得る・
On a verb stem, 得る says that something can happen or be so in principle, and 得ない that it cannot. It belongs to writing, except ありえる and ありえない, which everyone says.
A major earthquake can happen anywhere, at any time.
These factors alone cannot account for this change.
How to form it
Verb ます-stem + 得る／得ない
起こります → 起こり得る, あります → あり得ない. Often in kana: ありうる, ありえない.
How 得 is read
| Written | Read | Like this |
|---|---|---|
| 得る | うる, or える | ありうる, ありえる |
| 得ない | えない | ありえない |
| 得ます, 得た | えます, えた | ありえます, ありえた |
The dictionary form has two readings. うる is the standard one, and the one for formal writing and the news; える is common in conversation. The negative, the ます-form and the past all start with え. There is no うない.
- Before it
- Verbs of happening and of thinking: ある, 起こる, なる, 考える, 予測する, 説明する.
- Said about
- Events, results and ideas, good or bad alike.
- Where you'll meet it
- Essays, reports, textbooks, the news.
In use
A small input error can lead to a serious accident.
This change could affect all users.
It was a change that could not have been predicted at the time.
We tried every method we could think of.
考え得るかぎり: every conceivable.
ありえない in conversation
ありえる is "it could happen". ありえない is "impossible", and also "unbelievable", said in shock or protest.
Could a coincidence like that really happen?
Couldn't it be that he didn't know the schedule?
That's impossible. He checked the list himself yesterday.
Making people wait a whole hour? Unbelievable.
Not for a skill
得る asks whether a thing is possible at all. Skill and ability are the potential form.
Not said: 彼は
(He can swim a kilometer.)
泳げる.
Close neighbours
かもしれないN4
"Might": a guess about one case. 得る only says that such a thing is possible.
He may not have seen the message yet.
かねないN2
"Might well": your own warning that what is happening or being done could lead to something bad. Not usually for something you hope for.
Speeding could well lead to a serious accident.
得る after を
After を, 得る is the ordinary verb "to get": 許可を得る, "get permission". One set expression has を得ない in it:
Check yourself
1起こり得ない, "cannot happen". How is it read?
Choose an answer to see why.
2Which one fits?
妹は
Choose an answer to see why.
More sentences
A single decision can affect the entire organization.
A slight difference in input can substantially change the final result.
The cause cannot be identified from the current materials alone.
No conclusion can be drawn from this material alone.
With current technology, that error cannot be prevented completely.