을/를 수 있다

Welcome to one of the most useful tools in your Korean toolbox! The phrase 을/를 수 있다 is how we express ability or possibility. Think of it as the Korean equivalent of the English word can.

When you want to say you have the ability to do something, like 'I can swim' or 'I can speak Korean,' this is the grammar you need. It is incredibly versatile because it works for almost any verb.

The structure is simple: take a verb stem, add 을 if it ends in a consonant, or 를 if it ends in a vowel, followed by 수 있다. It is like saying 'there is a way to do this action.' You will use this every single day, so let's master it together!

The origin of 을/를 수 있다 is quite logical when you break it down. The word 수 (su) is a Sino-Korean noun meaning 'way,' 'method,' or 'possibility.' The verb 있다 (it-da) means 'to exist' or 'to have.'

Historically, this construction literally translates to 'the method/way exists.' Over centuries, this evolved from a literal description of having a means to perform a task into a standard grammatical marker for potentiality.

Unlike some grammar points that evolved from complex classical particles, this one has remained very stable in its logic. It reflects the Korean linguistic preference for expressing abstract concepts like 'ability' through concrete nouns like 'method' or 'way.' It is a beautiful example of how Korean grammar builds complex meanings from very simple, foundational building blocks.

You will use 을/를 수 있다 in almost every conversation. It is used to describe physical ability, learned skills, or even the possibility of an event occurring.

When speaking, you often drop the particle if the context is clear, but in writing, you should keep it for accuracy. It is considered a neutral register, meaning it is perfectly acceptable in both formal business settings and casual chats with friends.

Common collocations include verbs of action like 먹다 (to eat), 가다 (to go), and 하다 (to do). You will frequently hear it paired with 잘 (well) to say 'I can do [something] well.' Remember, if you want to say you cannot do something, you simply switch 있다 to 없다 to get 을/를 수 없다.

While this is a grammar point, it appears in many common expressions. 1. 할 수 있다: 'You can do it!'—the ultimate motivational phrase. 2. 갈 수밖에 없다: 'I have no choice but to go,' using the 'can' structure to show necessity. 3. 믿을 수 없다: 'I cannot believe it!'—used when something is shocking. 4. 참을 수 없다: 'I cannot stand it/I cannot endure it.' 5. 볼 수 있다: 'It is visible/I can see it,' often used to describe a view or a possibility.

The grammar is straightforward: Verb Stem + 을/를 + 수 + 있다. If the stem ends in a consonant (like 먹-), use 을. If it ends in a vowel (like 가-), use 를. Note that if the stem ends in ㄹ, you just attach 수 있다 directly.

Pronunciation can be tricky because of liaison. The ㄹ in 을/를 often carries over to the 수, making it sound like 'eul-su' or 'reul-su.' The ㅅ in 수 is a soft 's' sound. The final 다 is pronounced with a slight tension in the throat, typical of Korean sentence-ending verbs.

There are no plural forms or articles here, as it is a verb ending. Just focus on the smooth transition between the verb stem and the 수. Practice saying it slowly: '먹-을-수-있-다' and then speed it up until it flows naturally.