JLPT N2 grammar
〜得る / 〜得ない — Meaning & Examples
Formal possibility. Dictionary form reads うる or える; all other forms use え (得ない = えない). あり得ない = impossible.
〜っこない and 〜得る
〜っこない = "there's no way / no chance." Emphatic, casual, and slightly emotional.
Formation: ます-stem + っこない
そんな話、信じっこないよ。
= There's no way I'd believe a story like that.
一日で終わりっこない。
= There's no chance it'll finish in a day.
こんな難しい問題、分かりっこない。
= No way I can understand a problem this hard.
Register warning: っこない is friends-and-family only. In writing or business, use 〜はずがない or 〜わけがない instead.
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〜得る（うる / える）= "can / is possible." Formal, written, and neutral in tone.
Formation: ます-stem + 得る
誰にでも起こり得ることです。
= It's something that could happen to anyone.
それは十分あり得る。
= That's entirely possible.
Reading note: the dictionary form is read うる or える; every other form uses え — 得ない（えない）, 得た（えた）, 得ます（えます）.
Negative 〜得ない = "cannot possibly":
そんなことはあり得ない。
= That's impossible. (you'll hear this one constantly)
信じ得ない話だ。 = an unbelievable story.
Quick placement guide:
Bad thing might happen → かねない
Politely can't do it → かねる
No chance, casual → っこない
Formally possible → 得る / impossible → 得ない 📘
Practice questions
Try these 2 questions on 〜得る / 〜得ない. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. そんなことはあり得ない means?
- That is impossible
- That is possible
- That might happen
- That already happened
Show answer
Answer: That is impossible
あり得ない (ありえない) = cannot possibly be. 得る = formal possibility; 得ない = its negative.
2. How is 得る read in its dictionary form vs other forms?
- Always える
- とく in all forms
- Always うる
- うる or える in dictionary form; え in all other forms
Show answer
Answer: うる or える in dictionary form; え in all other forms
Dictionary form reads うる or える; every other form uses え — 得ない (えない), 得た (えた), 得ます (えます).
Practise 〜得る / 〜得ない in the free app
This point is part of the “⚠️ Possibility & Refusal — かねない・かねる・っこない・得る” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N2 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N2 grammar points
From the same lesson: ⚠️ Possibility & Refusal — かねない・かねる・っこない・得る
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜得る / 〜得ない mean?
Formal possibility. Dictionary form reads うる or える; all other forms use え (得ない = えない). あり得ない = impossible.
Is 〜得る / 〜得ない on the JLPT N2 test?
〜得る / 〜得ない is taught in the JLPT N2 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “⚠️ Possibility & Refusal — かねない・かねる・っこない・得る”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise 〜得る / 〜得ない?
Open the “⚠️ Possibility & Refusal — かねない・かねる・っこない・得る” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N2 mock exams, with no ads.