JLPT N4 Grammar – Master the Rules of Potential Form of Verbs!

Table of Contents

1. Verbs that cannot be made into the potential form
2. Volitional Verbs and Potential Form
3. Non-Volitional Verbs and Potential Form
4. Summary
5. Quiz
6. Similar Articles
7. Comment

Q: I heard that there are verbs that cannot be made into the potential form. Is that true? How can I distinguish them?

A: Yes, there are verbs that cannot be made into the potential form!
This article provides a detailed explanation of which verbs can and cannot be changed into the potential form.

Volitional Verbs and Potential Form

What is “potential”?

The term “potential” in potential form means “able to be realized” or “having the possibility of being realized.”
In Japanese, the potential form has two aspects: “ability-based potential” and “situational potential.”

When realizing something, the will of the person performing the action is necessary, so volitional verbs can be changed into the potential form.

[Point]
The potential form can be made from volitional verbs

Let’s consider the potential form of “作つくる” (to make), which is “作つくれる” (can make), in the following scenarios.

[Example 1]　
わたしはおいしいチョコレートケーキを作つくれます。
I can make a delicious chocolate cake.
⇒ This indicates the ability to make a delicious cake and the possibility of making a delicious cake.

[Example 2]　
A: この書類しょるい、明日あしたまでに作つくれますか。
B: はい、作つくれます。
A: Can you finish this document by tomorrow?
B: Yes, I can.
⇒ This indicates the possibility or likelihood of completing the document by “tomorrow” based on the situation.

Next, let’s look at ability-based potential and situational potential.
In both cases, it’s important to note the intentional effort involved.

[Example 1]　
自転じてん車しゃに乗のる練習れんしゅうをして、やっと乗のれるようになりました。
After practicing riding a bicycle, I can finally ride it.

[Example 2]　　
晴はれだったら自転じてん車しゃに乗のれます。
If it’s sunny, I can ride a bicycle.

Both examples use the potential form of “乗のります” (to ride), which is “乗のれる” (can ride), but in [Example 1], the speaker has intentionally practiced riding a bicycle, thereby acquiring the ability to “ride.”

However, in [Example 2], the external situation or conditions limit the speaker’s ability to “ride.” If the condition is “sunny,” then the speaker has the conscious choice to “ride.”

The key point here is “what the speaker intentionally did to realize something.” In other words, the potential form can be made from volitional verbs.

Now, let’s look at other examples of volitional verbs in the following table.

Dictionary Form of Volitional Verbs	Potential Form
食たべる (to eat)	食たべられる
飲のむ (to drink)	飲のめる
聞きく (to listen)	聞きける
話はなす (to speak)	話はなせる
読よむ (to read)	読よめる
作つくる (to make)	作つくれる
する (to do)	できる
行いく (to go)	行いける
来くる (to come)	来これる
帰かえる (to go home)	帰かえれる
使つかう (to use)	使つかえる
乗のる (to ride)	乗のれる
知しる (to know)	知しる *The verb “知しる” is used in the same form as the dictionary form.
なる (to become)	なれる *The verb “なる” is treated as a volitional verb when used in the context of achieving a dream, such as “先生せんせいになる” (to become a teacher).

Non-volitional Verbs and Potential Form

In conclusion, non-volitional verbs cannot be made into the potential form.
The reason is that, as previously mentioned, making something possible requires the speaker’s intentional effort.

[Point]
The potential form cannot be made from intransitive verbs

Intransitive verbs are those that cannot be controlled by oneself, such as “わかる” (to understand) and “見みえる” (to be visible).
Let’s look at other examples of intransitive verbs in the following table.

Non-volitional Verbs
ある (to have, to exist)
聞きこえる (to be heard)
開ひらく (to open)
閉しまる (to close)
乾かわく (to dry)
壊こわれる (to be broken)
割われる (to break)
(雨あめが)降ふる (to rain)
(風かぜが)止やむ (to stop blowing)
(風かぜが)吹ふく (to blow)
なる 　*Natural phenomena, such as “病気びょうきになる” (to become sick), are treated as intransitive verbs

Also, since non-volitional verbs are a type of intransitive verb, reviewing the difference between intransitive and transitive verbs here might help with understanding.

Summary

• Verbs that can be made into the potential form are “volitional verbs,” while those that cannot are “non-volitional verbs.”

Quiz

Can the underlined verbs can be made into their potential form?

Click on the question to check the answer.

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