ことができる Japanese Grammar Lesson
Grammar Type: Phrase
Essential Meaning: Can do X / Able to do X / Doing X is possible
Construction:
- Verb informal nonpast + ことができる
- E.g. 話すことができる [X can speak]
- E.g. 食べることができる [X can eat]
Notes:
- ことができる is an alternative potential verb form. It expresses the idea that Noun X is able to do Verb Y. For example, both 走ることができる and 走れる mean “X can run“. The only difference is that ことができる is slightly more formal than the potential verb form.
- ことができる takes the XはYが structure, where X is the one who is able to do Y, and Y is the action that X is able to do.
- E.g. マークは走ることができる。[Mark can run.]
- In specific cases where the object and verb are very closely associated, the verb + こと can be omitted.
- E.g. クリスはピアノを弾くことができる。[Chris can play the piano.]
- E.g. クリスはピアノができる。[Chris can play the piano.] The verb 弾く [To play a stringed instrument] is clearly associated with the piano; what else would you be able to do with a piano? Because of this clear association, 弾くこと can optionally drop.
- E.g. スミスさんは日本語の新聞を読むことができる。[Mr. Smith can read Japanese newspapers.]
- E.g. *スミスさんは日本語の新聞ができる。[Mr. Smith can ~ Japanese newspapers.] 読む [To read] is not inextricably linked to Japanese newspapers. You can also write or buy Japanese newspapers, among other things. Therefore, 読むこと can not be omitted in this case.
Example Sentences:
田口さんは中国語を話すことができる。[Mr. Taguchi can speak Chinese.]
新幹線に乗れば大阪まで三時間で行くことができる。[If you ride the Shinkansen, you can go to Osaka in 3 hours.]
大田は六つの時バッハを弾くことができた。[When Oda was 6, he could play Bach on the piano.]
ジョンソンさんは日本語で手紙を書くことができる。[Mr. Johnson can write letters in Japanese.]
WILD Examples:
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