Sentence pattern
Verb dictionary form + ことができる; noun + ができる: 日本語ができる
Examples
この図書館で本を借りることができます。
You can borrow books at this library.
私はまだ車を運転することができません。
I cannot drive a car yet.
ここではカードで払うことができます。
You can pay by card here.
When to use it
ここで本を借りることができます describes something available here. The polite affirmative is できます and the negative is できません. Keep the action verb in its dictionary form: 泳ぐこと, not 泳ぎますこと or 泳いでこと.
Form
Verb dictionary form + ことができる; noun + ができる: 日本語ができる
Check the examples
この図書館で本を借りることができます。 — You can borrow books at this library.
私はまだ車を運転することができません。 — I cannot drive a car yet.
ここではカードで払うことができます。 — You can pay by card here.
Watch out
“Cannot eat” is 食べることができない. 食べないことができる instead makes not eating possible; it does not express inability to eat.
Try it yourself
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History and self-check answers
The answers below are for self-study and do not record a score. Mixed practice uses topics you have practised.
Recorded questions in this set: 0
Correct on first attempt: 0