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GRAMMAR
〜得る
can
possible
Explanation
NOTE

〜得える means can do or it is possible to do — a formal, written expression of possibility.

それは十分じゅうぶん起おこり得うることだ。
That is something that can fully happen.
得 can be read either え or う; the dictionary form 得る is often read うる in writing.
NOTE

Unlike 〜られる, 〜得る expresses logical possibility — whether something could occur, not whether someone has the personal ability to do it.

NOTE

Attach 得る to the verb masu-stem (起おこります → 起おこり*得うる*). The negative form is 〜得ない (え-ない).

STRUCTURE
Vます
<ruby>得<rt>え</rt></ruby>る
そんな事故じこは誰だれにでも起おこり得うる。
Sonna jiko wa dare ni demo okoriuru.
An accident like that can happen to anyone.
その計画けいかくは成功せいこうし得うると思おもう。
Sono keikaku wa seikoushiuru to omou.
I think that plan can succeed.
その結果けっかは十分じゅうぶん予想よそうし得えるものだった。
Sono kekka wa juubun yosoushieru mono datta.
That result was something that could fully be predicted.

Practice exercises

1
誰だれにでも起おこり得うることだが、私わたしには起おこり得えない。
It's something that can happen to anyone, but it cannot happen to me.
Answer
得うる
2
状況じょうきょうを変かえようがないが、良よくはなり得うる。
There's no way to change the situation, but it can get better.
Answer
得うる
3
今後こんご、さまざまな問題もんだいが発生はっせいし得うる。
Various problems could arise in the future.
Answer
得うる
4
何事なにごとも努力どりょくすれば達成たっせいし得うる。
Anything can be achieved if one tries.
Answer
得うる
5
彼かれは失敗しっぱいし兼かねねないが、成功せいこうし得うる。
He might fail, but he can also succeed.
Answer
得うる