できます | Polite Way to Say 'Can' in Japanese

What is できます?

できます is the polite way to express ability in Japanese. While the potential form (行(い)ける, 話(はな)せる) is the go-to in casual speech, ことができます is more formal and shows up in polite conversation, business settings, and written Japanese.

Think of it as the difference between "I can do it" (potential form) and "I am able to do it" (できます). Same meaning, slightly different weight. Our lesson on expressing ability and obligation covers both できる and the potential form together.

How to Use with Verbs

Take any verb in dictionary form, add ことができます:

[verb dictionary form] + ことができます

Negative: Change できます to できません:

• 運転(うんてん)することができません (I can't drive)

Past: Change to できました / できませんでした:

• 全部(ぜんぶ)食(た)べることができました (I was able to eat everything)

How to Use with Nouns

When a noun is closely associated with an activity, できる can attach directly to the noun:

This shortcut works when the noun implies a clear action. You don't need to say 英語(えいご)を話(はな)すことができる because 英語(えいご)ができる already means "can do English" (i.e., speak it).

できます vs Potential Form

In most casual conversations, Japanese speakers prefer the potential form. But ことができます appears in:

• Textbooks and formal explanations
• Business emails and documents
• Polite announcements
• JLPT test questions

The Particle: Always が

With できる, the particle is always が:

• 日本語(にほんご)ができる (not を)
• テニスができますか？ (not を)

This is different from the potential form where both を and が work.

Example Sentences

• 日本語(にほんご)を話(はな)すことができますか？ (nihongo wo hanasu koto ga dekimasu ka?) — Can you speak Japanese?

• ここで泳(およ)ぐことができます。 (koko de oyogu koto ga dekimasu.) — You can swim here.

• 英語(えいご)ができる。 (eigo ga dekiru.) — I can speak English.

• 今夜(こんや)車(くるま)をお借(か)りすることができますか？ (kon'ya kuruma wo okari suru koto ga dekimasu ka?) — Could I borrow your car tonight?

• 半分(はんぶん)の時間(じかん)でできます。 (hanbun no jikan de dekimasu.) — I can do it in half the time.

• 予約(よやく)なしで入(はい)ることができますか？ (yoyaku nashi de hairu koto ga dekimasu ka?) — Can I enter without a reservation?

• 彼(かれ)は五(ご)ヶ国語(こくご)話(はな)すことができる。 (kare wa go-kakokugo hanasu koto ga dekiru.) — He can speak five languages.

• 料理(りょうり)ができないんです。 (ryouri ga dekinai n desu.) — I can't cook.