Yes you can. You can right click on a command to assign a hot key. In this case say the vertices select. Hit the space bar , then the multi select menu, then right click on the vertices select command and add the hot key. The only problem is if it is already bound to another key this will cause problems. You need to go into user preference on the input tab to change this. Once there change the search from name to key binding and then type in the key you are looking for.This will save you from scrolling through a bunch of short cuts. Find the command that is interfering and change or delete the key binding.  You can actually assign the vertice key binding from within the input tab but it faster to do the right click thing than try to hunt for what you need in amongst all the other stuff in there.

Here is a you tube video that explains this pretty well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFmrNSX1hSs

____________________________________________________

"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination".

Albert Einstein