Recently I learned of a new way to express potential form. Here's a few example sentences:
- 今回は予測し得ないことが起きたけど、皆、落ち着いていた。
- 自分の意見を自由に言えないなんて、普通の国ではあり得ない。
The second example I put for contrast, because it illustrates one obvious difference which is that I don't think potential forms of ある and いる exist.
In the first example, however, it's not so clear. Instinctually, from looking at these and a few other examples, I think perhaps there is a sense of impossibility here that is not present in simple できる or ～られる form, but I have trouble articulating it, and it may be a red herring anyway.
For example, change the first sentence to this:
- 今回は予測できないことが起きたけど、皆、落ち着いていた。
Does it have a different nuance now?
Can someone elaborate on the differences between these two constructs?
Answer
First, I think that 連用形+得る is more formal than the classical potential forms. Then, I feel a slight nuance: the 得ない form dissociates the speaker from the impossibility. Overstating, it's like When you say できない, it means you cannot do it; when you say し得ない, it means that it cannot be done.
Second, potential form of いる exists: I'm pretty sure I already heard:
"ここにいられません。すぐ出てください！" (You can't be here, go away right now!)
For ある, there is あられる, but it's some 敬語, and no more a potential indeed.
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