Minna no Nihongo 18① | Can Do

こんにちは、おじゃちゃんです。Today’s lesson is; Minna no Nihongo 18 ① | How to Express “Can Do” in Japanese.
Can you say “I can speak Japanese.” in Japanese? You can make a sentence with “～できる” by putting a noun and a verb together. Learn how to talk about your ability and skill here.

Let’s get started!

Can Do | Noun + ga dekimasu

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■ Can Do | Noun + ができます。

You can make a sentence very easily with “Noun + ができます”.
You can express your ability and skill by using “できる” as a “can” in English.
Plus, the meaning of “できる” often contains the meaning “well”.
Let’s learn how to make the affirmative form with “noun + ができます” here!

ヘンリーは　英語が　できます。
henry wa eigo ga dekimasu
Henry can speak English. / Henry can speak English well.

ヘンリーは　仕事が　できます。
henry wa shigoto ga dekimasu
Henry is good at work.

■ Can’t Do | Noun + ができません。

You can make a sentence with “noun + ができません” which means “cannot + do”.
It’s the negative form but you don’t have to use “nai-form”.
You can express what you can’t do with this form. Plus, you can express impossible things because of some factors or circumstances.

しばちゃんは　早起きが　できません。
shibachan wa hayaoki ga dekimasen
Shiba-chan can’t get up early.

しばちゃんは　マスクが　できません。
shibachan wa masuku ga dekimasen
Shiba-chan can’t wear a mask.

■ Can S Do ~? | Noun + ができますか。

You can make an interrogative sentence with “noun + ができますか”  which means “Can ~?”.
You can ask someone’s ability and skill or want someone to do with this form. In the interrogative sentence, be careful with we often omit the subject to be natural except but the 3rd person as well.

お菓子作りが　できますか。
okashi zukuri ga dekimasuka
Can you make sweets?

フランス語が　できますか。
furansu go ga dekimasuka
Can you speak French?

・ Can S Do ~? | 5W1H + Noun + ができますか。

You can make various questions with 5W1H. You can communicate with your friends well with 5W1H. That’s very useful.

どこで　食事が　できますか。
dokode shokuji ga dekimasuka
Where can I eat?

誰が　運転を　できますか。
dare ga unten dekimasuka
Who can drive a car?

あなたは　何が / を　できますか。
anata wa naniga dekimasuka
What can you do?

なぜ　オランダ語が　できますか。
naze oranda go ga dekimasuka
Why can you speak Dutch?

どのように　提出が　できますか。
donoyouni teishutsu dekimasuka
How can I submit it?

Can Do | Noun + できます。 | Exercise 1.

Translate these questions from English into Japanese.

HINTS：
① 水泳 suiei is to swim.
② 連絡 renraku is to contact.
③ 買い物 kaimono is to go shopping.

① I can swim. わたしは　水泳が　できます。 わたしは　水泳が　できません。 わたしは　水泳が　できますか。

② I can’t contact you now. 今　連絡が　できます。 今　連絡が　できません。 今　連絡が　できますか。

③ When can you go shopping? どこで　買い物が　できますか。 誰が　買い物を　できますか。 いつ　買い物が　できますか。

Can Do | Verb + koto ga dekimasu

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■ Can Do | Verb こと + ができます。

You can make a sentence with “verb + こと” when you want to use a noun but a verb.
And you can expand your expression by putting places, time, means, and things together.

ヘンリーは　日本語で　読むことが　できます。
henry wa nihongo de yomukoto ga dekimasu
Henry can read in Japanese.

ヘンリーは　ネットで　チケットを　取ることが　できます。
henry wa nettode chiketto wo torukoto ga dekimasu
Henry can take the ticket on the internet.

■ Can’t Do | Verb こと + ができません。

You can make the negative sentence with “verb こと + ができません” as well.

ここで　写真を　撮ることが　できません。
kokode shashin wo torukoto ga dekimasen
You can’t take photos here.

試験に　受かることが　できません。
shiken ni ukarukoto ga dekimasen
I can’t pass the test.