Title says it all. I am looking for sentence structures that can convey this
meaning.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-18T12:59:39.067
39283
2016-10-09T05:40:43.890
2016-10-09T05:40:43.890
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question
grammar phrase-requests english-to-japanese modality permission
How to say "You are able to" or "You can do this"
To say "you can/may ____" or "it's okay to ____", use this structure:

> [verb, te-form] + も (optional) + いい

This can also be used with negatives to say "it's okay not to ____"

**Positive Example: 「入っていいですよ」** (inviting someone to come into your
house/room)

**Positive Example (casual): 「入っていいよ」**

**Negative Example: 「心配しなくていいですよ」** "It's okay"/"Don't worry (about it)";
literally "it's okay not to worry"

**Negative Example (casual): 「心配しなくていいよ」**

Notes:

  * も, like a lot of other particles, is usually _ommitted_ when spoken or in chat and _included_ in formal, written communication like e-mail, letters, papers, books, etc.
  * The sentence ending ~よ is often tagged on the end of sentences that use this structure.
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2016-09-19T15:44:46.473
39316
2016-09-19T15:44:46.473
2983
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answer
It differs depending on the connotation you want to attach to 'able to'

  1. Ability : できる or the 可能形 (ability form of verbs)  
For example, 自分で料理できますか？means are you able to do the cooking yourself?
ピアノが弾けます (possibility form of 弾く) means I am able to play the piano.

  2. Permission : でもいい？ or 〜っていいよ  
ちょっとトイレに行ってもいい？ Means can I go to the toilet for a bit? This indicates not the
ability to go to the toilet but rather the permission to go to the toilet.

  3. Possibility : 可能  
Literally the word means possibility, and this refers more to things which are
physically possible, or possible within a set of rules. Also is a more formal
form of no.1.  
For example, 一年で日本語を学ぶことは可能ですか？ means is it possible to learn Japanese in a
year.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-22T09:10:00.553
39388
2016-09-22T14:06:54.030
2016-09-22T14:06:54.030
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answer