N55 patterns

N5 Grammar: Desire & Ability

Expressing wants, desires, and abilities

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Every N5 desire & ability pattern

What each pattern means, when to use it, and the mistakes that cost marks in the exam.

できるCan do / able to

Expresses ability or possibility. Noun + が + できる means 'can do (noun)' or '(noun) is possible.' Also used to mean 'to be completed/ready.' The object of ability takes が, not を.

Common mistakes

Using を instead of が — the thing one can do takes が with できる
Confusing できる (ability) with する (to do) — できる implies capability, not just action

Full できる guide

がほしいWant something

Noun + が + ほしい expresses the speaker's desire to have something (an object, not an action). Conjugates like an い-adjective: ほしくない (negative), ほしかった (past). For wanting to do something, use 〜たい instead.

Common mistakes

Using ほしい with verbs — ほしい is for nouns (wanting objects); use 〜たい for actions
Using を instead of が — the desired object takes が with ほしい

Full がほしい guide

〜たいWant to do

Attaches たい to the masu-stem of a verb to express the speaker's desire to do something. Conjugates like an い-adjective. The object can take が (emphasizing desire) or を (emphasizing the action).

Common mistakes

Using たい with third person (たい expresses the speaker's own desire; use たがっている for others)
Confusing が and を before たい — both are acceptable but が emphasizes the desire itself

Full 〜たい guide

〜たくないDon't want to do

Negative form of 〜たい. Attaches たくない to the masu-stem of a verb to express that the speaker does not want to do something. Conjugates like an い-adjective (たくなかった for past negative).

Common mistakes

Confusing たくない (don't want to) with ない (plain negative — don't do)
Using たくないです for third person — use たがらない for describing others' unwillingness

Full 〜たくない guide

〜つもりIntend to / plan to

Verb dictionary form + つもりです expresses the speaker's intention or plan. Negative intention uses ない + つもりです (verb nai-form + つもり) or dictionary form + つもりはない. Often used for decisions already made.

Common mistakes

Using masu-form before つもり — it must be dictionary form (行くつもり, not 行きますつもり)
Confusing つもり (firm intention) with 〜たい (desire) — つもり implies a decided plan

Full 〜つもり guide

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Every N5 desire & ability pattern

What each pattern means, when to use it, and the mistakes that cost marks in the exam.

できるCan do / able to

Expresses ability or possibility. Noun + が + できる means 'can do (noun)' or '(noun) is possible.' Also used to mean 'to be completed/ready.' The object of ability takes が, not を.

Common mistakes

Using を instead of が — the thing one can do takes が with できる
Confusing できる (ability) with する (to do) — できる implies capability, not just action

Full できる guide

がほしいWant something

Common mistakes

Using ほしい with verbs — ほしい is for nouns (wanting objects); use 〜たい for actions
Using を instead of が — the desired object takes が with ほしい

Full がほしい guide

〜たいWant to do

Common mistakes

Using たい with third person (たい expresses the speaker's own desire; use たがっている for others)
Confusing が and を before たい — both are acceptable but が emphasizes the desire itself

Full 〜たい guide

〜たくないDon't want to do

Common mistakes

Confusing たくない (don't want to) with ない (plain negative — don't do)
Using たくないです for third person — use たがらない for describing others' unwillingness

Full 〜たくない guide

〜つもりIntend to / plan to

Common mistakes

Using masu-form before つもり — it must be dictionary form (行くつもり, not 行きますつもり)
Confusing つもり (firm intention) with 〜たい (desire) — つもり implies a decided plan

Full 〜つもり guide

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N5 Grammar: Desire & Ability

Desire & Ability

Every N5 desire & ability pattern

できるCan do / able to

がほしいWant something

〜たいWant to do

〜たくないDon't want to do

〜つもりIntend to / plan to

Other N5 Grammar Categories

Practice N5 grammar

N5 Grammar: Desire & Ability

Desire & Ability

Every N5 desire & ability pattern

できるCan do / able to

がほしいWant something

〜たいWant to do

〜たくないDon't want to do

〜つもりIntend to / plan to

Other N5 Grammar Categories

Practice N5 grammar