Unit 4 - Section 4: Volitional Form Usage
Ability and Possibility Summary
Master the complete range of expressing what you can do, what you will do, and what might happen in Japanese.
Complete Grammar Summary
| Pattern | Formation | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potential | Ichidan: る→られる Godan: -u→-e+る |
話せる | Can speak |
| Volitional | Ichidan: る→よう Godan: -u→-o+う |
話そう | Let's speak / Will speak |
| Conditional | Past tense + ら | 話したら | If speak |
| ます-form | Verb + ます | 話します | Speak (polite) |
| Polite Volitional | ます stem + ましょう | 話しましょう | Let's speak (polite) |
Practical Conversation
Context: Planning a weekend activity
Person A: 明日、何ができますか。
[Ashita, nani ga dekimasu ka]
What can you do tomorrow?
Person B: 朝だったら、公園に行けます。
[Asa dattara, kouen ni ikmasu]
If it's morning, I can go to the park.
Person A: そう？じゃあ、映画を見ましょうか、それとも外で遊びましょうか。
[Sou? Jaa, eiga wo mimashō ka, soretomo soto de asobimashō ka]
Really? So, shall we watch a movie or play outside?
Person B: 雨が降ったら、映画を見ましょう。降らなかったら、外で遊びましょう。
[Ame ga futtara, eiga wo mimashō. Furanakattara, soto de asobimashō]
If it rains, let's watch a movie. If it doesn't, let's play outside.
Person A: わかりました。では、頑張ろう！
[Wakarimashita. Dewa, ganbarou!]
Got it. Let's do our best!
Person A: 明日、何ができますか。
[Ashita, nani ga dekimasu ka]
What can you do tomorrow?
Person B: 朝だったら、公園に行けます。
[Asa dattara, kouen ni ikmasu]
If it's morning, I can go to the park.
Person A: そう？じゃあ、映画を見ましょうか、それとも外で遊びましょうか。
[Sou? Jaa, eiga wo mimashō ka, soretomo soto de asobimashō ka]
Really? So, shall we watch a movie or play outside?
Person B: 雨が降ったら、映画を見ましょう。降らなかったら、外で遊びましょう。
[Ame ga futtara, eiga wo mimashō. Furanakattara, soto de asobimashō]
If it rains, let's watch a movie. If it doesn't, let's play outside.
Person A: わかりました。では、頑張ろう！
[Wakarimashita. Dewa, ganbarou!]
Got it. Let's do our best!
Common Verbs in These Forms
| Dictionary | Potential | Volitional | Conditional |
|---|---|---|---|
| 来る | 来られる | 来よう | 来たら |
| 行く | 行ける | 行こう | 行ったら |
| する | できる | しよう | したら |
| 飲む | 飲める | 飲もう | 飲んだら |
| 読む | 読める | 読もう | 読んだら |
Study Tips
Complete Mastery:
- Pattern recognition: Know which form to use for your intended meaning
- Conjugation drills: Practice converting one verb through all forms repeatedly
- Real conversations: Create dialogues using potential, volitional, and conditional forms
- Listening practice: Watch Japanese media and identify these forms in context
- Integration: These forms work together in natural sentences
Course Navigation
Study Tips
- Read each example carefully
- Practice pronunciation aloud
- Create your own sentences to reinforce memory
- Finish the section quiz