Meaning & usage
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.
Example sentences 8
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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.
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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.
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「あいうえお」って手書きできる？
Can you write the Japanese hiragana characters for a, i, u, e and o?
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それについては、お答えできません。
I can't answer that.
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やればできるから。
You can do it if you try.
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どこでタイ語を勉強できるの？
Where can I study Thai?
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空気がなければ生きることはできない。
Without air, nothing could live.
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人の好みは説明できないものだ。
There is no accounting for tastes.
In past JLPT papers
This came up in 1 past exam question.
