1

愛にできること. I am so confused for the usage of the particle に here. This would translate to "things love can do", right? But I've always thought に marks the noun before it, and the action would be done to that noun. So why isn't this translated to "things we can do TO(for) love". I was thinking more like "母にプレセントを買ってあげた".

goatsandturtles
  • 31
  • 2
  • This seems related: [The に particle and potential form](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/13323/43676) – aguijonazo Aug 27 '21 at 22:14
  • 1
    Does this answer your question? [Use of に in 「私には本物の若殿様がわかります」](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/24955/5010) / [Why say “〜、皆には出来る。” instead of “ 〜、皆は出来る。” in this context?](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/36481/5010) Think of this as "Things that are doable *to* love", if it helps. – naruto Aug 29 '21 at 06:23

1 Answers1

2

I don't really see an appropriate entry in a dictionary definition, but this に means にとって for which for mostly works as a translation. (愛にとってできること is a bit unnatural, though)

できる is of course can do, but here possible to do would fit more nicely (in terms of getting a word-by-word translation).

By simply combining these, 愛に-できる-こと = for love - possible to do - things = things it is possible for love to do = things love can do.

sundowner
  • 27,620
  • 1
  • 16
  • 51
  • Is there be another particle we can use in place of に ? And how would the meaning vary? - 愛ができる: without the こと, this would mean "I can love", right? - 愛ができること: I would understand this as "things love can do" - 愛のできること："love's possible to do things" - does this work? What if I want to say: Is there anything I can do for you, Ben? (Maybe he's doing some gardening and I want to help). What would be the most natural thing to say? Does "私にできることある？" work? Also, then how would I say "things I can do for love"? – goatsandturtles Aug 28 '21 at 05:12
  • All yes to your questions. Just as _for + N_ gives a subject to _to + infinitive_, 愛 in the example is a subject, hence の/が both work. Using の may be less used in speech, so 私に/ができることある are fine. Regarding the last question, it would be 私が愛(のため)にできること. (except _do things for love_ being a little strange. It sounds like 愛 is someone's name.) I think most verbs containing potential meaning work similarly : 彼に/が/の読める本 = a book he can read. – sundowner Aug 28 '21 at 06:35