B1 · Intermedio Capítulo 9

Abilities and Ease of Action

5 Reglas totales
51 ejemplos
5 min
Reglas en este capítulo Práctica rápida

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the nuances of capability, task assessment, and focused action in natural Korean conversation.

  • Distinguish between physical ability and learned skills.
  • Evaluate the difficulty of various tasks and activities.
  • Express circumstantial impossibility and intense singular focus.
From 'I can' to 'I know how' and beyond.

Lo que aprenderás

Ready to take your Korean conversations to the next level? In this chapter, we're diving deep into expressions that will make you sound incredibly natural and confident, moving beyond basic statements to truly express nuances about abilities and actions. First up, you'll master how to use '-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다' to express 'knowing how to do something' – it's more than just being physically able; it's about skill and know-how. Then, we'll explore the flip sides of difficulty: with '-기 쉽다', you'll effortlessly say something is 'easy to do', and its counterpart, '-기가 어렵다', will equip you to describe tasks that are 'difficult or tricky'. These two are essential for giving your opinions on various activities. Ever found yourself in a situation where something is absolutely impossible? You'll learn '-(으)ㄹ 수가 없다' to convey total impossibility due to circumstances, giving your Korean a powerful punch. Finally, to add precision and emphasis, we'll tackle '-기만 하다', allowing you to highlight when someone is 'doing nothing but' a specific action, showing intense focus. Imagine telling a Korean friend, 'I know how to cook Korean food!' or 'It's impossible to find good coffee here after midnight.' Or perhaps you want to describe how 'studying grammar is easy' or 'writing essays is difficult.' You'll even be able to say, 'He just keeps watching Netflix!' By the end of this chapter, you won't just communicate actions; you'll express capabilities, assess task difficulty, state impossibilities, and emphasize single-minded focus with ease. Your Korean will become richer, more expressive, and you'll feel much more comfortable in intermediate conversations. Let's get started!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Explain your professional and hobby-related skills using -(으)ㄹ 줄 알다.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Compare the difficulty of learning tasks using -기 쉽다 and -기가 어렵다.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to: Describe situations where external factors prevent action using -(으)ㄹ 수가 없다.
  4. 4
    By the end you will be able to: Emphasize repetitive or exclusive actions using -기만 하다.

Guía del capítulo

Overview

Welcome to a pivotal chapter in your Korean grammar journey! As you progress to B1 Korean, you're ready to add depth and nuance to your conversations. This chapter is designed to help you express not just what you do, but *how* you do it, *how easy or difficult* it is, and even when something is utterly impossible.
Mastering these expressions will make your Korean sound incredibly natural and confident, allowing you to move beyond basic statements and truly articulate your thoughts with precision.
We'll dive into five essential grammar patterns. First, you'll learn -(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다 to confidently state whether you
know how to do something
– highlighting skill and know-how. Next, we'll equip you with -기 쉽다 and -기가 어렵다 to effortlessly describe tasks as easy to do or difficult to do, perfect for sharing your opinions.
For those moments when an action is completely out of reach, -(으)ㄹ 수가 없다 will empower you to convey total impossibility due to circumstances. Finally, to add emphasis and focus, we'll explore -기만 하다, allowing you to highlight when someone is doing nothing but a specific action. By the end, you'll be expressing capabilities, assessing difficulty, stating impossibilities, and emphasizing actions with ease, making your B1 Korean richer and more expressive.
Let's unlock these powerful tools!

