có thể

Can / Be Able to

Level 1

Có thể means "can," "be able to," or "might." It shows that an action is possible because of circumstances, time, or probability.

How It Works

1. Basic Structure
Subject + có thể + Verb
Because Vietnamese has no verb conjugation, the verb that follows always remains in its base form.

2. When to use it

  • Possibility/Means: You have the time, resources, or physical state to do something (e.g., "I can help you today" - Hôm nay tôi có thể giúp bạn).
  • Probability: Something might happen (e.g., "It might rain" - Trời có thể mưa). Placing Có thể at the very beginning of a sentence translates to "Maybe" or "Perhaps" (e.g., "Maybe he will come" - Có thể anh ấy sẽ đến).
  • Permission: Asking or giving permission politely.

3. The "được" Bookend
Native speakers frequently add được after the verb to emphasize the successful outcome or physical capability: Subject + có thể + Verb + được. If there is a direct object, được can go either at the very end of the sentence (e.g., "I can lift this box" - Tôi có thể bê cái hộp này được) or immediately after the verb (Tôi có thể bê được cái hộp này). In spoken Vietnamese, có thể is actually optional and frequently dropped entirely, relying solely on được to express physical ability. Note the crucial difference in word order: Verb + được means physical ability or successful outcome, whereas được + Verb means receiving permission or a positive passive action.

4. The "Can" Split (Crucial for Beginners)
English uses "can" as a broad umbrella, but Vietnamese splits these concepts:

  • Use biết for learned skills (like swimming or playing guitar). Note that while biết is used for knowing facts or recognizing someone, quen (or quen biết) is the standard verb for knowing someone personally.
  • Use có thể for possibility or probability.
  • Note that có thể and được frequently overlap and are often used together for permission and physical ability.

5. Negation and Questions

  • Negation: Use không thể (cannot) before the verb. Native speakers frequently use không thể + Verb + được to emphasize physical inability or lack of success. Just as có thể is dropped in positive sentences, it is frequently dropped in the negative, resulting in the extremely common không + Verb + được pattern. In the South, you will also frequently hear the alternative word order Verb + không được (e.g., "I cannot do it" - Tôi làm không được). Be careful with word order: while không + Verb + được means inability (cannot manage to), không được + Verb means prohibition (not allowed to). A crucial, softer alternative in Vietnamese culture is chưa thể (cannot yet). In everyday Southern speech, you will also commonly hear không có thể and chưa có thể.
  • Questions: Use the có ... không? frame: Subject + có thể + Verb + không? For polite requests, the most natural formula is Subject + có thể + Verb + được không?. For short answers, use Có thể / Được (Yes) and Không thể / Không được (No).

6. Past and Future Ability
To express future ability, use sẽ có thể (will be able to). For past ability, be careful: đã có thể frequently translates to "could have [but didn't]" (a missed opportunity). To express actual successful past ability, native speakers use đã + Verb + được. Keep in mind that tense markers like đã and sẽ are optional and often omitted if the context is clear.

Examples (4)

  1. Tôi có thể giúp bạn.

    I can help you.

    Word by Word: I can help you.

    Expresses having the time or means to perform the action.

  2. Ngày mai trời có thể mưa.

    It might rain tomorrow.

    Word by Word: Tomorrow sky can rain.

    Expresses probability or likelihood.

  3. Bạn có thể nói chậm lại không?

    Can you speak more slowly?

    Word by Word: You can speak slow back no?

    Used to frame a polite request.

  4. Tôi có thể làm được.

    I can do it.

    Word by Word: I can do able.

    Bookending the verb with 'được' emphasizes the successful outcome or capability.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'có thể' for a learned skill when 'biết' names the skill itself.

    Different MeaningTôi có thể nói tiếng Việt.
    Tôi biết nói tiếng Việt.

    This sentence is correct and common. có thể says that something is possible or that you are able to do it, so it can mean 'I am able to speak Vietnamese (right now)'. biết says you have learned the skill, as in 'Tôi biết nói tiếng Việt'. Choose biết when you want to talk about the skill itself.

  • Inserting a preposition like 'để' (to) between the modal and the verb.

    Tôi có thể để bơi.
    Tôi có thể bơi.

    English uses the infinitive 'to' (able to swim), but in Vietnamese, 'có thể' attaches directly to the verb. Never insert 'để' in between.

  • Putting 'có thể' after the verb.

    Tôi làm có thể.
    Tôi có thể làm.

    'Có thể' must always go before the verb. If you want to express ability after the verb, you should use 'được'.

How It Connects

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

có thểLevel 1Can / Be Able to

Learn This First

To use 'có thể' correctly, you should understand that Vietnamese verbs remain unchanged regardless of the markers added to them. It is also useful to know the difference between 'có thể' (possibility) and 'biết' (learned ability) to ensure you are expressing the correct type of 'can'.

Words in This Pattern