ことができる

Can/able to

Level 2Sounds Like kotogadekiru

The pattern [Verb Dictionary Form] + ことができる is the standard way to say 'can' or 'be able to' in Japanese. It is used for both personal skills and situational possibilities.

How It Works

The pattern ことができる is a versatile way to express potentiality. It is formed by taking a verb in its dictionary form and adding the phrase ことができる (or できます in polite speech).

1. Two Main Uses:

  • Ability: Internal skills or talents. (e.g., 'I can speak Japanese.')
  • Possibility: External circumstances or rules. (e.g., 'You can pay by card here.')

2. Register and Nuance:
While the potential form (like 話せる) is common in casual conversation, ことができる is preferred in formal writing, instructions, and public notices. It sounds more deliberate and objective.

3. Grammatical Structure:
Unlike the potential form, which often changes the object marker を to が, ことができる usually keeps the original particle within the clause. For example:
・日本語を話すことができる (I can speak Japanese.)
・日本語が話せる (I can speak Japanese - Potential Form).

4. Noun Shortcut:
For Group 3 verbs (Noun + する), you can often omit the すること and attach ができる directly to the noun. For example, 運転することができる (can drive) can be shortened to 運転ができる.

Examples (4)

  1. 彼は五ヶ国語を話すことができます。

    He can speak five languages.

    Word by Word: He (topic) five-languages (object) speak thing (subject) is possible.

    This demonstrates 'ability.' The dictionary form 話す（はなす） is used before the pattern.

  2. この図書館では、本を五冊まで借りることができます。

    At this library, you can borrow up to five books.

    Word by Word: This library at, books (object) five-volumes until borrow thing (subject) is possible.

    This demonstrates 'situational possibility' or rules. The dictionary form 借りる（かりる） is used.

  3. ここではクレジットカードを使うことができません。

    You cannot use credit cards here.

    Word by Word: Here at, credit card (object) use thing (subject) is not possible.

    The negative form できません is used to show that something is not possible due to circumstances.

  4. 一人で全部食べることができますか。

    Can you eat it all by yourself?

    Word by Word: One person by all eat thing (subject) is possible (question)?

    Adding the question marker か allows you to ask about someone's ability or the possibility of an action.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the potential form of the verb before ことができる.

    話せることができる。
    話すことができる。

    This is a 'double potential' error. You must use the plain dictionary form, not the potential form, before ことができる.

  • Using the polite ます form before こと.

    行きますことができる。
    行くことができる。

    The nominalizer こと must be preceded by the plain (dictionary) form of the verb, even if the end of the sentence is polite (できます).

  • Using it with verbs that already imply ability, like わかる（分かる）.

    意味がわかることができる。
    意味がわかる。

    Verbs like わかる（分かる）, 見える（みえる）, and 聞こえる（きこえる） already contain the meaning of potentiality. Adding ことができる is redundant and unnatural.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

ことができるLevel 2Can/able to

Learn This First

To understand 'ことができる', you need to know how to modify a noun with a verb (dictionary form + noun). You also need to understand the concept of nominalization using 'こと' and the existence verb 'ある' to express that the ability to do something 'exists'.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

ことができる出来る