Page 192 - Basic Japanese

is produced,’ but it is the usual way to say ‘can.’ If the verb

is suru, the whole phrase is often abbreviated to dekiru:

benkyō (suru koto ga) dekiru ‘can study,’ yasuku (suru koto ga)
dekiru ‘can make it cheaper.’ This is not the expression used

to translate the English ‘can’ that is used for ‘may’ in the
sense of permission, as in ‘Father says I can go.’ That
expression is translated by a special phrase discussed in

note 8.6. Instead of PLAIN IMPERFECT + koto ga dekimasu,
sometimes you will hear a noun derived from the infinitive +

ga dekimasu; the meaning then is something more specific
like ‘knows how to’ rather than the general meaning ‘is able

to’ (which includes the specific meaning).

Mada oyogu koto ga dekimasen. Imōto mo mada oyogi

ga dekimasen.
I still cannot swim. My little sister still cannot
swim either.

Mada kuruma o unten suru koto ga dekimasen. Ani mo
mada kuruma no unten ga dekimasen.
I still cannot drive a car. My big brother still

cannot do so either.

Mō sukoshi hayaku insatsu suru koto ga dekimasen ka.
Could you print them a bit earlier?