The Potential Form (Can do)
To express ability ('I can speak Japanese') or possibility ('I can eat this'), we change the verb into its potential form.
What is the Potential Form?
In English, we add the word 'can' before a verb (can eat, can go). In Japanese, we don't add a new wordโwe change the verb itself.
The most important thing to remember: When a verb changes into the potential form, the object particle usually changes from ใ (o) to ใ (ga).
Example: ๆฅๆฌ่ชใใใ่ฉฑใ (Speak Japanese) -> ๆฅๆฌ่ชใใใ่ฉฑใใ (CAN speak Japanese).
Conjugation Rules
Example Sentences
Teacher's Advice
Why does ใ change to ใ? Think of it this way: The potential form acts more like an adjective describing a state of possibility, rather than an active verb. So 'Nihongo ga hanaseru' literally feels more like 'Japanese is speakable (to me)'. That's why we use ใ.
JLPT Exam Patterns
- โขKnowing that ใใ becomes ใงใใ (N5/N4)
- โขThe particle shift from ใ to ใ (N4)
- โขDistinguishing 'mirareru' (potential: can see) from 'mieru' (spontaneous: is visible) (N4)
Master the Potential Form
Practice transforming verbs into their potential forms to speak about your abilities fluently.
Start Practice โ