Ability with できる and Basic Potential

Use できる, 〜ことができる, and common potential forms to talk about what is possible and what you can do.

Use できる with skills, languages, and activities.Use 〜ことができる to express ability with a verb.Recognize common potential forms like 読める, 使える, and 作れる.

Guided study

Using できる with skills and activities

できる often describes ability with languages, music, sports, and other activities. In these sentences, it often appears after が.

わたしは日本語ができる。

I can use Japanese / I can speak Japanese.

日本語ができる is a common beginner way to express ability with Japanese.

弟はピアノができる。

My younger brother can play the piano.

Music and activity nouns also pair naturally with できる.

母は料理ができる。

My mother can cook.

料理ができる often means someone can cook.

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Use the N5 Japanese grammar lessons guide to connect this lesson with related reading practice.

Use the Japanese grammar practice guide to connect this lesson with related reading practice.

Use the Japanese grammar lessons guide to connect this lesson with related reading practice.