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For verbs of group 2, whose ～ます form is formed by dropping the ending ～る from the plain form, both the passive and potential forms have the same conjugation: ～られる. Example:
Other than looking at the context, how do I differentiate between the two meanings? |
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I don't think you can differentiate them without looking at the context. ハンバーガー が・を 食べられる - I can eat hamburgers ハンバーガーを食べられてしまった！ - Someone ate my hamburger!! With the passive form, you'll usually see the doer/"culprit" indicated by ～に: 父にハンバーガーを食べられることが多い - My hamburgers are often eaten by my father ("My father often eats my hamburgers") Don't forget that there is a third conjugation of this form that is a type of keigo (somewhat between normal politeness and super politeness) 課長は明日会議に行かれる - The section chief is going to the meeting tomorrow. |
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I don't think there is way to decide that without looking at context. And there is another meaning for ～られる, which is used as polite form (keigo), which means 食べられる can be used as similar meaning with 召し上がる (meshiagaru), but of course special usage 召し上がる is more polite than 食べられる for this case. |
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