How to use 出来る = できる = dekiru

Hi everyone!
Today’s lesson is the verb 出来る = できる= dekiru.

I know it is a VERY basic verb and many of you know already how to use it.

But as always I will try to include some useful information for even intermediate level students. OK?

*出来る＝できる= dekiru.

★　polite form

 出来ます= できます= dekimasu

★　negative form

 出来ない = できない = dekinai

★　polite negative form

 出来ません = できません = dekimasen.

★　past tense

 出来なかった = できなかった = dekinakatta

★　polite past tense

 出来ませんでした = できませんでした = dekimasen deshita

 How use 出来る = できる = dekiru.

1) to be able to do something

(1) The potential form of する ( = suru), which means “to do”, is できる( = dekiru) which means “to be able to do, can do.”

*勉強(を）する = benkyou (wo) suru = to study

 to be able to study  勉強 (が）できる ( = benkyou (ga) dekiru) to be able to study

Note: Be careful! When you use a potential form of verb, the particle changes to が ( = ga) or は ( = wa)

Ex. こんなうるさいところでは勉強(が）できません。

= Konna urusai tokoro dewa benkyou (ga) dekimasen.

= I can’t study in such noisy place.

*ゆっくりする = yukkuri suru = to relax

 ゆっくりできる = yukkuri dekiru = to be able to relax

Ex. 今日は日曜日なのでゆっくりできる。

= Kyou wa nichiyoubi nanode yukkuri dekiru.

= It’s Sunday today so I can relax.

*運転する = untennsuru = to drive

 運転できる( = unten dekiru) = to be able to drive

Ex. 運転できますか？

= Unten dekimasuka?

= Do you know how to drive? / Can you drive?

*信用する = shinyousuru=  to trust

 信用できる ( = shinyou dekiru) = to be able to trust

Ex. あの人は信用できない。

= Ano hito wa shinyou dekinai.

= I can’t trust that person.

*旅行する = ryokousuru = to travel

 旅行できる = ryokou dekiru = to be able to travel

Ex. この夏、一緒に旅行できる人いる？

= Kono natsu, issho ni ryokou dekiru hito iru?

= Anybody can travel with me this summer?

  You can ask some permission with ~ できますか ( = dekimasuka) = May I?

*試着する = shichakusuru = to try something on

試着できる ( = shichaku dekiru) = to be able to try something on

Ex. これ、試着できますか？

= Kore shichaku dekimasuka?

= Can I try it on?

(2) verb + ことができる( = koto ga dekiru) = to be able to do something

The potential form of verbs

*読む = yomu = to read

  読める = yomeru = to be able to read

Ex. A) この漢字が読めます。

= Kono kanji ga yomemasu.

= I can read this kanji.

Now change the potential form to

★verb +  ことができる ( = koto ga dekiru) = to be able to do ~

Ex. A) この漢字を読むことができます。

= Kono kanji wo yomu koto ga dekimasu

Note: 

The difference between the regular potential form and verb +  ことができる ( = koto ga dekiru)

They mean the same but  verb +  ことができる ( = koto ga dekiru) is more formal.
For example, when you want to see your friend, you usually say

Ex. 明日、会える？

= Ashita, aeru?

= Can I see you tomorrow?

You say:

Ex. 明日、会うことができる？

= Ashita, au koto ga dekiru?

= Can I see you tomorrow? /  Is it possible to see you tomorrow?

when you have something important to tell them.

Ex. 服のサイズを直すことはできますか？

= Fuku no saizu wo naosu koto wa dekimasu ka?

= Is it possible to adjust the size of the clothes?

Ex. 足を捻挫して今、走ることができません。

= Ashi wo nenza shite ima,  hashiru koto ga dekimasen.

= I sprained my leg, and I can’t run now.

Ex. 材料がそろったからやっとケーキを焼くことができる。

= Zairyou ga sorotta kara yatto keiki wo yaku koto ga dekiru.

= I got all the ingredients now so I can finally bake a cake.

Ex. ドイツ語を話すことはできますか？

= Doitsugo wo hanasu koto wa dekimasuka?

= Can you speak German?

Ex. お会い（することが）できて光栄です。

= Oai (surukoto ga) dekite kouei desu.

= It’s a pleasure to meet you.

Note:

When you want to show some contrast, you use the particle は ( = wa) →ことはできる( = koto wa dekiru)

Ex. 返品することはできません。

= Henpin suru koto wa dekimasen.

= You can not return the item.

Ex. コアラと写真を撮ることはできますが、抱っこすることはできません。

= Koara to shashin wo toru koto wa dekimasuga, dakko suru koto wa dekimasen.

= You are allowed to take a picture with Koala bears, but you can not hold them.

Ex. ピアノを弾くことはできるが、歌うことはできない。

= Piano wo hiku koto wa dekiru ga, utau koto wa dekinai.

= I can play the piano, but I can not sing.

