How to differentiate ～られる conjugation between passive form and potential form?


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:

> 食べられる  
>  1\. to be eaten  
>  2\. can eat / edible

Other than looking at the context, how do I differentiate between the two
meanings?




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／～によって (there are some rules about which to use, but that's beyond the scope
of this topic):

>   * **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")
>   * 「モナ・リザ」は **ダ・ヴィンチによって** 描かれた → The "Mona Lisa" was painted by DaVinci.
>

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.
>




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／～によって (there are some rules about which to use, but that's beyond the scope
of this topic):

>   * **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")
>   * 「モナ・リザ」は **ダ・ヴィンチによって** 描かれた → The "Mona Lisa" was painted by DaVinci.
>

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.
>

