Yea in fact I noticed native speakers don't use a lot 出来る, but they prefere to use the potential of verbs. I tried to cut it a little bit shorter, but when I write emails to Japan I tend to use alot more the form ことが出来る then the potential of the verbs, I kinda feel more confident that it is not "misunderstandable".

Something else I tried to avoid using was the passive form of verbs (also coz text books says it is not very much used). But I am getting more confident to use it...also coz I have noticed the guy in Japan who writes to me uses it a lot :)

AlanX, we know your Japanese is not good because you have repeatedly given a terrifically incorrect answer in this thread.

日本語を話します means "I will speak Japanese." You have to use the potential form 話せる there. And then, you should preferably use が. And end with the sentence-final particle か.

日本語が話せますか。

This is textbook Japanese. Yours should be clearly wrong to a second-semester student of Japanese.

In your parlance, /facepalm.

I haven't been learning japanese for too long and am confused. Why would it be はなせます and not はなします? I thought masu form went with base 2 making verbs ending is す become し.

It would be 話せます because it is the potential form of 話します the question would be "can you speak Japanese?" you can use the potential form to ask if somebody is able to do something.

This is a good example of a sentence using potential forms like you asked about in the questions thread.

if you said 話します the question would become something like "Will you speak Japanese?"

Why is there so much arguing going on? its pretty streight forward...

I'm going to have to get used to this potential form, it's something I can imagine myself forgetting and using the standard one instead.

wtf is a potential form?! Learn the JAPANESE not the English words to describe and catogorize japanese words. FFS.

I didn't say "nihongo wo hanashimasu." Did I? Can you please quote me where I did? Thanks. You're right, "nihongo wo hanasemasu ka?" is technically correct. However, I simply stated what I believe is more commonly said. (nihongo hanashimasu ka) Much appreciation for your concern though.

Also, "nihongo wo hanashimasu" doesn't mean "I will speak Japanese." It means "I speak Japanese." It CAN mean "I will speak Japanese." However, that sentence is rarely said, and probably doesn't mean that in this context.

Also, starting sentences with the word "and" and missing proper punctuation, is "terrifically incorrect." I suggest mastering English before you bash someone's language skills.

Good day :vsign:

haha^^

the "nihon go ga hanashimasu ka? is future tense right?

I think It's "nihon go ga hanashitemasu ka? for past and present tense.
Im just guessing.^^

No need to ramp up the language, Shad0w. It means "can do" form.

In Japanese it is 助動詞 if that helps.

Please don't feel the need to guess. The sentence you wrote is incorrect in more ways than one.

日本語を話せますか or 日本語をしゃべれますか　are your winners.