Can, must and needn't
Conjugations, Stage 3chunk 3 of 5Grammar patterns
Fuller ways to say what's allowed, possible, pointless, out of the question or right.
- -te wa ikenaimust not; not allowed to
- -koto ga dekirucan; be able to
- -koto wa naithere's no need to
- -wake ni wa ikanaican't very well; can't just
- -beki dashould; ought to
Mix-ups koto wa nai (no need) vs -ta koto wa nai (never have); wake ni wa ikanai vs wake ja nai.
-te wa ikenai
must not; not allowed to
The fuller, firmer version of -cha dame; heard in rules, warnings and from parents and teachers.
Make it -te form + wa ikenai (spoken -cha ikenai)
Polite -te wa ikemasen
-nakya ikenai / -nakereba ikenai means 'must'. On its own, 'ikenai!' means 'oh no' or 'oops, that's bad'.
koko de shashin totcha ikenai n da yo
You're not allowed to take photos here.
ここで写真撮っちゃいけないんだよ
koko de shashin o totte wa ikemasen
Photography is not permitted here.
ここで写真を撮ってはいけません
Rank #277 in 3,030 TV dramas
-koto ga dekiru
can; be able to
A fuller, more formal way to say the potential form; common in rules, signs and polite explanations.
Make it dictionary form + koto ga dekiru
Polite -koto ga dekimasu
Everyday speech usually prefers the potential form (taberareru, yomeru); -koto mo dekiru, 'can also', is where it sounds most natural.
kono apuri de yoyaku suru koto mo dekiru yo
You can also book with this app.
このアプリで予約することもできるよ
kono apuri de yoyaku suru koto mo dekimasu
You can also make a booking with this app.
このアプリで予約することもできます
Rank #656 in 3,030 TV dramas
-koto wa nai
there's no need to
Reassures someone or tells them not to bother: 'you don't have to go that far'.
Make it dictionary form + koto wa nai
Polite -koto wa arimasen
Speech often drops wa. Don't mix with -ta koto wa nai, 'have never'.
sonna ni ayamaru koto nai yo
There's no need to apologize so much.
そんなに謝ることないよ
sonna ni ayamaru koto wa arimasen yo
There's no need to apologize like that.
そんなに謝ることはありませんよ
Rank #753 in 3,030 TV dramas
-wake ni wa ikanai
can't very well; can't just
Something is possible but wrong for social or moral reasons: 'I can't just leave him there'.
Make it dictionary form + wake ni wa ikanai; -nai form + wake ni wa ikanai = have to
Polite -wake ni wa ikimasen
After -nai it means 'have no choice but to': 'ikanai wake ni wa ikanai' (I can't not go). Don't mix with wake ja nai (it's not that).
kyou wa kaisha yasumu wake ni wa ikanai n da
I can't very well skip work today.
今日は会社休むわけにはいかないんだ
kyou wa kaisha o yasumu wake ni wa ikanai n desu
I really can't take today off work.
今日は会社を休むわけにはいかないんです
Rank #1336 in 3,030 TV dramas
-beki da
should; ought to
A strong, principled 'should'; for friendly advice -ta hou ga ii sounds softer.
Make it dictionary form + beki (suru often becomes subeki)
Polite -beki desu
-beki datta = should have; -beki ja nai = shouldn't.
sore wa saki ni iu beki datta yo
You should have said that first.
それは先に言うべきだったよ
sore wa saki ni iu beki deshita ne
You should have mentioned that first.
それは先に言うべきでしたね
Rank #1636 in 3,030 TV dramas