Japanese grammar · ≈ JLPT N5 · Beginner 2
〜ことができますか~koto ga dekimasu ka
ask if someone can
Add 「か」 to 「〜ことができます」 to ask about an ability; answer できます or できません.
How it works
To find out whether someone can cook, ask and answer as shown in the picture.
Put the action before 「こと」 in the dictionary form: use 「作る」 here, not 「作ります」.
Add 「か」 after 「ことができます」 to turn a statement of ability into a question about ability.
If you can do it, answer 「できます」. You can also say 「はい」 first.
If you cannot do it, answer 「できません」. You can also say 「いいえ」 first.
The question already makes the action clear, so you can leave it out of your answer and just say 「できます」 or 「できません」.
In the example, 「料理ができます」 means you can cook; 「料理を作ることができます」 names the action explicitly.
When asked how well they can swim, the speaker uses 「500メートル」 to say how far they can swim, making the ability more specific.
Example sentences
- 料理ryouriをo作るtsukuruことkotoがgaできますdekimasuか。ka
Can you cook?
- できますdekimasu
In a conversation
- A明日、泳ぐことができますか。
A: Can you go swimming tomorrow?
- Bはい、明日泳ぐことができます。
B: Yes, I can go swimming tomorrow.
Check yourself
Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
Can you swim? Yes, I can swim.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
音楽を一緒に 。
We can listen to music together.
More grammar in this theme
- 〜ことができますかask if someone can
