Lesson 31
Base 3 + koto ga dekimasu
Koto ga dekimasu is a long one, and is added to the plain (Base 3) form of a verb to simply show ability to do that verb. But first, in order to make this lesson as uncomplicated as possible, let's take a look at each part.
First is koto. No, this is not the well-known instrument of Japanese classical music. This is the mundane koto that gets lots of daily wear and tear changing Japanese verbs into nouns. Well, it really doesn't change the verb, but is added after the verb so that it can be used like a noun. In English, we add ing to make a noun out of a verb, like reading in the sentence I like reading. (Remember studying "gerunds" in school?) Anyway, in Japanese we do the same thing by adding koto after a plain verb form. Like our ing, koto has no practical use by itself. If you have to have a translation, "the thing of" is probably the closest you can get.
Better than all this talk would be an example. Watch carefully: yomu (to read) + koto (the thing of) = yomu koto (the thing of reading; reading as a noun [gerund]), as in:
- Watashi wa yomu koto ga suki. (I like reading.)
The literal translation of the above example would be "I like the thing of reading; I like reading as a thing to do."
Next, the verb dekiru means "can" or "be able to (do something)." In this lesson it is shown in its polite form dekimasu, but dekiru is also fine when you don't need to be polite. (If you need to review ichidan verbs with masu go back to Lesson 3.)
Finally, the particle ga is what you use to join koto and dekimasu. Just think of koto ga dekimasu as a set phrase. Here are some examples:
- Watashi wa nihongo o yomu koto ga dekimasu. (I can read Japanese.)
- Keiko wa piano o hiku koto ga dekimasu. (Keiko can play the piano.)
- Ashita Jack wa Tokushima ni iku koto ga dekimasu. (Jack can go to Tokushima tomorrow.)
Now, for kicks — no, actually for review — let's try some other endings with dekiru, and see what happens:
- Watashi wa furansugo o yomu koto ga dekimasen. (I can't read French.)
- Bob wa Junko ni denwa suru koto ga dekimashita. (Bob was able to call Junko.)
- Richard wa ika o taberu koto ga dekimasen deshita. (Richard couldn't eat the squid.)
And let's throw in one with a plain ending:
- (one boy to another) Boku wa jitensha ni noru koto ga dekiru! (I can ride a bicycle!)
Yes, it's a long ending for just "can," but there are a few shortcuts and alternatives. With "suru verbs," like denwa suru used in one of the above examples, you can drop the suru and just add dekiru. For example, "Bob wa Junko ni denwa suru koto ga dekimashita" can be shortened to "Bob wa Junko ni denwa dekimashita." Denwa is a noun, and adding the suru makes it a verb, so instead of adding koto to turn it back into a noun again, you can just omit suru. Here are a couple more:
- Furansugo o nihongo ni honyaku dekimasu. (I can translate French into Japanese.)
- Kinou, John wa benkyou dekimasen deshita. (John wasn't able to study yesterday.)
Either way, long or short, both versions are used, but the shorter version is more common in daily conversation.
Again, dekiru or one of its forms can directly follow a noun only if it is one that uses suru to change it to a verb. In that case the suru is omitted. After other verbs you add koto ga before dekiru. There is a short alternative for other verbs, but that will have to wait until we get into the Base 4 endings.
One last thing: I described the meaning of koto as "the thing of," but please don't think that koto can mean any "thing." It generally means intangible "things" like ideas, essences, meanings, expressions, actions, etc. It means "thing" as used in the sentence saving money is a good thing. It is generally not used for physical things or objects. It does not mean "thing" in money is a good thing to have. There is another word in Japanese which is used for physical things, and that is mono, which was introduced in Lesson 29.
Word Check
koto: the "thing" or idea of something done
suki: to like something
dekiru: can; to be able to do something
nihongo: the Japanese language
hiku: to play (a stringed instrument)
ashita: tomorrow
furansugo: the French language
denwa: a telephone
denwa suru: to call someone on a telephone
ika: squid
taberu: to eat
boku: I (masculine familiar)
jitensha: bicycle
noru: to ride
honyaku suru: to translate
kinou: yesterday
benkyou suru: to study
(Verbs are shown in their plain form.)
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