Why say "〜、皆には出来る。" instead of " 〜、皆は出来る。" in this context?


The sentence in a translation:

> 将来を見据えながら点と点を結ぶということなど、皆 **には** できません。  
>  While looking at the future, one cannot see how to connect the dots.

My assumption is that the following is the "base" sentence. Then, to add
meaning, a `に` is placed before the `は`. Maybe it adds emphasis (or
something)?

> 将来を見据えながら点と点を結ぶということなど、皆 **は** できません。

I don't think I've ever seen a `は` and then have a `に` placed behind it to add
meaning.

_However_ , if the "base" sentence should be thought of as:

> 将来を見据えながら点と点を結ぶということなど、皆 **に** できません。

Then I am ok with regard to particles. Placing a `は` after a `に` seems pretty
common.




The に form is the "base" sentence here, and the は is added for emphasis.

One key to understanding how できる happens grammatically is that できる is often
describing **the thing that can be done** , instead of the people or things
doing the thing. Sometimes a closer gloss is _doable_ rather than _can_ --
English _can_ describes the people or things doing the thing, while _doable_
describes the thing that can be done.

In your sample sentence, the topic is こと, and all the stuff to the left of こと
tells us what kind of こと it is. The できません applies to this こと -- this こと is
_not doable_ -- and the 皆 **に** here tells us who or what this こと is _not
doable **by**_.

### Addendum

The grammar for できる is at least partially attributable to the historical
development of the term. [See this other post for
details.](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/2706/etymology-
of-%E5%87%BA%E6%9D%A5%E3%82%8B-dekiru/18068#18068)




The に form is the "base" sentence here, and the は is added for emphasis.

One key to understanding how できる happens grammatically is that できる is often
describing **the thing that can be done** , instead of the people or things
doing the thing. Sometimes a closer gloss is _doable_ rather than _can_ --
English _can_ describes the people or things doing the thing, while _doable_
describes the thing that can be done.

In your sample sentence, the topic is こと, and all the stuff to the left of こと
tells us what kind of こと it is. The できません applies to this こと -- this こと is
_not doable_ -- and the 皆 **に** here tells us who or what this こと is _not
doable **by**_.

### Addendum

The grammar for できる is at least partially attributable to the historical
development of the term. [See this other post for
details.](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/2706/etymology-
of-%E5%87%BA%E6%9D%A5%E3%82%8B-dekiru/18068#18068)

