ทำได้

Explanation

ทำได้ combines ทำ, “to do,” with ได้, “can” or “be able to,” and expresses that an action can be carried out. When the action is already clear from context, it can stand alone, as in ฉันทำได้, “I can do it.” For a specific action, Thai normally uses the pattern “verb + ได้,” such as พูดภาษาไทยได้, “can speak Thai.” With แล้ว, ทำได้แล้ว means “managed to do it” or “got it done.” In a challenging context, it emphasizes achievement. It is also common as encouragement: เธอทำได้ means “You can do it!”

Usage

Commonly used when discussing skills, checking whether someone can handle a task, deciding whether a plan is feasible, or reporting success. The question ทำได้ไหม, “Can you do it?”, is especially common in everyday conversation.

Caution

To express ability, ได้ normally follows the verb. For example, พูดได้ means “can speak,” while ได้พูด generally means “got a chance to speak” or “did speak.” Depending on context, ทำได้ไหม may ask whether something is possible or whether it is allowed. To make a request for permission clearer, the pattern ขอ…ได้ไหม is often used.

1 be able to do synonyms

• ทำเป็น

  ทำเป็น means knowing how to do something as a learned skill. ทำได้ is broader and can mean being able to do it under the present circumstances.

• สามารถ

  สามารถ is a somewhat more formal way to express ability or possibility. ทำได้ is more natural in everyday conversation and can stand alone to mean “can do it.”