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Look at the picture: he can swim. Use this pattern to describe your abilities when saying what you can do.

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Lesson notes · ≈ JLPT N5 · Beginner 2

〜ことができます~koto ga dekimasu

can do an action

Use 「〜ことができます」 to describe an ability, placing the action in dictionary form before こと.

How it works

  1. Look at the picture: he can swim. Use this pattern to describe your abilities when saying what you can do.

    Look at the picture: he can swim. Use this pattern to describe your abilities when saying what you can do.

  2. This describes the ability to swim. It does not mean he is swimming at the moment of speaking.

    This describes the ability to swim. It does not mean he is swimming at the moment of speaking.

  • Before 「こと」, use the dictionary form 「泳ぐ」. You cannot attach it directly to 「泳ぎます」.

    Before 「こと」, use the dictionary form 「泳ぐ」. You cannot attach it directly to 「泳ぎます」.

  • First give the complete action, then add 「ことができます」. Keep the particles within the action phrase.

    First give the complete action, then add 「ことができます」. Keep the particles within the action phrase.

  • In the piano example, 「弾く」 is read 「ひく」. Here it means to play a musical instrument.

    In the piano example, 「弾く」 is read 「ひく」. Here it means to play a musical instrument.

  • In the computer example, keep 「で」 and 「を」. 「が」 comes after the complete action phrase plus 「こと」.

    In the computer example, keep 「で」 and 「を」. 「が」 comes after the complete action phrase plus 「こと」.

    • Example sentences

    • ピアノぴあのpianoをo弾くひくhikuことkotoがgaできます。できますdekimasu

      I can play the piano.

    • パソコンぱそこんpasokonでde絵えeをo描くえがくegakuことkotoがgaできます。できますdekimasu

      I can draw pictures on a computer.

    In a conversation

    • A
      何なにを作るつくることができますか。か

      A: What can you make?

    • B
      料理りょうりを作るつくることができます。できます

      B: I can cook dishes.

    • A
      どんな料理りょうりですか。か

      A: What kind of dishes?

    • B
      中華ちゅうか料理りょうりと日本にっぽん料理りょうりです。です

      B: Chinese and Japanese food.

    • A
      泳ぐおよぐことができますか。か

      A: Can you swim?

    • B
      はい、はい泳ぐおよぐことができます。できます

      B: Yes, I can swim.

    • A
      どの
    • A
      楽器がっきを弾くひくことができますか。か

      A: Can you play a musical instrument?

    • B
      はい、はいピアノぴあのを弾くひくことができます。できます

    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 swim.

    4. Level 3 · Use

      What goes in the blank?

      ピアノを できます。

      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〜ができますNext〜ことができますか

    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
    くらい
    泳げますおよげます
    か。か

    A: How far can you swim?

  • B
    500 ごひゃくメートルめーとる泳ぐおよぐことができます。できます

    B: I can swim 500 meters.

    • B: Yes, I can play the piano.

  • A
    ほかにはわ何なにができますか。か

    A: What else can you do?

  • B
    ギターぎたーを弾くひくこともできます。できます

    B: I can also play the guitar.