How This Grammar Works

Let's break down each of these crucial Korean grammar patterns to understand how they function and how you can use them in your daily conversations.
1. Knowing How to Do Something (-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다)
This pattern is used to express whether you
know how to do
a specific skill or task. It refers to learned ability or know-how, not just physical capability.
* Conjugation:
* If the verb stem ends in a consonant: verb stem + -을 줄 알다/모르다
* If the verb stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ: verb stem + -ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다
* Example: 저는 한국어를 할 줄 알아요. (I know how to speak Korean.)
* Example: 김치찌개를 만들 줄 몰라요. (I don't know how to make kimchi stew.)
2. Easy to do (-기 쉽다)
Use this pattern to describe an action as easy to do or prone to happen.
* Conjugation: verb stem + -기 쉽다
* Example: 이 책은 읽기 쉬워요. (This book is easy to read.)
* Example: 요즘은 감기에 걸리기 쉬운 날씨예요. (Lately, it's weather where you easily catch a cold.)
3. It is difficult to... (-기가 어렵다)
This is the opposite of -기 쉽다, used to express that an action is difficult to do or hard to achieve.
* Conjugation: verb stem + -기가 어렵다 (The particle 가 can sometimes be omitted in casual speech but adds clarity.)
* Example: 한국어 발음은 하기가 어려워요. (Korean pronunciation is difficult to do.)
* Example: 그 문제를 풀기 어렵다. (That problem is difficult to solve.)
4. Cannot possibly: Total impossibility (-(으)ㄹ 수가 없다)
This pattern conveys a strong sense of impossibility due to external circumstances or conditions, not just a lack of ability. It's stronger than simply using 못 or -지 못하다.
* Conjugation:
* If the verb stem ends in a consonant: verb stem + -을 수가 없다
* If the verb stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ: verb stem + -ㄹ 수가 없다
* Example: 너무 바빠서 만날 수가 없어요. (I'm too busy to possibly meet you.)
* Example: 이 시간에는 택시를 잡을 수가 없어요. (At this hour, it's impossible to catch a taxi.)
5. Doing Nothing But... (-기만 하다)
This pattern emphasizes that someone is doing nothing but a specific action, often highlighting single-minded focus or, at times, a slightly negative connotation if other actions are expected.
* Conjugation: verb stem + -기만 하다
* Example: 그는 하루 종일 게임만 하기만 해요. (He just plays games all day long.)
* Example: 비가 오기만 해서 나갈 수 없었어요. (It just kept raining, so I couldn't go out.)

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: «저는 수영할 수 알아요.» (I can swim know.)
✓ Correct:
저는 수영할 줄 알아요.
(I know how to swim.)
*Explanation:* -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 means can (possibility/ability), while -(으)ㄹ 줄 알다 specifically means know how to (a learned skill). Don't mix them up!
  1. 1✗ Wrong: «이 음식은 만들기가 쉬워요.» (This food is easy to make.)
✓ Correct:
이 음식은 만들기 쉬워요.
(This food is easy to make.)
*Explanation:* While -기가 어렵다 often uses the particle 가 for clarity, -기 쉽다 typically attaches directly to the verb stem without 가.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: «배고파서 먹을 수 없어요.» (I'm hungry, so I can't eat.)
✓ Correct:
배고파서 먹을 수가 없어요.
(I'm so hungry that I can't possibly eat.) (Or «배고파서 못 먹어요» for simple inability)
*Explanation:* -(으)ㄹ 수가 없다 implies a strong, often external, impossibility. If you simply mean "I can't" due to lack of ability or simple refusal, 못 or -지 못하다 are usually sufficient and more natural. Use -(으)ㄹ 수가 없다 when the circumstances truly make it impossible.

Real Conversations

A

A

한국어 시험이 어땠어요? (How was the Korean exam?)
B

B

듣기는 쉬웠지만, 쓰기는 너무 어려웠어요. (Listening was easy, but writing was too difficult.)
A

A

운전 할 줄 아세요? (Do you know how to drive?)
B

B

아니요, 아직 할 줄 몰라요. 배우고 싶어요! (No, I don't know how to yet. I want to learn!)
A

A

왜 이렇게 늦었어요? (Why are you so late?)
B

B

죄송해요. 길이 너무 막혀서 제 시간에 도착할 수가 없었어요. (I'm sorry. The road was so blocked that I couldn't possibly arrive on time.)

Quick FAQ

Q

What's the difference between -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 and -(으)ㄹ 줄 알다 in Korean grammar?

-(으)ㄹ 수 있다 expresses general ability or possibility (can do), while -(으)ㄹ 줄 알다 specifically means

to know how to do
a learned skill or method.

Q

Can -기 쉽다 and -기가 어렵다 be used with adjectives?

No, these patterns attach only to verb stems to describe the ease or difficulty of performing an *action*.

Q

When should I use -(으)ㄹ 수가 없다 instead of just 못 or -지 못하다?

Use -(으)ㄹ 수가 없다 when emphasizing that an action is *impossible due to external circumstances* or a strong reason, not just a simple inability. It conveys a stronger sense of impossibility.

