GrammarJLPT N5
→ to be able (to)
To Be Able To / It Is Possible To
JLPT N5Fixed phraseNeutral
〜ことができる is a general-purpose expression meaning "can" or "is able to." It is formed by attaching ことができる to the dictionary (plain) form of a verb. The noun こと nominalizes the verb (turning it into a noun-like phrase meaning "the act of doing X"), and できる means "to be possible" or "to be able." Together, the phrase literally means "the thing of doing X is possible." While Japanese also has verb potential forms (e.g., 食べられる, 読める) that carry the same meaning, 〜ことができる tends to sound slightly more formal or written and is especially useful with する verbs where the potential form may sound awkward, or when learners have not yet mastered potential conjugations. It is perfectly acceptable in both spoken and written Japanese and is common in announcements, instructions, and explanations. Unlike the potential form, which requires conjugating each verb differently depending on its class, 〜ことができる uses a single, consistent pattern for all verbs, making it a reliable and versatile structure.
Examples
Example #1
私は日本語を話すことができます。
Here ことができる is used in its polite form ことができます to express a personal ability — the speaker's capacity to speak Japanese. The verb 話す remains in its dictionary form before ことができる. This is functionally the same as saying 日本語を話せます using the potential form, but ことができる gives it a slightly more composed, neutral tone.I can speak Japanese.
Structures
- Verb (dictionary form)
- Verb (dictionary form) + ことができる
Common mistakes
A common error is conjugating the verb before こと instead of leaving it in its dictionary form — for example, saying 食べますことができる instead of the correct 食べることができる. The verb must always be in its plain dictionary form before こと. Another frequent mistake is confusing 〜ことができる with 〜ことがある, which means "there are times when" or "to have the experience of" — these are completely different grammar points despite their similar appearance. Some learners also forget to conjugate できる for tense or politeness, producing sentences that do not match the intended time frame or register. Finally, while 〜ことができる and the potential verb form are largely interchangeable, using 〜ことができる excessively in casual conversation can sound a bit stiff; in everyday speech, the potential form is often more natural.
Related
Verb[可能形] (Potential form)〜られる (Potential)〜える / 〜うる〜かねる〜わけにはいかない