できます（できます、dekimasu）
- to be able to

The Japanese word できます (pronounced "dekimasu") is a versatile verb primarily meaning "to be able to," "can," or "to be capable of." It expresses the ability to do something, the possibility of something happening, or the availability of something. It is the polite, present/future tense form of the verb できる ("dekiru"). The verb できる itself has several nuances, and it's essential to understand the context to grasp the precise meaning of できます in a given situation. It's often used to talk about skills, opportunities, or potential. Note that できますできる is the basic form, not a past tense. The basic tense can change according to the context.

⚫︎ 日本語が できます Translation: I can speak Japanese. ⚫︎ 明日、 できますか？ Translation: Can you do it tomorrow? ⚫︎ この部屋でパーティーが できます。 Translation: We can have a party in this room.

⚫︎ Use できます when you want to express your ability to perform an action. For instance, 泳ぐことが できます (I can swim). ⚫︎ Use できます when you want to inquire about someone's ability. For example, ピアノが できますか？ (Can you play the piano?) ⚫︎ Use できます to indicate that something is possible or feasible. For example, この道は車が通ることが できます (Cars can pass through this road). ⚫︎ The word takes the form of 〜が できます, where the "〜" preceding the verb is the topic. ⚫︎ Often used with the particle が (ga) to mark the subject of the ability. ⚫︎ It is always conjugated depending on the tense: できます (present/future, polite), できました (past, polite), できる (dictionary form/plain present/future), できた (plain past).

⚫︎ Typically written in hiragana as できます. ⚫︎ The dictionary form できる is typically also written in hiragana. ⚫︎ Kanji form: 出来ます (less common) ⚫︎ Okurigana (suffix hiragana): The okurigana is きます.

⚫︎ 能力がある (noun + verb "to have ability") ⚫︎ 可能である (formal, "to be possible") ⚫︎ 可能だ (plain form, "to be possible") ⚫︎ ～ことができる (to be able to do something - longer form)

⚫︎ できません (cannot do, polite negative form) ⚫︎ できない (cannot do, plain negative form) ⚫︎ 不可能だ (plain form, "to be impossible")

私は日本語を話すことが できます。 ・Translation: I can speak Japanese. ・Explanation: This sentence expresses the speaker's ability to speak Japanese. The particle を (o) marks the object of the verb 話す ("to speak"), and こと (koto) makes 話す into a noun, so it is "the matter of speaking."

このパソコンでインターネットが できます。 ・Translation: You can use the internet on this computer. ・Explanation: This sentence indicates the possibility of using the internet with the computer. The particle で (de) indicates the location or means, and が (ga) marks the subject インターネット (internet).

The verb できる originates from the verb stem 出 (de-) meaning "to come out," "to appear," or "to be made," combined with the verb 来る (kuru), meaning "to come." Over time, the meaning shifted to encompass the idea of "being able to" or "being capable of."