ことができる

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. 話はなすことができる [X can speak]
  • E.g. 食たべることができる [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 走はしることができる and 走はしれる 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. マークは走はしることができる。[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ひくことができる。[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 弾ひく [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, 弾ひくこと can optionally drop.
  • E.g. スミスさんは日本語にほんごの新聞しんぶんを読よむことができる。[Mr. Smith can read Japanese newspapers.]
  • E.g. *スミスさんは日本語にほんごの新聞しんぶんができる。[Mr. Smith can ~ Japanese newspapers.] 読よむ [To read] is not inextricably linked to Japanese newspapers. You can also write or buy Japanese newspapers, among other things. Therefore, 読よむこと can not be omitted in this case.

Example Sentences:

田口たぐちさんは中国語ちゅうごくごを話はなすことができる。[Mr. Taguchi can speak Chinese.]

新幹線しんかんせんに乗のれば大阪おおさかまで三時間さんじかんで行いくことができる。[If you ride the Shinkansen, you can go to Osaka in 3 hours.]

大田おおだは六むっつの時ときバッハを弾ひくことができた。[When Oda was 6, he could play Bach on the piano.]

ジョンソンさんは日本語にほんごで手紙てがみを書かくことができる。[Mr. Johnson can write letters in Japanese.]

WILD Examples:

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