JLPT N4 Grammar られる (rareru)

Learn Japanese grammar: られる (rareru). Meaning: potential form; being able to do something.

This is used to describe the ability or inability to do something.

First, let’s look at the rules for how to create potential form, and then how we can use it in a sentence.

Rules for Creating Potential Form

Ru-verb

Simply remove the final る (ru) and replace with られる (rareru).

食べる -> 食べられる (taberu -> taberareru)

To eat -> To be able to eat

U-verb

Change the final “u” to be an “e” instead, and then add る (ru).

Ex) む (mu) becomes め (me).

飲む -> 飲める (nomu -> nomeru)

To drink -> To be able to drink

つ (tsu) becomes て (te)

立つ -> 立てる (tatsu -> tateru)

To stand -> To be able to stand

Irregular verbs

する -> できる (suru -> dekiru)

To do -> To be able to do

くる -> これる (kuru -> koreru)

To come -> To be able to come

How to Use Potential Form

When using potential form, the particle を (o/wo) is often changed to が (ga) instead.

Will change to..

Important Notes

You can use either を (o/wo) or が (ga) with most verbs, but when used with できる (dekiru), you must always use が (ga).

Be careful to not confuse this with 受身形 (ukemi) passive voice, where many conjugations may be similar.

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