S. Hamano and W. Kikuchi1

Visualizing Japanese Grammar

Appendix

Shoko Hamano

George Washington University

S. Hamano and W. Kikuchi2

• The table to the right shows how to form potential forms of one-step verbs. 食べる

た

られる I can eat it.

分ける わ

変える か

決める き

捨てる す

られる

られる

られる

られる

I can divide it.

I can change it.

I can decide.

I can throw it away.

• As shown, drop ru and attach rareru.

• In casual speech, some frequently used forms of this type lose the syllable ra, as shown.

食べられる た

I can eat it.

Potential forms

S. Hamano and W. Kikuchi3

• The table to the right shows how to form potential forms of five-step verbs. 立つ

たてる I can stand up.

作るつく

使うつか

呼ぶ よ

読む よ

える

I can make it.

I can use it.

I can call them.

I can read it.

死ぬ し

書く か

急ぐいそ

話すはな

ける

げる

I can die.

I can write.

I can hurry.

I can talk.

れる

べる

める

ねる

せる

• As shown, replace the last u-step syllable with a corresponding e-step syllable and add ru.

Potential forms

S. Hamano and W. Kikuchi4

• The table to the right shows the potential forms of irregular verbs.

• Once you form potential forms, they all conjugate as one-step verbs regardless of the identity of their source.

来られるThey can come.

来られないThey cannot come.

来られたThey could come.

来られなかったThey could not come.

する 出来る でき

I can do it.

来る く

I can come.来られる こ

• There is no systematic rule for these. Just memorize the forms.

Potential forms