Mastering Japanese Grammar: Forming Potential Verb Forms

1. VisualizingJapanese GrammarAppendix Shoko Hamano George Washington University

2. The table to the right shows how to form potential forms of one-step verbs. Potential forms られる られる られる られる られる 食べる た I can eat it. • As shown, drop ru and attach rareru. 分ける わ I can divide it. 変える か I can change it. 決める き I can decide. 捨てる す I can throw it away. • In casual speech, some frequently used forms of this type lose the syllable ra, as shown. 食べられる た I can eat it.

3. The table to the right shows how to form potential forms of five-step verbs. Potential forms げる ける える てる める ねる せる べる れる 立つ た I can stand up. • As shown, replace the last u-step syllable with a corresponding e-step syllable and add ru. 作る つく I can make it. 使う つか I can use it. 呼ぶ よ I can call them. 読む よ I can read it. 死ぬ し I can die. 書く か I can write. 急ぐ いそ I can hurry. 話す はな I can talk.

4. The table to the right shows the potential forms of irregular verbs. Potential forms 出来る でき I can do it. する • There is no systematic rule for these. Just memorize the forms. 来る く 来られる こ I can come. • Once you form potential forms, they all conjugate as one-step verbs regardless of the identity of their source. 来られない They cannot come. 来られる They can come. 来られなかった They could not come. 来られた They could come.