Japanese grammar · ≈ JLPT N5 · Beginner 2
〜ができます~ga dekimasu
possible activity or ability
Use 「〜ができます」 for an activity available at a place or an ability a person has.
How it works
Look at the gym equipment: what can you do here? This pattern introduces activities available at a place.
You can swim in the pool. In 「プールで」, 「で」 marks the place where the activity happens.
When talking about a person, this pattern can also express an ability. Interpret it according to who or what is being discussed.
Put the activity you can do before 「が」. 「運動ができます」 tells us that exercising is possible.
To express what you can do with a verb, add 「こと」 to its dictionary form, then add 「ができます」.
In the example, 「トレーニング」 is a noun naming an activity, so simply add 「ができます」 directly after it.
「室外で泳ぐことができます」 means that swimming outdoors is possible. Here, the focus is on what the location allows.
Example sentences
- トレーニングtoreeninguがgaできます。dekimasu
You can do training.
- 室外shitsugaiでde泳ぐoyoguことkotoがga
In a conversation
- Aスポーツセンターで何ができますか。
A: What can I do at the sports center?
- Bプールで泳ぐことができます。
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
You can use the hot spring.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
スポーツセンターで何 できますか。
What can you do at the sports center?
More grammar in this theme
- 〜ができますpossible activity or ability