| Expressions of Ability | |
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Ability and potential can be expressed by two different ways.
(1) Attaching the phrase "~ koto ga dekiru （～ことができる）" after the basic form of the verb. Literally "koto （こと）" means "thing," and "dekiru （できる）" means "can do." The formal form of "~ koto ga dekiru （～ことができる）" is "~ koto ga dekimasu （～ことができます）," and past tense is "~ koto ga dekita (~ koto ga dekimashita)."
| Nihongo o hanasu koto ga dekiru. 日本語を話すことができる｡ |
I can speak Japanese. |
| Piano o hiku koto ga dekimasu. ピアノを弾くことができます｡ |
I can play piano. |
| Yuube yoku neru koto ga dekita. 夕べよく寝ることができた｡ |
I could sleep well last night. |
"~ dekiru （～できる）" can be directly attached to a noun, if a verb is closely associated with its direct object.
| Nihongo ga dekiru. 日本語ができる。 |
I can speak Japanese. |
| Piano ga dekimasu. ピアノができます｡ |
I can play piano. |
(2) By potential form of the verb. Potential verb forms are formed as shown below.
| Basic form | Potential form | |
| U-verbs: replace the final "~u" with "~eru". |
iku (to go) 行く |
ikeru 行ける |
| kaku (to write) 書く |
kakeru 書ける |
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| RU-verbs: replace the final "~ ru" with "~ rareru". |
miru (to see) 見る |
mirareru 見られる |
| taberu (to eat) 食べる |
taberareru 食べられる |
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| Irregular verbs | kuru (to come) 来る |
koreru 来れる |
| suru (to do) する |
dekiru できる |
In informal conversation, "~ra （～ら）" is often dropped from potential form of RU-verbs. For example, "mireru （見れる）" and "tabereru （食べれる）" instead of "mirareru （見られる）" and "taberareru （食べられる）."
The potential form of the verb can be replaced with the form using "~ koto ga dekiru （～ことができる）." It is more colloquial and less formal to use the potential form of the verb.
| Supeingo o hanasu koto ga dekiru. スペイン語を話すことができる｡ |
I can speak Spanish. |
| Supeingo o hanaseru. スペイン語を話せる｡ |
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| Sashimi o taberu koto ga dekiru. 刺身を食べることができる｡ |
I can eat raw fish. |
| Sashimi o taberareru. 刺身を食べられる｡ |
Here are some exercises. Translate into Japanese.
(1) I can write hiragana.
(2) I can't drive a car.
(3) Can you play guitar?
(4) Tom could read this book when he was five.
(5) Can I buy the ticket here?
Answers on the next page!
Next page > Answers for Exercises > Page 1, 2
