Korean grammar · Beginner (A1)
Can and can't: -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 / 없다
-(으)ㄹ 수 있다 / 없다 for ability and possibility, 못 as the everyday “can't”, 잘하다 (be good at) and -(으)ㄹ 줄 알다 (know how to).
Forming -(으)ㄹ 수 있어요
“Can” is built from the stem + -(으)ㄹ 수 있어요, literally “there is a way to …”. After a vowel, add -ㄹ 수 있어요: (gada) → (gal su isseoyo). After a consonant, add -을 수 있어요: (meokda) → (meogeul su isseoyo). “Can't” is the same with : (gal su eopseoyo).
Stems ending in ㄹ just add : (mandeulda) → (mandeul su isseoyo). A few irregular verbs change: (deutda) → (deureul su isseoyo), (dopda) → (doul su isseoyo). Remember that the after -ㄹ is said “ssu”, though it's written su.
| Verb | Stem ends in | Can | Can't |
|---|---|---|---|
| (gada) to go | a vowel | (gal su isseoyo) | (gal su eopseoyo) |
| (suyeonghada) to swim | a vowel | (suyeonghal su isseoyo) | (suyeonghal su eopseoyo) |
| (meokda) to eat | a consonant | (meogeul su isseoyo) | (meogeul su eopseoyo) |
| (ikda) to read | a consonant | (ilgeul su isseoyo) | (ilgeul su eopseoyo) |
| (mandeulda) to make | ㄹ | (mandeul su isseoyo) | (mandeul su eopseoyo) |
| (deutda) to hear | ㄷ (irregular) | (deureul su isseoyo) | (deureul su eopseoyo) |
| (dopda) to help | ㅂ (irregular) | (doul su isseoyo) | (doul su eopseoyo) |
Ability and possibility
Like English “can”, -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 covers both what you are able to do and what is possible or allowed: (hangugeoreul ilgeul su isseoyo), I can read Korean; (yeogieseo sajineul jjigeul su isseoyo?), can I take photos here?
Add 도 for “might”: (neujeul sudo isseoyo), I might be late. And with a polite -아 / -어 주다, it makes a request: (jom dowajusil su isseoyo?), could you help me?
- 한국어를 읽을 수 있어요.Hangugeoreul ilgeul su isseoyo.I can read Korean.
- 내일 올 수 있어요?Naeil ol su isseoyo?Can you come tomorrow?
- 이 사이즈로 바꿀 수 있어요?I saijeuro bakkul su isseoyo?Can I exchange it for this size?
- 길이 막혀서 늦을 수도 있어요.Giri makyeoseo neujeul sudo isseoyo.The roads are busy, so I might be late.
- 할 수 있어요.Hal su isseoyo.You can do it.
못: the everyday “can't”
In conversation, “can't” is most often just (mot) before the verb: (mot gayo), I can't go. With noun + verbs, goes before : (suyeong mot haeyo), I can't swim. -(으)ㄹ 수 없어요 sounds more definite and is common for rules and impossibilities: (yeogie juchahal su eopseoyo), you can't park here.
To talk about skill, Korean often uses (jalhada, to be good at) and (jal motada, to be bad at): (suyeongeul jalhaeyo), I'm a good swimmer; (yorireul jal motaeyo), I'm not a good cook.
| Form | Sounds | Example |
|---|---|---|
| + verb | everyday, personal | (oneureun mot gayo) I can't go today. |
| -(으)ㄹ 수 없어요 | definite, rules, impossible | (yeogie juchahal su eopseoyo) You can't park here. |
| -지 못해요 | formal, written | (chamseokhaji motaetseumnida) I was unable to attend. |
| not good at | (noraereul jal motaeyo) I'm not a good singer. |
- 저는 수영 못 해요.Jeoneun suyeong mot haeyo.I can't swim.
- 은비 씨는 테니스를 잘해요.Eunbi ssineun teniseureul jalhaeyo.Eunbi is good at tennis.
- 저는 요리를 잘 못해요.Jeoneun yorireul jal motaeyo.I'm not a good cook.
-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다: know how to
For skills you have learned, such as driving, swimming or playing an instrument, Korean often says “know how to”: stem + -(으)ㄹ 줄 알아요, and “don't know how to” with : (unjeonhal jul arayo?), can you drive? → (aniyo, unjeonhal jul mollayo).
Use it only for learned skills, not for whether something is possible right now: (naeil gal su isseoyo, I can go tomorrow), never 갈 줄 알아요.
- 운전할 줄 알아요?Unjeonhal jul arayo?Can you drive?
- 아니요, 운전할 줄 몰라요.Aniyo, unjeonhal jul mollayo.No, I don't know how to drive.
- 김치를 만들 줄 알아요.Gimchireul mandeul jul arayo.I know how to make kimchi.
- 피아노를 칠 줄 알아요?Pianoreul chil jul arayo?Can you play the piano?