Potential forms
Japanese often changes the verb form itself to express being able to do something.
Examples
JapaneseTranslation
日本語が少し読めます。Nihongo ga sukoshi yomemasu.
I can read a little Japanese.
今日は来られません。Kyō wa koraremasen.
I cannot come today.
この漢字はまだ書けない。Kono kanji wa mada kakenai.
I still cannot write this kanji.
Pattern
potential form of the verb
How it works
Japanese often changes the verb form itself to express being able to do something. This pattern typically appears as potential form of the verb and becomes easier when you meet it again in short, readable examples.
What to notice
- The potential form changes the verb, not just the surrounding words.
- Ability and possibility are often expressed very compactly in Japanese.
Why it matters
Express ability, permission, and social expectations more clearly.
Use in context
This matters because Japanese often expresses ability through morphology rather than a separate modal verb.