How to tell them apart
ことができる explicitly states that an action is possible by nominalizing the verb, while られる fuses potentiality directly into the verb form. With ことができる you keep the dictionary verb intact and add ことができる, whereas られる changes the verb ending itself, e.g. 書くことができる vs 書ける. Swapping them is usually fine in meaning, but ことができる sounds more deliberate and formal, while られる is the everyday potential form. A key trap: られる requires conjugation by verb type, so する becomes できる and くる becomes こられる, whereas ことができる simply attaches to any dictionary-form verb.
- ことが出来る・できる Use ことができる when you want to clearly state that an action is possible, especially in formal or written contexts.
- られる Use られる when you want to express potential in everyday speech by conjugating the verb directly.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| ことが出来る・できる kotoga ru dekiru | To be capable of doing something; to have the ability | N4 |
| られる rareru | can; be able to | N4 |
ことが出来る・できる kotoga ru dekiru
To be capable of doing something; to have the ability
ことができる expresses ability or possibility to do something, such as having the skill to drive or the opportunity to study somewhere. It attaches to the dictionary form of a verb, as in 話すことができる, and to action nouns with が, as in 運転ができる. In writing できる is usually in hiragana, while 出来る looks formal. できる conjugates like an ichidan verb, with negatives like できない and polite forms like できません.
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車の運転なんてできないよ。
I don't know how to drive a car.
-
お会いできることを楽しみにしています。
I am looking forward to seeing you.
られる rareru
can; be able to
られる expresses ability or possibility with ichidan verbs, meaning someone can do something or something can happen under certain conditions. It attaches to the verb stem after dropping る, as in 食べる becoming 食べられる and 見る becoming 見られる. The resulting form conjugates as an ichidan verb, so negatives and polite forms follow patterns like られない and られます. In casual speech, ら is often dropped to give forms like 見れる.
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正午までにそれを終えられますか。
Can you finish it by noon?
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水がなければ何も生きられないでしょう。
Without water, nothing could live.
ことが出来る・できる and られる are both JLPT N4 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side on meanings, usage and example sentences, so you can tell them apart.