Have you ever heard “potential verbs” in the Japanese language?
They show the possibility of a specific action.
Let’s check how to make them!
Here is a backstory…
I published the video about Japanese particles,
In this video, I explained which particle we should use in this sentence.
にほんご＿ はなします。
Nihongo __ hanashimasu.
After that, I received a question.
Great question!
Yes,
にほんごが はなせます。
Nihongo ga hanasemasu.
It’s correct.
But watch out!
はなします hanashimasu
はなせます hanasemasu
They are different.
The verb “はなせます hanasemasu” is called a “Potential verb”
Japanese Potential Verbs
Potential verbs show the ability/possibility of the action.
For example,
はなします hanashimasu
はなす hanasu (dictionary form)
mean “talk, speak.”
This is a regular verb.
はなせます hanasemasu
はなせる hanaseru
means “can speak, can talk.”
This verb shows the ability to talk/speak.
This type of verb is called a “potential verb.”
Potential verb or potential form?
Some textbooks may mention them as “potential forms,” as you can make them from regular verbs (I will explain it later).
But actually, they are different verbs, and they conjugate.
In fact, the Japanese language dictionaries for native Japanese people treat them as different verbs.
Here is one example. This is a popular Japanese dictionary for Japanese children.
How to make potential verbs
Let’s check how to make potential verbs!
**All the potential verbs are Group 2!**
Group 1
I sound before “ます masu” changes to an e sound.
はなします hanashimasu: speak
Potential verb
はなせます hanasemasu: can speak
Group 2
Insert “られ rare” before “ます masu.”
たべます tabemasu: eat
Potential verb
たべられます taberaremasu: can eat
Irregular
They are irregular!
Just memorize them!
します shimasu: do
Potential Verb
できます dekimasu: can do
きます kimasu: come
Potential Verb
こられます koraremasu: can come
Are you familier with U-verb/Ru-verb?
**All the potential verbs are Ru-verb!**
U-verb
Change the ending u sound into the e sound + る ru.
はなす hanasu: speak
Potential Verb
はなせる hanaseru: can speak
Ru-verb
Insert “られ rare” before “る ru”
たべる taberu: eat
Potential Verb
たべられる taberareru: can eat
Irregular
Memorize them!
する suru: do
Potential Verb
できる dekiru: can do
くる kuru: come
Potential Verb
こられる korareru: can come
Now you are ready to use the Japanese Potential Verb! 😊
Happy learning!
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