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I was reading up some lesson on causative and passive form online. I am still
a little confused as to when and why use these form. For this example:

> plain form: 答える  
>  passive form: 答えられる
>
> 外国人に質問を聞かれたが、答え **られ** なかった。  
>  I was asked a question by a foreigner but I couldn't answer.

Why do we use passive here? What if I say:

> 外国人に質問を聞かれたが、答えなかった。

Does this mean the same? Or is this sentence even correct in the first place?
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2015-08-04T08:23:48.360
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2019-11-04T01:45:36.890
2019-11-04T01:45:36.890
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question
grammar conjugations potential-form
Need help understanding causative and passive form: 外国人に質問を聞かれたが、答えられなかった。
「答{こた}えられる」 has **_three_** different usages and meanings.

>   1. **Honorific** : Used when describing someone higher up answering.
>

「その質問{しつもん}にはスミス様{さま}が答えられました。」

= "Mr. Smith (kindly) answered the question."

>   2. **Potential** : Used to express "can answer" or "to be able to answer".
>

「その質問は難{むずか}しすぎて答えられません。」

= "That question is too difficult (for me) to answer."

>   3. **Passive Voice** : Used to express "is/are/get(s) answerd" as opposed
> to the active voice form "to answer"
>

「Aの質問は私 **に** 、そしてBの質問はマサコさん **によって** 答えられました。」

= "Question A was answered by me and Question B, by Masako."

＊You mentioned " ** _causative_** ", but the causative form is 「答え **させる**
」and not 「答え **られる** 」.

Finally, let us discuss the difference between 「答えられなかった」 and 「答えなかった」.

The former means that one was unable to answer a question (mostly or entirely
because the question was too difficult).

The latter means that one chose not to (or declined to) answer a question even
though one knew the answer.
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2015-08-04T10:20:20.150
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2017-04-15T00:27:38.623
2017-04-15T00:27:38.623
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answer