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Grammar detail: ことができる

ことができる  can do
161 words
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verb plain form
+
ことができる
or the more polite
ことができます
expresses the idea that you are able to do something.
This construction is essentially the same as the potential form of a verb. This construction is often taught before the potential because it is simpler to use - just add ことができる to the dictionary form of any verb.
ことができる formverb potential formmeaning
くことができる
ける
I can go
べることができます
べられます
I can eat (it)
Although most native speakers consider the expressions equivalent, some describe a subtle difference between the two forms (see the link below for a discussion).
Note that the verb before ことができる or its negative form, ことができない always uses the present tense, even if the action described is in the past. The tense and polarity of the sentence are determined entirely by how you conjugate できる (e.g., できた for past, できない for negative).
にほんご
日本語
はな
ことができます
Can you speak Japanese?
きっと
つける
ことできる
おも
います

I'm sure I'll be able to find it.
わたし
その
しつもん
質問
こた
える
ことできた
I was able to answer the question.
かれ
あまり
はや
はし
ことできない
He can't run very fast.
ビル
しけん
試験
ごうかく
合格
する
ことできた
Bill was able to pass the exam.
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Kanji used in this grammar

コウ   ギョウ   アン   ゆ    い to go   おこな to take place   
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ショク   ジキ    food   たべる to eat   く to eat   
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ニチ   ジツ   sun; day   ひ    -か    
ホン   book   もと origin   
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ゴ   かた to talk, relate   かたらう to talk together, chat   
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ワ   はな to talk   はなし talking   
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ケン   み to see   みえる to be seen; to appear   みせる to show   
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シ   おも to think   
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シ   わたくし    わたし I, myself   
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シツ   シチ   チ    quality; substance   
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モン   と question   と to ask   とん wholesale   
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トウ   こた an answer   こたえる to answer   
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ヒ   かれ he   
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ソク   はや fast   はやまる be hasty   はやめる to expedite, to hasten   すみやか speedy   
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ソウ   はし run   
シ   ため to test   こころみる to attempt   
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ケン   ゲン    verification   
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ゴウ   ガッ   カッ   あ to fit, come together   あわす to match   あわせる to unite, join   
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カク   コウ    status, rank   
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