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Use 「Nができます」 to introduce your skills and say what you can do.

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Lesson notes · ≈ JLPT N5 · Beginner 2

〜ができます~ga dekimasu

can do something

Use 「〜ができます」 with a skill or activity noun to say what you can do.

How it works

  1. Use 「Nができます」 to introduce your skills and say what you can do.

    Use 「Nができます」 to introduce your skills and say what you can do.

  2. N names a skill or activity, such as 料理, a sport, or a language.

    N names a skill or activity, such as 料理, a sport, or a language.

  3. Put 「が」 after the name of the skill: 料理ができます。 Pay attention to this particle.

Put 「が」 after the name of the skill: 料理ができます。 Pay attention to this particle.

  • If you cannot do it, replace 「できます」 with 「できません」. The noun stays the same.

    If you cannot do it, replace 「できます」 with 「できません」. The noun stays the same.

  • To ask whether someone can do it, add 「か」 at the end: 料理ができますか。

    To ask whether someone can do it, add 「か」 at the end: 料理ができますか。

  • Answer 「はい」 if you can, or 「いいえ」 if you cannot, then say whether you have that skill.

    Answer 「はい」 if you can, or 「いいえ」 if you cannot, then say whether you have that skill.

  • The example means “I can cook”: it describes a skill, not that you are cooking right now.

    The example means “I can cook”: it describes a skill, not that you are cooking right now.

  • In “I can play badminton,” N is the name of the sport. It means you can play, not necessarily that you play well.

    In “I can play badminton,” N is the name of the sport. It means you can play, not necessarily that you play well.

    • Example sentences

    • 料理りょうりryouriがgaできます。できますdekimasu

      I can cook.

    • バドミントンばどみんとんbadomintonがgaできます。できますdekimasu

      I can play badminton.

    In a conversation

    • A
      料理りょうりができますか。か

      A: Can you cook?

    • B
      はい、はい料理りょうりができます。できます

      B: Yes, I can cook.

    • A
      何なんの料理りょうりができますか。か

      A: What kind of dishes can you cook?

    • B
      日本にっぽん料理りょうりと中華ちゅうか料理りょうりができます。できます

      B: I can cook Japanese and Chinese food.

    • A
      運転うんてんができますか。か

      A: Can you drive?

    • B
      いいえ、いいえ運転うんてんができません。できません

      B: No, I can't drive.

    • A
      じゃあ、じゃあ何なに
    • A
      英語えいごができますか。か

      A: Can you speak English?

    • B
      はい、はい少しすこしできます。できます

      B: Yes, I can speak a little.

    • A
      どのくらいできますか。か

    Check yourself

    1. Level 1 · Recognise

      Which sentence is correct?

    2. Level 1 · Recognise

      Listen and choose the meaning

    3. Level 2 · Build

      Put the words in order

      I can cook.

    4. Level 3 · Use

      What goes in the blank?

      私はピアノ 。

      I can play the piano.

    More grammar in this theme

    • 趣味は〜ことですhobby: activity as a noun
    • いつも・よく・ときどきfrequency: always to sometimes
    • 期間に〜回／冊／本quantity per time period
    • 〜ができますcan do something
    • 〜ことができますcan do an action
    • 〜ことができますかask if someone can
    • 〜て、〜てからsequence actions in order
    • どうやって〜かask how to do something
    Previous期間に〜回／冊／本Next〜ことができます

    Keep practising

    Test your Japanese vocabulary12 adaptive questions, freeCheck your pronunciationRead aloud and get a scorePractise verb forms10-question conjugation quizSee the whole courseGrammar, vocabulary and quizzes by theme
    See the whole course
    Beginner 2
    Hobbies and Preferences
    が
    できます
    か。か

    A: Then, what can you do?

  • B
    料理りょうりと水泳すいえいができます。できます

    B: I can cook and swim.

    • A: How well can you speak?

  • B
    簡単なかんたんな会話かいわができます。できます

    B: I can have simple conversations.