Can / cannot 〜得る

Meaning

"Can possibly ~", "it is conceivable that ~". The negative 得ない means "could not possibly".

Formation

[verb ます-stem] + 得る（うる / える） · [verb ます-stem] + 得ない（えない）

Notes

The affirmative is read either うる or える; the negative is always えない. It is about logical possibility, not personal ability — 泳ぎ得る is wrong for "I can swim", where 泳げる is the potential form. ありえない ("impossible") is the everyday survivor of this pattern.

Examples

そんなことはあり得（え）ません。

That simply cannot happen.

Breakdown

そんなこと such a thing ありえませんあり得ません cannot possibly be

誰（だれ）にでも起（お）こり得（う）る問題（もんだい）です。

It is a problem that can happen to anyone.

Breakdown

だれにでも誰にでも to anyone おこりうる起こり得る can happen

その計画（けいかく）は成功（せいこう）し得（う）ると思（おも）います。

I think that plan could succeed.

Breakdown

そのけいかくその計画 that plan せいこうしうる成功し得る could succeed

彼（かれ）が嘘（うそ）をつくなんて考え得（かんがえう）ないことです。

It is inconceivable that he would lie.

Breakdown

うそをつく嘘をつく tell a lie かんがええない考え得ない inconceivable

地震（じしん）はいつでも起（お）こり得（え）ます。

An earthquake can occur at any time.

Breakdown

じしん地震 earthquake おこりえます起こり得ます can occur

⚠️ Often confused with

〜られる / 〜える

Potential form 可能形 (can do)

The potential form of a verb — "can do / be able to do". The spontaneous/conversational al...

〜ようがない

No way to 〜ようがない

"There is no way to ~", "cannot possibly ~" — no method exists.