Master Japanese Ability: How to Use 〜ことができます (JLPT N4)

Welcome to your ultimate guide to expressing ability in Japanese! Today, we will master one of the most essential grammar patterns for the JLPT N4 exam: 〜ことができます (koto ga dekimasu).

By the end of this guide, you will know how to confidently declare your skills, discuss possibilities, and understand the mechanics behind this fundamental structure.

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1. The Core Formula

To say you "can" do an action in Japanese, use this simple formula:

$$\text{\bf [Verb in Dictionary Form]} + \text{\bf ことが できます}$$

How It Works Under the Hood:

• Dictionary Form: The plain, dictionary form of the verb (e.g., 食べる, 話す, 泳ぐ).食話泳
• こと (Koto): A nominalizer. It turns the preceding verb into a noun phrase (e.g., hanasu = to speak $\rightarrow$ hanasu koto = the act of speaking).
• が (Ga): The subject marker particle, pointing directly to the activity you can do.
• できます (Dekimasu): The polite verb meaning "to be able to" or "can."

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2. Conjugation Table

Like any Japanese verb, できます can be conjugated to change the tense or politeness level.

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4. Key Nuance: 〜ことができます vs. Potential Form (〜える/〜られる)

At the N4 level, you will also learn the Potential Form (e.g., 話せる, 食べられる). While they both mean "can," they have subtle differences:話食

1. 〜ことができます is more formal, polite, and objective. It is preferred in writing and public announcements.
2. Potential Form is shorter, more colloquial, and used frequently in daily spoken conversation.

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5. Quick Practice Challenge

Test your knowledge! Translate the following sentences into Japanese. (Answers below)

1. I can swim 100 meters. (To swim = 泳ぐ / oyogu)泳
2. You cannot take photos here. (To take photos = 写真を撮る / shashin o toru)写真撮

Answers:

1. １００メートル泳ぐことができます。 (Hyaku mētoru oyogu koto ga dekimasu.)泳
2. ここでは写真を撮ることができません。 (Koko de wa shashin o toru koto ga dekimasen.)写真撮

Congratulations! You have mastered 〜ことができます. Practice writing three things you can do in the comments of your study journal today!

3. Two Main Uses with Examples

This grammar pattern serves two primary functions: personal ability (skills) and situational possibility (allowance or feasibility).

Category A: Personal Ability (Skills)

Use this to talk about things you have learned or naturally know how to do.

• 日本語を話すことができます。
  • Nihongo o hanasu koto ga dekimasu.
  • "I can speak Japanese."
  日本語話
• 彼女はピアノを弾くことができません。
  • Kanojo wa piano o hiku koto ga dekimasen.
  • "She cannot play the piano."
  彼女弾

Category B: Situational Possibility (Circumstance)

Use this to express whether an action is possible given the rules, location, or circumstances.

• ここでは、カードを使うことができます。
  • Koko de wa, kādo o tsukau koto ga dekimasu.
  • "You can use credit cards here." (It is circumstantially possible).
  使
• 図書館で本を借りることができます。
  • Toshokan de hon o kariru koto ga dekimasu.
  • "You can borrow books at the library."
  図書館本借

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