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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
い
行
くことができる
い
行
ける
I can go
た
食
べることができます
た
食
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
を
はな
話
す
ことができますか。
Can you speak Japanese?
きっと
み
見
つける
ことができると
おも
思
います
。
I'm sure I'll be able to find it.
わたし
私
はその
しつもん
質問
に
こた
答
える
ことができた。
I was able to answer the question.
かれ
彼
はあまり
はや
速
く
はし
走
る
ことができない。
He can't run very fast.
ビルは
しけん
試験
に
ごうかく
合格
する
ことができた。
Bill was able to pass the exam.
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Kanji used in this grammar

行
コウ   ギョウ   アン   ゆく    いく to go   おこなう to take place   
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食
ショク   ジキ    food   たべる to eat   くう to eat   
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日
ニチ   ジツ   sun; day   ひ    -か    
本
ホン   book   もと origin   
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語
ゴ   かたる to talk, relate   かたらう to talk together, chat   
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話
ワ   はなす to talk   はなし talking   
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見
ケン   みる to see   みえる to be seen; to appear   みせる to show   
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思
シ   おもう to think   
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私
シ   わたくし    わたし I, myself   
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質
シツ   シチ   チ    quality; substance   
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問
モン   とい question   とう to ask   とん wholesale   
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答
トウ   こたえ an answer   こたえる to answer   
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彼
ヒ   かれ he   
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速
ソク   はやい fast   はやまる be hasty   はやめる to expedite, to hasten   すみやか speedy   
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走
ソウ   はしる run   
試
シ   ためす to test   こころみる to attempt   
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験
ケン   ゲン    verification   
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合
ゴウ   ガッ   カッ   あう to fit, come together   あわす to match   あわせる to unite, join   
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格
カク   コウ    status, rank   
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