Posted inN1 Grammar

Mastering 〜得る・得ない: Expressing Possibility & Impossibility at JLPT N1

Posted inN1 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

Expresses the possibility or impossibility of something happening or being the case.

🎯 Primary Function

To indicate that an action or state is objectively possible (~得る) or impossible (~得ない), often referring to potential outcomes or general feasibility.

📋 Grammar Structure

Verb ます-stem + 得る (うる/える) / 得ない (えない) Exception: する → し得る (しうる) Exception: 来る → 来得る (きうる/こしうる – less common)

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Very common in formal discussions, presentations, and official statements.

😊 Informal Situations

Rarely used in casual conversation; sounds stiff and overly formal.

✍️ Written Language

Frequently encountered in news articles, academic papers, reports, and formal documents.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Used in formal speeches, lectures, or debates, but much less common than in written language.

💡 Common Applications

Discussing potential risks or outcomes
Used to describe what might happen or what is a possible consequence.
Example: この計画には予期せぬ問題が起こり得る。 (This plan could encounter unforeseen problems.)
Stating general possibility or feasibility
Used to say that something is generally possible or feasible from an objective standpoint.
Example: あらゆる可能性を考慮に入れねばならない。 (We must take all possibilities into consideration.)
Expressing impossibility
Used forcefully to state that something is absolutely impossible or unthinkable.
Example: そんな非常識な行動は許容し得ない。 (Such an irrational action is unacceptable (cannot be tolerated).)
📊
Frequency
Moderately frequent in formal and written contexts, infrequent in casual speech.
🎚️
Difficulty
JLPT N1
Example Sentences
この事故は人為的なミスによって起こり得た。
This accident could have happened due to human error.
彼の誠実さを疑うことはあり得ない。
It is impossible to doubt his sincerity.
将来、AIが人間の仕事を代替し得るだろうか。
In the future, will AI be able to replace human jobs?
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Pronunciation Variation
得る can be pronounced “うる” (uru) or “える” (eru), though “うる” is more common, especially in compounds like 起こり得る (おこりうる) and あり得る (ありうる). 見得る is often pronounced “みえる”. 得ない is always “えない”.
Example: あり得る (ありうる), 見得る (みえる)
Objective Possibility/Impossibility
Unlike the simple potential form (～できる), ～得る focuses on the objective possibility or potential of an event or situation, rather than someone’s personal ability.
Example: 彼は日本語を話し得る (× – use 話せる) vs. この問題は話し得る (〇 – This problem can be discussed).

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using it for personal ability
✅ Use the potential form (～できる or ～られる/れる) instead.
～得る is for objective possibility/potential, not personal capability.
❌ Incorrectly conjugating irregular verbs
✅ Remember し得る (しうる) for する and 来得る (きうる/こしうる) for 来る, though the latter is less common.
する and 来る have specific forms.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Formal/Neutral. Not typically used in casual or humble contexts.
Social Situations: Appropriate in academic, business, news, and formal discussion settings. Avoid in casual conversation.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese; no significant regional variations in usage or meaning.

🔍 Subtle Differences

～得る・得ない vs. ～できる
～得る: Objective possibility/potential of an event or situation. ～できる: Personal ability or capacity.
When to use: ～得る: When discussing general likelihoods, potential outcomes, or objective feasibility/impossibility. ～できる: When talking about someone’s skill or ability to do something.
～得る・得ない vs. ～可能性がある/可能性がない
～得る・得ない: Directly attached to the verb stem, often sounds more concise or formal. ～可能性がある/可能性がない: Uses a noun (可能性) and expresses possibility/impossibility via a phrase.
When to use: Both express possibility, but ～得る can sometimes imply inherent potential or a more direct consequence. 可能性 expresses probability or chance.
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When to use: undefined

📝 Conjugation Notes

Attaches to the ます-stem (連用形 – Ren’yōkei) of verbs. For Ichidan, Godan, and most irregular verbs (except する and sometimes 来る). Remember し得る for する.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

得る is usually “うる” (uru), especially in compounds. “える” (eru) is possible for some verbs like 見得る (みえる). 得ない is always “えない” (enai).

🧠 Memory Tips

Associate 得る with the kanji 得, which relates to obtaining or gaining, hinting at the potential or possibility of gaining a state or outcome. Think of it as the potential *inherent* in the situation, not just someone’s skill.

Practice Exercises
この状況では、交渉による解決は＿＿＿＿。
できうる
ありうる
あり得ない
し得る
この件については、あらゆる角度から検討＿＿＿＿必要がある。
し得る
出来得る
見得る
考え得る
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