B1 · Intermediate Chapter 9

Abilities and Ease of Action

5 Total Rules
51 examples
5 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

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.

What You'll Learn

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.

Chapter Guide

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.

Key Examples (8)

1

저는 한국어 할 줄 알아요.

I know how to speak Korean.

Knowing How to Do Something (-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다)
2

인스타 필터 사용할 줄 알아요?

Do you know how to use Instagram filters?

Knowing How to Do Something (-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다)
3

Korean is an easy language to learn.

Korean is an easy language to learn.

Easy to do (-기 쉽다)
4

This delivery app is really easy to order from.

This delivery app is really easy to order from.

Easy to do (-기 쉽다)
5

한국어는 발음하기가 어려워요.

Korean is difficult to pronounce.

It is difficult to... (-기가 어렵다)
6

주말에는 예약하기가 진짜 어려워요.

It's really hard to get a reservation on weekends.

It is difficult to... (-기가 어렵다)
7

너무 시끄러워서 집중할 수가 없어요.

It's so noisy I can't possibly concentrate.

Cannot possibly: Total impossibility (-ㄹ/을 수가 없다)
8

와이파이가 안 돼서 이메일을 보낼 수가 없었어요.

The Wi-Fi wasn't working, so I couldn't possibly send the email.

Cannot possibly: Total impossibility (-ㄹ/을 수가 없다)

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

The Modesty Rule

If someone asks 'Do you speak Korean?', answering with '할 줄 알아요' sounds a bit more modest and natural than '할 수 있어요'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Knowing How to Do Something (-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다)
💡

The Direct Opposite

If you want to say something is 'hard to do', simply replace '쉽다' with '어렵다'. The structure is exactly the same: '배우기 어렵다' (Hard to learn).
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Easy to do (-기 쉽다)
💡

Drop the Particle

In speaking, you can just say -기 어려워요 without the 가. It sounds more natural and fluent!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: It is difficult to... (-기가 어렵다)
💡

Spacing matters

Always write '갈 수가 없다' with spaces. '갈수가없다' is incorrect.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Cannot possibly: Total impossibility (-ㄹ/을 수가 없다)

Key Vocabulary (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

Common Mistakes

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

Wrong: 수영할 수 알아요.
Correct: 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.
Correct: 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.
Correct: 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

Quick Practice (10)

Fill in the blank.

한국어는 배우___ 쉬워요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 기
The particle -기 is required.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Easy to do (-기 쉽다)

Fill in the blank.

저는 수영할 ___ 알아요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 줄
The pattern is -ㄹ 줄 알다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Knowing How to Do Something (-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다)

Fill in the blank.

저는 매운 음식을 ___ 수 없어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 먹을
Consonant stem takes -을.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Cannot possibly: Total impossibility (-ㄹ/을 수가 없다)

Choose the correct form.

이거는 ___ 쉬워요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 먹기
Verb stem + 기.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Easy to do (-기 쉽다)

Find the error.

Find and fix the mistake:

저는 요리할 수 알아요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 수 -> 줄
The correct particle is 줄.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Knowing How to Do Something (-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다)

Choose the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 가기가 어렵다
Requires -기 and -가.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: It is difficult to... (-기가 어렵다)

Choose the best fit.

Which is more formal?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 가기가 어렵습니다
Formal ending.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: It is difficult to... (-기가 어렵다)

Fill in the blank.

그는 게임___ 해요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 기만
Verb stem + 기만.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Korean Grammar: Doing Nothing But... (-기만 하다)

Choose the correct form.

운전할 ___ 몰라요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 줄
The pattern is -ㄹ 줄 모르다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Knowing How to Do Something (-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다)

Fill in the blank.

그가 올 ___ 알았어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 줄
Prediction pattern.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Knowing How to Do Something (-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다)

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

No. -ㄹ 줄 알다 is for learned skills, while -ㄹ 수 있다 is for situational possibility.
Yes, as long as it's an action verb.
No, only for verbs.
It can be both formal and informal depending on the ending.
Yes, it is very common. It just adds a nuance of effort.
In formal speech, yes. In casual speech, it is sometimes dropped.
Previous Chapter
Describing States and Completed Actions
Next Chapter
Navigating Uncertainty and Questions
Back to Roadmap