How do you say you can do something in Korean? First, get the action (verb) that you can do. Then:
- Get the verb stem.
- Attach 을 if the stem ends in a consonant, or ㄹ if it ends in a vowel.
- Attach “수 있다” and then conjugate 있다 (있어요).
Note that if the stem ends in a ㄹ, just attach 수 있다. Let’s see some examples:
Verb stem is 먹
Attach 을
Attach “수 있어요”
Verb stem is 배우
Attach ㄹ to the stem (ㄹ cannot exist on its own)
Attach “수 있어요”
Sentence examples:
I can speak Korean.
I can drive.
Here’s how to say you cannot do something in Korean:
- Get the verb stem.
- Attach 을 if the stem ends in a consonant, or ㄹ if it ends in a vowel.
- Attach “수 잆다” and then conjugate 잆다 (잆어요).
Note that if the stem ends in a ㄹ, just attach 수 잆다. Let’s review:
I can’t speak Korean quickly.
I can’t go to the library.
This grammar form, ㄹ/을 수 있다/없다, is used to convey the meaning that you physically can or cannot do something, or that something literally is or is not possible.
This is because “수” means “ability.”
There are other ways to say can/cannot that imply you do something well or poorly. We’ll cover these later.
Informal polite:
신:
I can’t take the bus.
서연:
I can’t take the bus.