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JLPT N5Ability

できます(dekimasu) — Can Do / Be Able (Nouns)

The potential of する. Expresses ability with a noun-skill ('can do X'), and also 'to be finished/ready' or 'to come into being'.

Grammar path · 練習

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A short lesson: the pattern, its sentence anatomy, a quick quiz and a sentence to build.

Pro lessonUNIT 18 · ABILITY

Structure · 形

[Noun (skill/thing)] + が + できる / できます

Examples · 例文

  • 私は英語ができます。

    Watashi wa eigo ga dekimasu.

    I can speak English.

    英語 (English) + が + できます — the noun-skill takes が; no need for 話す

  • 晩ご飯ができた！

    Bangohan ga dekita!

    Dinner is ready!

    できた here = 'is finished / ready'

  • 新しい店ができました。

    Atarashii mise ga dekimashita.

    A new store has opened.

    できました here = 'came into being / was built'

Usage notes · 注意

  • To say you can do an ACTION (a verb), you must first turn the verb into a noun with 〜ことができる (dictionary form + ことができる): 泳ぐことができる (I can swim). • The thing you 'can do' takes が, not を.

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones できます is tested against.

vsPotential form (〜れる/〜られる)

The potential form conjugates the verb itself (泳げる); できる expresses ability with a noun (水泳ができる) or via ことができる.

vs〜ことができる

ことができる is the fuller, slightly more formal way to say 'can [verb]'; the plain potential form is more common in speech.

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