3.2. FURTHER INFLECTIONS 139
Formation is the same as for the passive using / , it being
added to the :
verb meaning potential meaningsee be able to see
sleep be able to sleepHowever, there is one striking exception to this form of potential,
and that’s the irregular verb , ”do”. Rather than inflecting, this verb is
simply replaced entirely with the verb
, which literally means ”be
able to do”.
We need to be mindful of particles again: verbs in potential form
are always intransitive, and so any direct object it might take in normal
use becomes a verb subject instead, requiring the use of rather than.
However, quite often in colloquial Japanese, the direct object particle
will be heard used in combination with these verbs, rather than the sub-
ject particle , not because this is grammatically correct, but because it
”feels right”. If you are a beginning student of Japanese, however, it is rec-
ommended you stick with proper grammar until you have mastered it to
a level that allows you to interact with native speakers, so that you get a
feel for what is ”right” through exposure to the language as it is used by
people.
You may also hear people using rather than , but for
now, this is discouraged language abuse: the idea behind it is that the
short potential form for verbs always ends on –row syllable + ,
and so using for verbs ”does the same thing”. However, while
they might sound the same, is a classical helper verb, whereas the
–row syllable + sound for verbs is actually a contraction from
what used to be –row syllable + , so they have completely differ-
ent background. So until the Japanese language authorities start accepting
this highly colloquial ”short potential for verbs” as right and proper,
you’re best off avoiding it.
On a final note, this potential form is one of a temporary nature.
For instance, rather than meaning ”I can see” in general (because you have
eyes that work), means ”I can see (whatever I am supposed to see
right now)”. Similarly,
means ”(I) can eat (this)”, rather than
the more general ”(I) can eat”. If we want to say that we have an inherent
ability to do (or not do) something, we have to use
- ,
which is explained after we cover the short potential form.