can, be able to do

The potential form expresses ability or possibility. Ru-verbs replace る with られる (食べる to 食べられる), u-verbs shift the final sound to the e-row plus る (読む to 読める), and する becomes できる. The object usually takes が instead of を.

Examples

• 日本語にほんごが話はなせます。

  Nihongo ga hanasemasu.

  I can speak Japanese.

• この漢字かんじが読よめますか。

  Kono kanji ga yomemasu ka.

  Can you read this kanji?

Vocabulary in these examples

• 日本語 Japanese language
• この this (+ noun)
• 漢字 kanji; Chinese character

Related patterns · Potential form

• 〜ことができる can do, it is possible to do
• 見える / 聞こえる can be seen, can be heard (naturally)