～が Verb られる
〜ga Verb rareru
JLPT N1 Formal
Formation
❶ (Group 1) Verb: 書く -> 書ける / 飲む -> 飲める, etc. ❷ (Group 2) Verb-ます stem + られる (食べる -> 食べられる、見る -> 見られる)
Expresses potential or ability to do something; 'can', 'able to'.
When to use
Literary potential form - directly conjugates the verb rather than using ことができる; more natural in writing.
Explanation
The ～が Verb られる grammar pattern generally refers to the potential form of Japanese verbs (i.e., 'can do something'). However, the exact formation depends on the verb group. For most Group 1 (五段) verbs, potential form changes the final -u to -eru (e.g., 書く -> 書ける). For Group 2 (一段) verbs, you often see ～られる (e.g., 食べる -> 食べられる). In English, it translates as 'can' or 'able to'.
Example sentences
-
Do you think he can solve this problem?
Kare ga kono mondai o tokeru to omoimasu ka?
-
Can I carry that big box?
Watashi ga sono ookina hako o hakoberu ka?
-
I think he can run fast.
Kare ga hayaku hashireru to omoimasu.
-
She can speak Japanese.
Kanojo wa nihongo ga hanaseru.
Conjugation: potential (can do)
| Dictionary form | potential (can do) |
|---|---|
| 言う いう | 言える いえる |
| 行く いく | 行ける いける |
| 知る しる | 知れる しれる |
| 待つ まつ | 待てる まてる |
| 出す だす | 出せる だせる |
| 呼ぶ よぶ | 呼べる よべる |
| 死ぬ しぬ | 死ねる しねる |
| 飲む のむ | 飲める のめる |
| 急ぐ いそぐ | 急げる いそげる |
| 聞く きく | 聞ける きける |
| 持つ もつ | 持てる もてる |
| 入る はいる | 入れる はいれる |