JAPANESE VERB

できる

can, to be done

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Say it firstHide the forms and test yourself

now, habits, and what is to come

Form	Polite	Plain
AffirmativeI can
NegativeI can not

finished actions

Form	Polite	Plain
AffirmativeI could
NegativeI could not

て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests

可能形 · “can”

Form	Polite	Plain
AffirmativeI can
NegativeI can not

たい形 · “want to”

Form	Polite	Plain
Affirmative
Negative

意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”

Form	Polite	Plain
Let’s

条件形 · “if” and “when”

命令形 · from gentle to blunt

受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”

Form	Polite	Plain
Passive
Causative

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

Present and future

ベンさんはスキーが できます か。

Can you ski, Ben?
Past

きょう、やっとにほんじんのともだちが できました。

Today I finally made a Japanese friend.
Te-form

よやくが できて、あんしんしました。

I managed to book, and felt relieved.
Potential

このカードでしはらいが できます。

You can pay with this card.
Want to

りょうりがもっと できる ようになりたいです。

I want to get better at cooking.
Volitional

できる ことからはじめましょう。

Let's start with what we can do.
Conditional

できれば、まどがわのせきがいいです。

If possible, I'd like a window seat.
Commands and requests

できない ときは、 できない といいなさい。

When you can't, say you can't.
Passive and causative

じゅんびが できる まで、そとでまたされました。

I was kept waiting outside until it was ready.

できる takes が: にほんごができます.
できる is itself the "can" of する, so it has no potential of its own; the potential, want, volitional, imperative and passive sentences show it beside another verb.
ともだちができる is to make a friend, and ごはんができました means the meal is ready.