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N5

Ability with できる and Basic Potential

About 9 minutes · written and reviewed by Haruki Yamamoto

Section 1 of 3

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.

  1. Target signal

    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.

    Vocabulary notes
    できる
    to be able to; to be completed
    わたし
    I; me
    日本語にほんご
    Japanese language

  2. Compare in context

    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.

    Vocabulary notes
    できる
    to be able to; to be completed
    ピアノ
    piano
    ア
    katakana letter a

  3. Compare in context

    母は料理ができる。

    My mother can cook.

    料理ができる often means someone can cook.

    Vocabulary notes
    できる
    to be able to; to be completed
    料理りょうり
    cooking; dish; cuisine
    が
    subject marker

Section 2 of 3

Using 〜ことができる

A verb plus 〜ことができる is another common way to express ability. It is especially useful when you want to say exactly which action someone can do.

  1. Target signal

    漢字を読むことができる。

    I can read kanji.

    The action 読む is turned into an ability statement by 〜ことができる.

    Vocabulary notes
    ことができる〜ことができる
    can; be able to
    できる
    to be able to; to be completed
    こと
    thing; matter; fact

  2. Preview

    一人で料理することができる。

    I can cook by myself.

    This pattern works well with everyday actions too.

    Vocabulary notes
    ことができる〜ことができる
    can; be able to
    料理するりょうりする
    to cook
    できる
    to be able to; to be completed

  3. Preview

    この部屋で勉強することができる。

    You can study in this room.

    The place phrase shows where the action is possible.

    Vocabulary notes
    ことができる〜ことができる
    can; be able to
    勉強するべんきょうする
    to study
    できる
    to be able to; to be completed

Section 3 of 3

Basic potential forms to recognize

At this stage, the main goal is recognition. Many everyday sentences use potential-style forms like 読める, 使える, and 作れる.

  1. Target signal

    この漢字は読める。

    I can read this kanji.

    読める is a very common potential form.

    Vocabulary notes
    読めるよめる
    can read; readable
    この
    this
    漢字かんじ
    kanji

  2. Preview

    このペンはまだ使える。

    This pen is still usable.

    Potential forms also describe whether something is usable.

    Vocabulary notes
    使えるつかえる
    to be able to use
    この
    this
    ペン
    pen

  3. Preview

    この料理はうちで作れる。

    This dish can be made at home.

    作れる shows that making the dish is possible.

    Vocabulary notes
    作れるつくれる
    can make
    うち
    home; our place
    この
    this

Reading in context

Read for meaning before checking the answer

Before you read

Read once for the situation. Then notice how Ability with できる and Basic Potential changes the meaning before you check the translation.

わたしは日本語ができる。 弟はピアノができる。 母は料理ができる。 漢字を読むことができる。 一人で料理することができる。 この部屋で勉強することができる。 こ

Show English translation

I can use Japanese / I can speak Japanese. My younger brother can play the piano. My mother can cook. I can read kanji. I can cook by myself. You can study in this room. I can read this kanji. This pen is still usable. This dish can be made at home.

Contextual questions

Answer from the passage before you reveal each explanation.

  1. What is the first reading job for this passage?

    • Identify the situation and how Ability with できる and Basic Potential changes it.
    • Translate every word before using context.
    • Ignore the ending because only vocabulary matters.
    • Choose an answer before reading the full passage.
    Check the answer

    Identify the situation and how Ability with できる and Basic Potential changes it.

    The goal is to use the situation first, then confirm the role of Ability with できる and Basic Potential in context.

Guided practice

Apply the lesson in a few different ways

Work through each prompt, then check the explanation before moving on.

Activity 1 of 4Choose the best context

Which sentence means “I can read kanji”?

Activity 2 of 4Fill the blank

Complete the chunk that carries the lesson meaning (Ability with できる and Basic Potential).

わたしは日本語が＿＿＿。

Activity 3 of 4Put it in order

Put these related examples back into the order used in the lesson.

  1. 1弟はピアノができる。
  2. 2母は料理ができる。
  3. 3わたしは日本語ができる。
Activity 4 of 4Infer from the passage

What should guide your interpretation of Ability with できる and Basic Potential in the mini-reading?

Mastery check 1/4

Which sentence means “I can read kanji”?