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In this lesson, you will learn how to use the Japanese grammar 〜ができる / 〜ことができる.
Imagine if you were a restaurant owner, how would you advertise your restaurant?
"You will have the best sushi in the world at our restaurant."
Hmmm...is this a bit cliché?
"Our restaurant offers the culinary experience of the best chef in the world.
You will have the best dinner of your life at our restaurant.
Here you can spend time with your loved ones in a relaxed atmosphere."
In any case, you would like to say what the customer can experience at that restaurant.
In such cases, "できる" is useful.
You can say:
このレストランでは世界一の料理を 食べることができます
（このレストランでは せかいいちのりょうりを たべることができます）
We learned that "できる" expresses an individual's ability to do something.
It can also express "the act is possible in a given situation".
Then, let's study "～ができる" and "～ことができる."
👉<Use>
"～ができる" and "～ことができる" are used when the act is possible in a given situation.
In English, "できる" means "can" or "be able to."
The sentence:
このレストランでは世界一の料理を 食べることができます。
means "You can eat the best food in the world at this restaurant."
👉<Form>
In the case of nouns, the particle "が" is placed before "できます".
予約（よやく）が できます。
予約 = noun
In the case of verbs, add "こと" to the verb dictionary form.
After that, add the particle "が" and the verb "できます".
料理を 食べる（たべる）ことができます。
たべます = verb
💁 Explanation of Verb dictionary form ↓↓
👉<Examples>
Noun
1. このレストランは庭で食事ができます。
You can eat in the garden at this restaurant.
2. みどり公園ではサッカーができません。
You cannot play soccer in Midori Park.
3. この部屋で静かに勉強ができます。
You can study quietly in this room.
4. 琵琶湖で釣りができます。
Fishing is available in Lake Biwa.
5. この店はカードで支払いができません。
You cannot pay by credit card at this restaurant.
Verb
6. この動物園ではかわいい動物を見ることができます。
You can see cute animals at this zoo.
7. みつ屋では新鮮な果物を買うことができます。
You can buy fresh fruits at Hinoya-store.
8. ABCカフェでおいしいコーヒーを飲むことができます。
ABC Café offers a good cup of coffee.
9. このプログラムでデザインを簡単に作ることができます。
You can easily create a design with this program.
10. 市のスポーツセンターではいろいろなスポーツをすることができます。
The city's sports centers offer a variety of sports.
11. このスマホできれいな写真を撮ることができます。
You can take beautiful photos with this smartphone.
12. マーブルビーチでは泳ぐことができません。
Swimming is not allowed at Marble Beach.
💁 Explanation of 〜ができる / 〜ことができる(Ability) ↓↓
Suggested Study Material
Minna no Nihongo I (Main Textbook)
This grammar point appears in Minna no Nihongo(Lesson16), one of the most widely used beginner textbooks for Japanese learners.
Check textbook detailsThe main textbook is written mostly in Japanese, so many learners also use the Translation & Grammar Notes together.
Minna no Nihongo I – Translation & Grammar Notes (English)
Check translation & grammar book※Minna no Nihongo is available worldwide on Amazon. If the link does not work in your country, you can search the title on your local Amazon store.
Speaking Practice
Practice Japanese on italki
If you want to practice this grammar in real conversation, learning with a tutor can help you improve faster. Many learners find that regular speaking practice is the fastest way to become confident in Japanese.
Find a Japanese Tutor on italki →