Cultural Context

These Korean grammar patterns are incredibly common in daily conversations, reflecting how Koreans often discuss skills, challenges, and limitations. -(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다 is frequently used when asking about or offering help with practical skills like cooking, driving, or using technology. -기 쉽다 and -기가 어렵다 are perfect for sharing opinions on tasks, food, or learning experiences, often softening direct statements.
-(으)ㄹ 수가 없다 is a polite but firm way to state an impossibility, often used to decline requests or explain unavoidable situations. Finally, -기만 하다 can be used humorously or to subtly express frustration about someone's single-minded focus. Mastering these patterns will make your Korean sound much more authentic and relatable.

Ejemplos clave (6)

1

저는 한국어 할 줄 알아요.

Sé hablar coreano.

Saber cómo hacer algo (-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다)
2

인스타 필터 사용할 줄 알아요?

¿Sabes usar los filtros de Instagram?

Saber cómo hacer algo (-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다)
3

너무 시끄러워서 집중할 수가 없어요.

Hay tanto ruido que no puedo concentrarme en absoluto.

Imposibilidad total: No poder de ninguna manera (-ㄹ/을 수가 없다)
4

와이파이가 안 돼서 이메일을 보낼 수가 없었어요.

El Wi-Fi no funcionaba, así que no pude enviar el correo.

Imposibilidad total: No poder de ninguna manera (-ㄹ/을 수가 없다)
5

동생은 하루 종일 게임을 하기만 해요.

Mi hermano menor no hace nada más que jugar videojuegos todo el día.

Gramática Coreana: No hacer nada más que... (-기만 하다)
6

왜 제 문자를 읽기만 해요?

¿Por qué solo lees mis mensajes (y no respondes)?

Gramática Coreana: No hacer nada más que... (-기만 하다)

Consejos y trucos (4)

💡

La regla de la modestia

Si te preguntan si hablas coreano, responder con «할 줄 알아요» suena mucho más natural y humilde que otras formas.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Saber cómo hacer algo (-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다)
💡

El opuesto directo

Si quieres decir que algo es 'difícil de hacer', solo cambia '쉽다' por '어렵다'. La estructura es idéntica: «배우기 어렵다».
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Fácil de hacer (-기 쉽다)
💡

Olvida la partícula

Al hablar, es súper común quitar el '가' y decir simplemente '-기 어려워요'. ¡Suena mucho más natural! «이거 정말 고치기 어려워요.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Es difícil de... (-기가 어렵다)
🎯

La pausa dramática

Si quieres sonar muy natural al estar frustrado, enfatiza el '수가' y haz una pequeña pausa después. Indica que realmente lo intentaste todo: «진짜 할 수가... 없어요!»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Imposibilidad total: No poder de ninguna manera (-ㄹ/을 수가 없다)

Vocabulario clave (6)

운전하다 to drive 포기하다 to give up 외국어 foreign language 복잡하다 to be complicated 요리하다 to cook 집중하다 to concentrate

Real-World Preview

utensils

Cooking with a Friend

Review Summary

  • Verb Stem + -(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다
  • Verb Stem + -기 쉽다
  • Verb Stem + -기가 어렵다
  • Verb Stem + -(으)ㄹ 수가 없다
  • Verb Stem + -기만 하다

Errores comunes

Learners often confuse '수 있다' (can) with '줄 알다' (know how to). Use '줄' when referring to a learned skill.

Wrong: 수영할 수 알아요.
Correcto: 수영할 줄 알아요.

While '배우기 어렵다' is sometimes heard, the grammatically standard form for B1 level includes the subject particle '-가' after the nominalized verb.

Wrong: 한국어가 배우기 어려워요.
Correcto: 한국어는 배우기가 어려워요.

To express total impossibility or to emphasize 'there is no way I can go,' adding '-가' to '수' is much more natural and emphatic.

Wrong: 바빠서 갈 수 없어요.
Correcto: 바빠서 갈 수가 없어요.

Next Steps

You've just added some very sophisticated tools to your Korean toolkit. Being able to explain 'how' and 'why' things are difficult or impossible is a huge milestone. Keep practicing!

Record a 1-minute voice memo listing 3 things you know how to do and 1 thing you find difficult.

Write 5 sentences about your 'impossible' schedule this week using -(으)ㄹ 수가 없다.

Continue to: Navigating Uncertainty and Questions

Práctica rápida (10)

Rellena el espacio para decir 'Este problema es fácil de resolver'.

