LEARN + KOREAN / 39 of 125 TOPIK I

I Can, I Can't -ㄹ 수 있어요

You can swim, but you can’t go today: 수영할 수 있어요, 오늘은 갈 수 없어요. -(으)ㄹ 수 있다/없다 puts a “way” after the verb to say whether an action is possible. The stem ending determines whether to use -ㄹ 수 or -을 수.

hanguk yorireul mandeul su isseoyo?

Can you make Korean food?

Hint · 힌트

Both -(으)ㄹ 수 없다 and 못 can describe a lack of skill or an obstacle in the situation. 수영을 못 해요 can simply mean “I can’t swim”; 오늘은 갈 수 없어요 can mean “I can’t go today.” Context supplies the reason. The spaced dependent noun 수 helps frame the action as possible or impossible.

hangeureul ilgeul su isseoyo.

I can read Hangeul.

pianoreul chil su isseoyo.

I can play the piano.

maeun eumsigeul meogeul su isseoyo.

I can eat spicy food.

naeil siheomi isseoseo gal su eopseoyo.

I cannot go because I have an exam tomorrow.

darireul dachyeoseo chukgureul hal su eopseoyo.

I cannot play soccer because I hurt my leg.

Hint · 힌트

운전할 수 있어요? can ask about driving ability or whether driving is possible in the circumstances. For a clear permission question, use 운전해도 돼요?. The surrounding conversation decides how a “can you?” question is understood.

Vocabulary

Korean	English
한글 hangeul	Hangeul (the Korean alphabet)
피아노 piano	piano
다치다 dachida	to get hurt, injured
시험 siheom	exam, test
운전하다 unjeonhada	to drive
수영하다 suyeonghada	to swim
노래하다 noraehada	to sing
그리다 geurida	to draw
잘하다 jalhada	to be good at
못하다 mothada	to be bad at, unable
악기 akgi	musical instrument
취미 chwimi	hobby
실력 sillyeok	skill, proficiency
연습하다 yeonseuphada	to practice
재능 jaeneung	talent
능숙하다 neungsukhada	to be proficient
서투르다 seotureuda	to be clumsy, unskilled
자신 있다 jasin itda	to be confident
익히다 ikhida	to master, learn thoroughly
숙달되다 sukdaldoeda	to become skilled

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