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N4

Potential Form II: What You Can and Cannot Do

About 9 minutes · written and reviewed by Haruki Yamamoto

Section 1 of 3

Personal ability

Use the potential form for things a person has learned or is physically able to do. This often appears with skills, languages, sports, and tasks.

  1. Target signal

    私はまだ車を運転できません。

    I still cannot drive a car.

    Notice how Potential Form II: What You Can and Cannot Do shapes the meaning of this sentence in context.

    Vocabulary notes
    ません
    polite negative verb ending
    まだ
    still; not yet
    運転うんてん
    driving

  2. Compare in context

    兄は一人で料理ができます。

    My older brother can cook by himself.

    Notice how Potential Form II: What You Can and Cannot Do shapes the meaning of this sentence in context.

    Vocabulary notes
    一人でひとりで
    alone; by oneself
    ます
    polite verb ending
    一人ひとり
    one person; alone

  3. Compare in context

    彼女は二十キロ泳げます。

    She can swim twenty kilometers.

    Notice how Potential Form II: What You Can and Cannot Do shapes the meaning of this sentence in context.

    Vocabulary notes
    ます
    polite verb ending
    彼女かのじょ
    she; her; girlfriend
    キ
    katakana letter ki

Section 2 of 3

Situational possibility

The same grammar also describes what is possible because of conditions, tools, or rules. In notices and signs, this meaning is especially common.

  1. Target signal

    この部屋では電話が使えません。

    Phones cannot be used in this room.

    Notice how Potential Form II: What You Can and Cannot Do shapes the meaning of this sentence in context.

    Vocabulary notes
    ません
    polite negative verb ending
    この
    this
    では
    well then; in; by means of

  2. Preview

    ここから富士山が見えます。

    You can see Mt. Fuji from here.

    Notice how Potential Form II: What You Can and Cannot Do shapes the meaning of this sentence in context.

    Vocabulary notes
    から
    from; because
    ここ
    here
    ます
    polite verb ending

  3. Preview

    今日は六時まで入れます。

    You can enter until six o’clock today.

    Notice how Potential Form II: What You Can and Cannot Do shapes the meaning of this sentence in context.

    Vocabulary notes
    ます
    polite verb ending
    まで
    until; up to
    今日きょう
    today

Section 3 of 3

Negative forms and reading decisions

When you read a potential sentence, ask: is the speaker talking about skill, permission, physical possibility, or circumstances? The surrounding context usually answers that question.

  1. Target signal

    忙しくて、今日は参加できません。

    I am busy, so I cannot participate today.

    Notice how Potential Form II: What You Can and Cannot Do shapes the meaning of this sentence in context.

    Vocabulary notes
    ません
    polite negative verb ending
    今日きょう
    today
    参加さんか
    participation

  2. Preview

    この字は小さくて読めません。

    The letters are too small to read.

    Notice how Potential Form II: What You Can and Cannot Do shapes the meaning of this sentence in context.

    Vocabulary notes
    ません
    polite negative verb ending
    小さくちいさく
    softly; in a small voice
    この
    this

  3. Preview

    このカードは海外では使えないかもしれません。

    This card may not be usable overseas.

    Notice how Potential Form II: What You Can and Cannot Do shapes the meaning of this sentence in context.

    Vocabulary notes
    カード
    card
    ません
    polite negative verb ending
    かも
    might; maybe

Reading in context

Read for meaning before checking the answer

Before you read

Read once for the situation. Then notice how Potential Form II: What You Can and Cannot Do changes the meaning before you check the translation.

私はまだ車を運転できません。 兄は一人で料理ができます。 彼女は二十キロ泳げます。 この部屋では電話が使えません。 ここから富士山が見えます。 今日は六時まで入れます。 忙しくて、今日は参加できません。 この字は小さくて読めません。 このカードは海外では使えないかもしれません。

Show English translation

I still cannot drive a car. My older brother can cook by himself. She can swim twenty kilometers. Phones cannot be used in this room. You can see Mt. Fuji from here. You can enter until six o’clock today. I am busy, so I cannot participate today. The letters are too small to read. This card may not be usable overseas.

Contextual questions

Answer from the passage before you reveal each explanation.

  1. What is the first reading job for this passage?

    • Identify the situation and how Potential Form II: What You Can and Cannot Do changes it.
    • Translate every word before using context.
    • Ignore the ending because only vocabulary matters.
    • Choose an answer before reading the full passage.
    Check the answer

    Identify the situation and how Potential Form II: What You Can and Cannot Do changes it.

    The goal is to use the situation first, then confirm the role of Potential Form II: What You Can and Cannot Do in context.

Guided practice

Apply the lesson in a few different ways

Work through each prompt, then check the explanation before moving on.

Activity 1 of 4Choose the best context

In この店ではカードが使えます, what kind of meaning does the potential form show?

Activity 2 of 4Fill the blank

Complete the chunk that carries the lesson meaning (Potential Form II: What You Can and Cannot Do).

私はまだ車を運転でき＿＿＿。

Activity 3 of 4Put it in order

Put these related examples back into the order used in the lesson.

  1. 1兄は一人で料理ができます。
  2. 2彼女は二十キロ泳げます。
  3. 3私はまだ車を運転できません。
Activity 4 of 4Infer from the passage

What should guide your interpretation of Potential Form II: What You Can and Cannot Do in the mini-reading?

Mastery check 1/4

In この店ではカードが使えます, what kind of meaning does the potential form show?