \u30a2\u30ea\u30b9\uff1a\u65e5\u672c\u8a9e\u306f\u6f22\u5b57\u3092\u305f\u304f\u3055\u3093\u4f7f\u3046\u304b\u3089\u3001\u306a\u308b\u3079\u304f\u7df4\u7fd2\u3059\u308b\u306e\u304c\u3044\u3044\u3088\u3002\u305d\u308c\u306b\u3001\u305d\u3082\u305d\u3082\u5bbf\u984c\u3092\u3042\u3093\u305f\u306b\u898b\u305b\u306a\u3044\u3088\u3002\u81ea\u5206\u3067\u5bbf\u984c\u3067\u304d\u306a\u3044<\/em>\u306e\uff1f
                                \nAlice: Japanese uses a lot of Kanji so (it’s) good to practice as much as possible. Besides, (I) won’t show you (my) homework to you in the first place. (You) can’t do (your) homework by yourself?<\/p>\n

                                \u30b8\u30e7\u30f3\uff1a\u30a2\u30ea\u30b9\u3061\u3083\u3093\u304c\u3044\u306a\u3044\u6642\u306b\u3053\u3063\u305d\u308a\u5199\u3059\u3064\u3082\u308a\u3060\u3063\u305f\u3051\u3069\u3002
                                \nJohn: (My) intention was to secretly copy (it) when Alice-chan is not there.<\/p>\n

                                \u30a2\u30ea\u30b9\uff1a\u3082\u3046\u3001\u4fe1\u3058\u3089\u308c\u306a\u3044<\/em>\u3002
                                \nAlice: (I) can’t believe it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                Potential Form The potential form describes the feasibility of an action. The rules for changing a verb into the potential form is given below. All verbs in the potential form become ru-verbs. Rules for conjugating to potential form For ru-verbs: Replace the \u300c\u308b\u300d with \u300c\u3089\u308c\u308b\u300d Example \u98df\u3079\u308b\uff0b\u3089\u308c\u308b = \u98df\u3079\u3089\u308c\u308b \u51fa\u308b\uff0b\u3089\u308c\u308b = \u51fa\u3089\u308c\u308b For u-verbs: Replace … <\/p>\n

                                Continue reading “Expressing potential”<\/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":[24],"tags":[],"series":[7],"class_list":["post-491","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-potential-and-uncertainty","series-complete-guide"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/491","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=491"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/491\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=491"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=491"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=491"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=491"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}