(3) noun + が ( = ga) + できる ( = dekiru) = capable of ~ , to be able to do  ~ , to have ability to ~

Ex. 彼は仕事ができる。

= Kare wa shigoto ga dekiru.

= He is good at his work.

Ex. この子は４歳なのにもう読み書きができる。

= Kono ko wa yonsai nanoni mou yomikaki ga dekiru.

= This child is only 4 years old but he/she can already read and write. (have ability to read and write)

Ex.  忙しくて家事ができない。

= Isogashikute kaji ga dekinai.

= I am too busy to do housework.

Ex. 小さい子供でもできるゲームはありますか？

= Chiisai kodomo demo dekiru geimu wa arimasuka?

= Do you have any games that even a little child can play?

Ex.日本に１００年も住んでいるのにまだ日本語ができない。

= Nihon ni hyakunen mo sunde iru noni mada nihongo ga dekinai.

= I’ve been living in Japan for 100 years, and I still can’t speak Japanese. (I am not good at Japanese)

Ex. １分間に何回、腕立て伏せができる？

= Ippunkan ni nankai, udetatefuse ga dekiru?

= How many push ups can you do in one minute?

2) to have finished something / Something is done, something is ready, completed

Ex. 出来た！

= Dekita!

= I finished it! / I made it! / It’s done!

Ex. やっと、宿題ができた。

= Yatto shukudai ga dekita.

= I finally finished my homework.

Ex. ご飯（or 夕食）ができましたよ。

= Gohan (or Yuushoku) ga dekimashita.

= The dinner is ready!

Ex. 旅行の準備はできたの？

= Ryokou no junbi wa dekita no?

= Are you ready for traveling? (Did you pack your suitcase?)

3) to do a good job

Ex.「試験できた？」

= Shiken dekita?

= How was the exam? Did you do a good job in the exam?

「全然、できなかった」

= Zenzen dekinakatta.

= No, it was horrible.

Ex. 料理が出来る人と結婚したい。

= Ryouri ga dekiru hito to kekkon shitai.

= I would like to get married to someone who can cook.

3) to grow, to form, to develop something on / in your body

Ex. 背中におできができた。

= Senaka ni odeki ga dekita.

= I got a boil on my back

Ex. 甘いものを食べ過ぎて顔ににきびができちゃった。

= Amai mono wo tabesugite kao ni nikibi ga dekichatta.

= I ate too much sweets and got pimples on my face.

Ex. 日焼け止めクリームを塗らなかったら、いっぱいシミができた。

= Hiyakedome kuriimu wo nuranakatta kara, ippai shimi ga dekita.

= Since I didn’t use sunscreen, I got lots of sun spots.

Ex. 彼は、腫瘍ができたが薬で治ったらしい。

= Kare wa shuyou ga dekita ga kurusi de naotta rashii.

= He got a tumor but it was treated (literally: healed) with medicine.

Ex. 皺（しわ）ができるから笑わせないで。

= Shiwa ga dekiru kara warawasenaide.

= Don’t make me laugh or I’ll get wrinkles.

Ex. このセーターは毛玉ができる。

= Kono seetaa wa  kedama ga dekiru.

= This sweater develops little balls of fuzz (pills).

4) to get, to have ~ to form something

Ex. 行列の (or が) できるラーメン屋

= Gyouretsu no (or ga)  dekiru raamenya.

= A very popular ramen noodle shop where people stand in line
(They are so popular that people line up for them.)

Ex. あの店はバーゲンで人だかりができていた。

=Ano mise wa  baagen de hitodakari ga dekiteita.

= There was a crowd of people for sales at the store.

5) to make, to have, to have gotten  friends, girlfriend, boyfriend.

 友達 ／ 彼 ／ 彼女 ／ 恋人 ／ 仲間

= tomodachi / kare / kanojo / koibito / nakama

= friends / boyfriend / girlfriend / boyfriend, girlfriend, lover / friends,

Ex. 共通のアニメ好きの仲間がいっぱいできた。

= Kyoutsuu no animezuki no nakama ga ippai dekita.

= I made a lot of friends who like the same animation.

Ex. マギーは彼ができたらしいよ。

= Maggie wa kare ga dekitarashii yo.

= I heard Maggie got a boyfriend.

Ex. 新しい友達ができた。

= Atarashii tomodachi ga dekita.

= I got a new friend.

6) to become pregnant

Ex. 子供ができたの。

= Kodomo ga dekitano.

= I got pregnant / I have a baby.

(This の ( = no) suffix is for female speech)

Sometimes you just say

Ex. できちゃったみたい。

= Dekichatta mitai.

= I think I am pregnant.

Ex. 出来ちゃった結婚 (colloquial)

= Dekichatta kekkon

= shotgun wedding.

(ちゃった=chatta= is a casual contraction of ～てしまった(=te shimatta))

Ex. 子供ができたのでもっと仕事をがんばらないといけない。

= Kodomo ga dekita node motto shigoto wo ganbaranai to ikenai.

= Since I have a child (baby) now, I have to work harder.

