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.”
Informal polite:
신:
I can’t take the bus.
서연:
I also can’t take the bus.
There are other ways to say can/cannot that imply you do something well or poorly. We’ll cover these later. See you in the next lesson!