이 문제는 ____ 쉬워요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 풀기
Para decir 'fácil de resolver', tomamos el verbo '풀다' (resolver), quitamos '-다' y añadimos '-기'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Fácil de hacer (-기 쉽다)

Corrige el error en la siguiente frase formal.

한국어 읽을 줄 알습니까?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 한국어 읽을 줄 압니까?
La 'ㄹ' de '알다' desaparece antes de 'ㄴ, ㅂ, ㅅ'. Por eso '알' + 'ㅂ니까' es '압니까'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Saber cómo hacer algo (-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다)

¿Cuál oración es gramaticalmente correcta y natural para decir 'No puedo ir'?

Elige la mejor opción:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 바빠서 갈 수가 없어요.
Debes incluir el espacio entre '수가' y '없어요', y la raíz '가-' necesita el modificador '-ㄹ'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Imposibilidad total: No poder de ninguna manera (-ㄹ/을 수가 없다)

Encuentra y corrige el error en esta oración.

피곤해서 숙제를 할수가 없어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 피곤해서 숙제를 할 수가 없어요.
El único error era el espacio faltante. '할 수가' es la forma correcta con el espacio entre el sustantivo dependiente y el verbo.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Imposibilidad total: No poder de ninguna manera (-ㄹ/을 수가 없다)

Completa la frase con la forma correcta de 'encontrar' (찾다).

이 식당은 골목 안에 있어서 ___ 어려워요. (Este restaurante está en un callejón, así que es difícil de encontrar.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 찾기가
Para decir 'difícil de [verbo]', usamos Raíz + 기가 어렵다. 찾다 se convierte en 찾기가.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Es difícil de... (-기가 어렵다)

Selecciona la corrección para esta frase poco natural.

Error: 매일 아침 운동하기가 어려워요. (Contexto: Estoy agotado físicamente, no es que el ejercicio sea complejo).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 매일 아침 운동하기가 힘들어요.
Cuando la dificultad es por esfuerzo físico o falta de energía, '힘들다' es más natural que '어렵다'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Es difícil de... (-기가 어렵다)

Rellena el espacio para decir que sabes cocinar.

저는 요리___ ___요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 할 줄 알아
하다 + ㄹ 줄 알아요 se convierte en 할 줄 알아요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Saber cómo hacer algo (-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다)

¿Qué frase dice correctamente 'No sé nadar'?

Elige la frase correcta:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 수영할 줄 몰라요.
Para decir que no sabes hacer algo, usamos la estructura -(으)ㄹ 줄 모르다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Saber cómo hacer algo (-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다)

¿Qué frase es gramaticalmente correcta para decir 'Es fácil resfriarse en invierno'?

Elige la frase correcta:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 겨울에 감기에 걸리기 쉬워요.
Al describir una tendencia negativa, usamos '-기 쉽다' unido a la raíz del verbo '걸리다'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Fácil de hacer (-기 쉽다)

Encuentra y corrige el error: 이 앱은 사용하다기 쉬워요.

Find and fix the mistake:

이 앱은 사용하다기 쉬워요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 사용하기 쉬워요.
La frase original usaba '사용하다기', lo cual es incorrecto. Debes quitar el '-다' antes de añadir '-기'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Fácil de hacer (-기 쉽다)

Score: /10

Preguntas frecuentes (6)

La primera se enfoca en el método o habilidad aprendida. La segunda en la posibilidad física o permiso. Por ejemplo: «수영할 줄 알아요» (sé nadar).
Generalmente no. Esto es para acciones que requieren un aprendizaje. No puedes
saber cómo ser guapo
en este sentido gramatical.
¡Claro! Es muy común para advertencias. Por ejemplo: «감기에 걸리기 쉬워요» (es fácil resfriarse) o «오해하기 쉽다» (es fácil malinterpretar).
Solo quita el '-다' del verbo y añade '-기 쉽다'. No importa si termina en vocal o consonante: «먹다» se vuelve «먹기 쉽다».
No, esta estructura solo funciona con verbos de acción. No puedes decir
es difícil ser alto
usando este patrón. «키가 크기가 어려워요» sería incorrecto.
'어렵다' implica complejidad mental o falta de probabilidad, como en «이 문제는 풀기가 어려워요». '힘들다' se usa para cansancio físico o emocional, como «운동하기가 힘들어요».
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