Potential form? what does that mean?

[remillardn7528]

I don't get alot of verb tense forms meanings but one I havn't been able to figure out would be the potential form and what it is used for... I NEED a simple easy to understand way of putting it! Onegaishimasu

[ericf]

It simply means that something has the potential, or possibility, to happen.

Normal:
私は、お肉を食べます。
watashi wa, oniku wo tabemasu
I eat meat.

Potential:
私は、お肉が食べられます。
watashi wa, oniku ga taberaremasu
I /can/ eat meat.
友達は、お肉は食べられません。
tomodachi wa, oniku ha taberaremasen
(my) friend /can't/ eat meat.

[remillardn7528]

I see, arigatou gozaimasu.

[community.japanese]

remillardn7528-san, エリックsensei,
lesson for "potential form", done
Thank you very much, エリックsan!

remillardn7528-san, please feel free to practice potential form here if you want to make sure you got it.
Make sentences with potential form, and we're happy to give you feedback!

Natsuko(奈津子),
Team JapanesePod101.com