Structure
Examples:
[る1]Verb → 見る + られる(1)
[る5]Verb → 座る + れる
[う]Verb → 歌う + える
[く]Verb → 歩く + ける
[す]Verb → 話す + せる
[つ]Verb → 打つ + てる
[ぬ]Verb → 死ぬ + ねる
[ぶ]Verb → 飛ぶ + べる
[む]Verb → 休む + める
[ぐ]Verb → 泳ぐ + げる
Exceptions:
する → できる
(1) 見れる、ら抜き言葉 (casual). Some may consider it not grammatical.
Details
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Standard
使用域
一般
About れる・られる (Potential)
られる will be attached to the base form of る-Verbs (the form after る has been removed). Note also that れる and られる themselves behave like standard る-Verbs, so can be conjugated into a variety of different tenses in the same way as a standard verb.
- 明日までに届けられる?Can you deliver it by tomorrow? (Natural Japanese, and may express 'potential', 'passivity', 'respect', or 'spontaneous occurrence')
- 一人で全部食べられる?Can you eat all of this on your own? (Natural Japanese, and may express 'potential', 'passivity', 'respect', or 'spontaneous occurrence')
- トムはすぐに新しい文法を覚えれる。Tom is able to remember new grammar immediately. (Natural Japanese only when expressing 'potential', not 'passivity', 'respect', or 'spontaneous occurrence')
- 彼はなんでも食べれる。He can eat anything. (Natural Japanese only when expressing 'potential', not 'passivity', 'respect', or 'spontaneous occurrence')
- この歌は弾けますか?Are you able to play this song?
- この池では色々な魚が釣れます。You can catch many kinds of fish in this lake.
- サリーはほとんどの漢字を書くことができる。Sally is able to write most kanji.
- やっとシャワーを浴びられる!I can finally take a shower!
- あなたは何が食べられるの?What can you eat?
- トムは日本語とフランス語と英語を話すことができる。Tom is able to speak Japanese, French, and English.
Synonyms
得る・得る
Is able to, Can, Possible
Not studied yet
Verb[れる・られる]
Was done to ~ by ~, Done without consent, Done to one's dismay
Not studied yet
ことができる
Can, Be able to
Not studied yet
聞こえる
To be audible, To sound (like), (Can) hear, To be heard
Not studied yet
見える
To be visible, To seem, To be in sight
Not studied yet
Examples
あの山が見られますか。
Can you see that mountain over there?
私は夏休みごろ、旅行に行ける。
I can take a trip around summer vacation.
私の妹は100字の漢字が書ける。
My little sister is able to write 100 kanji.
10分待てますか。
Can you wait 10 minutes?
彼は力が強いからあの重いテレビ台を一人で持てます。
He is strong, so he can pick up that heavy TV stand by himself.
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Potential verb conjugation
Kanji Link
Japanese Potential Form:
Wasabi
ら抜き(ra-nuki)
Self-Taught Japanese
CAN /potential form(られる/ことができる)
Japanese Ammo
Offline
Genki II 2nd Edition
Page 30
みんなの日本語 II
Page 18 [CH 27]
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 8 & 370
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 123
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れる・られる (Potential) – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (49 in total)
kush
About 1 year ago
I think it is used to connect the ない to the すみません because there should be a て before すみません.
Hopefully this is useful to youEdBunpro
About 1 year ago
@Glaciem52 It appears to be following the formula outlined in the て+すみません lessons, which can be found here, in particular the end of the first paragraph which explains the 2 different ‘meanings’ that て can carry in cases like this.
Glaciem52
About 1 year ago
Thank you so much !! I understand it now
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