7) to grow, to be raised , to be ready for harvest

 From the picture above

Maggie「枝豆、いつできるかなあ。」

= Edamame, itsu dekiru kanaa.

= I wonder when I can harvest Edamame.

You use 出来る = できる （= dekiru) when fruits or vegetables grow and ready to harvest.

Ex. プランターで出来る野菜はいろいろあります。

= Purantaa de dekiru yasai wa iroiro arimasu.

= There are many kinds of vegetables that you can grow in planters.

Ex. 北海道でできるとうもろこしは甘くて美味しい。

= Hokkaidou de dekiru toumorokoshi wa amakute oishii.

= The corns that grow in Hokkaido are sweet and tasty.

8) to get intimate

Ex. あの二人は出来ているみたいだ。

= Ano futari wa dekite iru mitaida.

= They seem to be in love with each other.

9) to have some plans, to have/make time to do something

Ex. 急用ができたので行かなくてはいけません。

= Kyuuyou ga dekita node ikanakutewa ikemasen.

= Something came up so I have to go now.

Note: 急用 ( = kyuuyou) is some urgent matter to take care of

Ex. 用事ができたので少し、遅れます。

= Youji ga dekita node sukoshi, okuremasu.

= Something came up, so I will be a little late.

Ex. ひまができたらまた遊びに行きます。

= Hima ga dekitara mata asobini ikimasu.

= When I get more free time, I will come over again.

Ex. ちょっと時間ができたので旅行に行ってきます。

= Chotto jikan ga dekita node ryokou ni itte kimasu.

= I got some extra time, so I will go traveling.

Note:

The difference between 時間がある ( = jikan ga aru) and 時間ができる ( = jikan ga dekiru)

時間がある ( = jikan ga aru) is just a fact. to have some time. You say 時間ができる ( = jikan ga dekiru) when you have been busy and hoping to have extra time and finally got some time to do something.

10) to be built, a new place opens

Ex. 駅前に新しいデパートができた。

= Ekimae ni atarashii depaato ga dekita.

= A new department store opened in front of the station.

Ex. いつ、うちの近くにコンビニができるのかなあ。

= Itsu, uchi no chikaku ni konbini ga dekiru no kanaa.

= I wonder when we are going to have a convenience store near my house.

Ex. 隣にマンションが出来たら日当りが悪くなる。

= Tonari ni manshon  ga dekitara hiatari ga waruku naru.

= If they build an apartment building, we won’t get much sunlight.

You can also talk about some system

Ex. 世の中そういう風に出来ている。

= Yononaka souiufuu ni dekiteiru.

= That’s the way things work in this world.

Ex. 新しい税金の法律はお金持ちがもっとお金を儲ける様に出来ている。

= Atarashii zeikin no houritsu wa okanemochi ga motto okkane wo moukeru you ni dekite iru.

= The new tax law is was designed so that rich people can make more money.

11) to be made of ~, to consist of

Ex. このソースはバターとレモンの絞り汁で出来ています。

= Kono sousu wa battaa to remon no shiborijiru de dekite imasu.

= This sauce is made of butter and lemon juice.

Ex. この料理はなんで出来ているんですか？

= Kono ryouri wa nande dekite irun desu ka?

= What is this food made of?

Ex.そのおもちゃは木でできているのでとても安全です。

= Sono omocha wa ki de dekite iru node totemo anzen desu.

= This toy is  made of wood, so it’s very safe.

Ex. よく出来ているね。

= Yoku dekite irune.

= It’s well-made.

12) Other common expressions

★出来がいい = deki ga (or no)  ii = well made, smart

★出来が悪い = deki ga (or no)  warui= poorly made,  badly made,   bad

Ex. 試験の出来が悪い。

=Shiken no deki ga  warui

= To do poorly on the exam.

Ex. 彼は出来がいい生徒です。

= Kare wa deki ga ii seito desu.

= He is a bright student.

*出来すぎた= dekisugita = too good to be true

Ex. この話は出来すぎている。

= Kono hanashi wa dekisugite iru.

= This is too good to be true.

★出来合い = dekiai = ready-made, prepared

Ex. 出来合いの食べ物で夕食をとる。

= Dekiai no tabemono de yuushoku wo toru.

= To have dinner with ready-made food.

★出来高= dekidaka= earned value, turnover,  trading volume

Ex. 株の出来高= kabu no dekidaka = stock market turnover –

★出来るだけ= できるだけ= dekiru dake = as much as possible,

Ex. できるだけ努力します。

= Dekirudake doryoku shimasu.

= I will try harder as much as possible.

Ex. できるだけたくさん、ジャーキーを下さい。

= Dekirudake takusan, jaakii wo kudasai.

= Please give me dog treats as much as possible.

Ex. できるだけ早く行きます。

= Dekirudake hayaku ikimasu.

= I will try to be there as early as possible.

(You can also say 出来る限り=dekiru kagiri = as much as you can)

Ex. 出来る限りのことをします。

= Dekiru kagiri no koto wo shimasu.

= I will do as much as I can.