Japanese Grammar: ことができる (koto ga dekiru) – How to Express Ability and Possibility

Japanese Grammar: ことができる (koto ga dekiru) – How to Express Ability and Possibility
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

To be able to do something / Can do.

🎯 Primary Function

Expressing potential, capability, or permission using a nominalized verb phrase.

📋 Grammar Structure

Verb (Dictionary Form) + ことができる / ことができます
Not applicable (generally used with verbs).
Not applicable (generally used with verbs).
Verb (Dictionary Form) + ことができない / ことができません

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Used frequently in speeches, presentations, and written documents as it sounds slightly more formal than the potential form.

😊 Informal Situations

Common, though the potential form (e.g., 飲める) is often preferred for brevity.

✍️ Written Language

Extremely common in textbooks, manuals, and formal writing.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Very common in both polite and casual speech.

💡 Common Applications

Expressing Personal Ability
Used to state a skill or physical capability that someone possesses.
Example: 私は5キロ走ることができます。 (I can run 5 kilometers.)
Expressing Possibility/Permission
Used to indicate that an action is possible or allowed in a specific situation.
Example: この部屋で休むことができます。 (You can rest in this room.)
📊
Frequency
High
🎚️
Difficulty
JLPT N4 (Basic/Intermediate)
Example Sentences
Example #1
私は日本語を話すことができます。
Furigana: わたしはにほんごをはなすことができます。
Romaji: Watashi wa nihongo o hanasu koto ga dekimasu.
English: I can speak Japanese.
Example #2
ここでは写真を撮ることができます。
Furigana: ここではしゃしんをとることができます。
Romaji: Koko de shashin o toru koto ga dekimasu.
English: You can take photos here.
Example #3
彼は泳ぐことができません。
Furigana: かれはおよぐことができません。
Romaji: Kare wa oyogu koto ga dekimasen.
English: He cannot swim.
Example #4
明日、会うことができますか。
Furigana: あした、あうことができますか。
Romaji: Ashita, au koto ga dekimasu ka?
English: Can we meet tomorrow?
Example #5
漢字をたくさん読むことができます。
Furigana: かんじをたくさんよむことができます。
Romaji: Kanji o takusan yomu koto ga dekimasu.
English: I can read many Kanji.
Example #6
クレジットカードで払うことができます。
Furigana: クレジットカードではらうことができます。
Romaji: Kurejitto kādo de harau koto ga dekimasu.
English: You can pay by credit card.
Example #7
この図書館で本を借りることができます。
Furigana: このとしょかんでほんをかりることができます。
Romaji: Kono toshokan de hon o kariru koto ga dekimasu.
English: You can borrow books at this library.
Example #8
ピアノを弾くことができます。
Furigana: ピアノをひくことができます。
Romaji: Piano o hiku koto ga dekimasu.
English: I can play the piano.
Example #9
日本料理を作ることができます。
Furigana: にほんりょうりをつくることができます。
Romaji: Nihon ryōri o tsukuru koto ga dekimasu.
English: I can cook Japanese food.
Example #10
今朝は、早く起きることができませんでした。
Furigana: けさは、はやくおきることができませんでした。
Romaji: Kesa wa, hayaku okiru koto ga dekimasen deshita.
English: I was not able to wake up early this morning.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Institutional Possibility
It is often used when explaining the functions of a place or service.
Example: ここで切符を買うことができます。 (You can buy tickets here.)
Comparison with Potential Form
‘Koto ga dekiru’ sounds more formal and emphasizes the ‘fact’ of the ability.
Example: 日本語が話せる (Potential Form) vs 日本語を話すことができる (Koto ga dekiru)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ 日本語を話しますことができます。
✅ 日本語を話すことができます。
The verb before ‘koto’ must be in its dictionary form, not the ‘masu’ form.
❌ ピアノを弾くことできます。
✅ ピアノを弾くことができます。
The particle ‘ga’ is necessary after ‘koto’ in this formal structure.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Neutral to Polite. It is often seen as more objective and slightly more formal than the potential verb form (~reru/rareru).
Social Situations: Appropriate for introductions (stating skills) or explaining rules (possibility).
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese usage; universally understood.

🔍 Subtle Differences

Potential Form vs. ことができる
Potential form is more concise and common in casual speech; ‘koto ga dekiru’ is slightly more formal and clear.
When to use: Use ‘koto ga dekiru’ in formal settings or when you want to be very clear about a specific capability.

📝 Conjugation Notes

The ‘dekiru’ part can be conjugated into any tense or politeness level: dekimasu (polite), dekinai (casual negative), dekimasen deshita (polite past negative), etc.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Ensure the ‘ga’ particle is soft and doesn’t disrupt the flow between ‘koto’ and ‘dekiru’.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of ‘koto’ as ‘the thing’ and ‘ga dekiru’ as ‘is possible’. So, ‘Hanasu koto ga dekiru’ literally means ‘The thing of speaking is possible’.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top