5 N4 Grammar Patterns for Ability and Possibility | From ことができます to Potential Form
We have compiled 5 essential grammar patterns for expressing ability and possibility that you must know at the Japanese N4 level.
You will clearly understand the nuanced differences between '〜ことができます' and the verb's 'potential form'.
Practice expressing what you can and cannot do, as well as changes in ability, naturally according to the situation.
How this bundle was curated
All items at a glance
| Grammar | Reading | Core Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 〜ことができます | 〜ことができます | can do ~ (objective fact, ability) |
| 可能形 | かのうけい | potential form (personal ability, situational possibility) |
| 〜ことはできます | 〜ことはできます | can do ~ (contrast, limitation) |
| 〜ことはできません | 〜ことはできません | cannot do ~ (soft refusal, contrast) |
| 〜ようになります | 〜ようになります | become able to ~ (change in state) |
Item by item
Reading: 〜ことができます
can do ~
Attached to the dictionary form of a verb, it indicates ability or situational possibility. As the most basic and polite expression, it is frequently used in formal settings, documents, or when speaking politely to someone you meet for the first time.
Reading: かのうけい
potential form
The verb itself is conjugated to express possibility (e.g., 食べる → 食べられる, 行く → 行ける). It is used much more frequently in conversation than '〜ことができます' and gives a softer, more natural feel. The object particle 'を' before the potential form generally tends to change to 'が'.
Reading: 〜ことはできます
can do ~ (but...)
Using the particle 'は', it contrasts with something else, giving the nuance of 'I can do this, but I cannot do that.' It is also often used when giving conditional consent.
Reading: 〜ことはできません
cannot do ~ (soft refusal)
Rather than simply saying 'cannot do' (できません), it is used depending on the context to refuse softly or to express a strong negation like 'I don't know about other things, but absolutely not this'.
Reading: 〜ようになります
become able to ~
Attached to the potential form of a verb, it indicates a change in state, meaning 'I couldn't do it before, but now I have become able to do it'.
Practice with examples
漢字を読むことができますか。
Can you read kanji?
Used when politely asking about someone's ability.
自転車に乗れるようになりました。
I became able to ride a bicycle.
Indicates a change where you couldn't ride in the past, but became able to through practice, etc.
お酒を飲むことはできますが、あまり好きじゃありません。
I can drink alcohol, but I don't really like it.
An expression of contrast emphasizing that you don't completely lack the ability to drink.
How to decide when unsure
- In general conversation, it is usually more natural to use the verb's 'potential form' (可能形) rather than '〜ことができます'. '〜ことができます' can sound somewhat stiff and formal.
- When using the potential form, the particle 'を', which originally indicated the object of the verb, generally changes to 'が' (e.g., 日本語を話す → 日本語が話せる). However, depending on the context or emphasis, 'を' is sometimes kept as is.
- When expressing a change in state, the 'potential form + ようになる' structure is usually used. While '〜ことができるようになる' is grammatically possible, 'potential form + ようになる' sounds much more concise and natural.
Common mistakes
Learners often make the mistake of attaching '〜ことができます' to a verb that is already in the potential form, which already carries the meaning of possibility. You must choose and use only one of the two.
Wrong example: 日本語を話せることができます。/Correct example: 日本語を話すことができます。（or 日本語が話せます。）
Use either the dictionary form + ことができます, or the verb's potential form alone.
Mini quiz
Which of the following is the most natural expression to fill in the blank? 「日本に住んで1年になり、少しずつ日本語が（ ）。」
One-line summary
N4 possibility expressions have subtle nuanced differences not only in form but also in 'degree of formality', 'change in state', and 'contrast', so it is important to practice choosing the right one for the situation.
FAQ
Do the potential form and '〜ことができます' have exactly the same meaning?
Semantically, they almost identically mean 'can do'. However, there is a difference in nuance. '〜ことができます' is used when conveying an objective fact in a slightly more formal manner, whereas the verb's potential form is used much more softly and naturally in daily conversation.
When do you use '〜ことはできます'?
Rather than simply stating the fact that you can do something, it is mainly used when you want to give a contrasting nuance, such as 'I can do this, but I cannot do something else' or 'I can do it, but there are conditions attached'.
