Skip to content
JLPT N3Modal Expressions

～得る／～得ない— Within / Beyond the Realm of Possibility

Attached to a verb stem, 得る marks that something is possible or can conceivably happen, while 得ない marks it as impossible or unthinkable. It speaks to theoretical/logical possibility rather than personal ability. Common in formal speech and writing, especially about what could or could not occur.

Grammar path · 練習

Practice this in the path

A short lesson: the pattern, its sentence anatomy, a quick quiz and a sentence to build.

Pro lessonUNIT 107 · MODAL EXPRESSIONS

Structure · 形

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

Examples · 例文

  • 誰にでも起こり得る問題です。

    Dare ni demo okoriuru mondai desu.

    It's a problem that could happen to anyone.

    起こり + 得る (uru) = it is possible for it to happen

  • そんなことは、あり得ない。

    Sonna koto wa, arienai.

    Something like that is impossible / unthinkable.

    あり + 得ない (enai) = there is no possibility of it

  • この計画は成功し得ると思う。

    Kono keikaku wa seikou shiuru to omou.

    I think this plan can (conceivably) succeed.

    成功し + 得る (shiuru) states a theoretical possibility of success

Usage notes · 注意

  • Affirmative 得る reads うる or える; the negative is always えない.
  • Refers to logical/theoretical possibility, not learned skill (use 〜られる for personal ability).
  • Register: formal/written; あり得ない is very common even in casual speech.

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones ～得る／～得ない is tested against.

vsできる

できる is personal ability/permission ('I can do'); 得る is about whether something is possible in principle.

vsかねない

かねない specifically warns of a bad possibility; 得る is neutral about whether the possible outcome is good or bad.

More modal expressions

Study Japanese grammar on LenGaki

Everything on this page, ready to study

  • 7,788 JLPT vocabulary words, N5 through N1, with readings and audio (N5 free)
  • 2,057 kanji with on'yomi, kun'yomi and stroke-order practice
  • 445 grammar points with examples and commonly-confused comparisons
  • Full-length N5 and N4 mock exams, timed, with real listening audio (N5 sets 1 and 2 free)