~을 수 있다

§ Understanding '~을 수 있다'

The Korean grammatical pattern '~을 수 있다' is very useful. It means 'can' or 'to be able to'. You'll use it all the time to talk about what you or others are capable of doing.

§ Basic Structure

This pattern attaches to the stem of a verb. The choice between '을 수 있다' and 'ㄹ 수 있다' depends on whether the verb stem ends in a consonant or a vowel.

• If the verb stem ends in a consonant, you add ~을 수 있다.
• If the verb stem ends in a vowel or the consonant 'ㄹ', you add ~ㄹ 수 있다.

§ Examples with Consonant-Ending Verb Stems

Let's look at some verbs where the stem ends with a consonant.

Verb: 먹다 (to eat)

Stem: 먹- (ends in a consonant)

I can eat spicy food. (Literal: I spicy food can eat.)

Verb: 읽다 (to read)

Stem: 읽- (ends in a consonant)

I cannot read books in Korean. (Literal: I Korean-language books cannot read.)

§ Examples with Vowel-Ending or 'ㄹ'-Ending Verb Stems

Now, let's look at verbs where the stem ends with a vowel or the consonant 'ㄹ'.

Verb: 가다 (to go)

Stem: 가- (ends in a vowel)

I can go to school today. (Literal: I today school-to can go.)

Verb: 만들다 (to make)

Stem: 만들- (ends in 'ㄹ')

I can make cake. (Literal: I cake-object can make.)

§ Important Notes

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Politeness Levels: Remember to conjugate '있다' (or '없다') to match the politeness level you need. For example, '있어요' for polite informal, '있습니다' for polite formal.
• Subject Particle: The subject of the sentence usually takes the particle '이/가' when used with '~을 수 있다'.
• Object Particle: The object of the verb usually takes the particle '을/를'.

Practicing with different verbs will help you get comfortable with this pattern quickly. Try to form sentences about things you can and cannot do!

§ What ~을 수 있다 Means

The Korean grammatical pattern ~을 수 있다 (or ~ㄹ 수 있다, depending on the preceding verb stem) is a fundamental way to express 'can' or 'to be able to' in Korean. It's used for ability, possibility, and permission. This isn't an academic concept; it's how Koreans talk about what they're capable of doing every single day. If you want to say you can speak Korean, eat spicy food, or meet a friend, this is your go-to phrase.

DEFINITION

Grammatical pattern meaning 'can' or 'to be able to'. Used for ability, possibility, or permission.

§ How to Use ~을 수 있다

Attaching ~을 수 있다 is straightforward:

• If the verb stem ends in a consonant (like 먹다 'to eat'), you add ~을 수 있다 (먹을 수 있다).
• If the verb stem ends in a vowel (like 가다 'to go') or with the consonant ㄹ (like 만들다 'to make'), you add ~ㄹ 수 있다 (갈 수 있다, 만들 수 있다).

Remember, 있다 means 'to exist' or 'to be present', so literally, you're saying 'the ability to [verb] exists'. To make it negative, simply change 있다 to 없다 (to not exist), becoming ~을 수 없다 or ~ㄹ 수 없다, meaning 'cannot' or 'to not be able to'.

§ ~을 수 있다 in Daily Life: Work and School

You'll hear and use ~을 수 있다 constantly in professional and academic settings. It's essential for discussing skills, tasks, and availability.

ENGLISH HINT

I can speak Korean.

ENGLISH HINT

Can you finish this project by tomorrow?

ENGLISH HINT

I cannot fix the computer.

§ ~을 수 있다 in the News and Public Announcements

In news reports, public service announcements, or even on street signs, ~을 수 있다 is frequently used to inform people about what is possible or permissible.

ENGLISH HINT

You can take photos here.

ENGLISH HINT

This train can go to Busan.

ENGLISH HINT

You cannot go this way by bicycle.

§ Practical Tips for ~을 수 있다

Mastering ~을 수 있다 is a big step towards fluency. Here are some practical tips:

• Practice Conjugation: Get used to whether to use ~을 or ~ㄹ. The more you say it, the more natural it becomes.
• Listen Actively: Pay attention to how native speakers use this pattern in different contexts. Notice the subtle differences in meaning (ability vs. possibility).
• Don't Overthink It: At an A1 level, focus on getting the core meaning across. Don't worry too much about very nuanced distinctions between 'can' and 'may' like you might in English. For now, ~을 수 있다 covers them both sufficiently.

By actively using ~을 수 있다, you'll find yourself able to express a much wider range of ideas in Korean, from simple abilities to everyday permissions. It's a foundational pattern that unlocks many conversations.

§ Mixing with other 'can' expressions

Many learners get confused between ~을 수 있다 and other ways to say 'can' in Korean, like ~해도 되다 (to be allowed to) or 단순히 할 수 있다 (to simply be able to, often implying a skill). Remember, ~을 수 있다 is specifically about ability or possibility.

Wrong

여기에 앉아도 수 있어요. (You can sit here - implying permission, not ability)

Right

여기에 앉아도 돼요. (You can sit here - permission)

§ Incorrect verb stem attachment

The biggest grammatical mistake is attaching ~을 수 있다 incorrectly to the verb stem. Remember the rules for whether to use ~을 수 있다 or ~ㄹ 수 있다 based on the last consonant of the verb stem.

• If the verb stem ends in a consonant (batchim), use ~을 수 있다.
• If the verb stem ends in a vowel, use ~ㄹ 수 있다.
• If the verb stem ends in ㄹ (batchim), remove the ㄹ and then add ~ㄹ 수 있다.

Wrong

먹을 수 없어요. (The verb stem '먹' ends in a consonant, so '먹을 수 있어요' is correct for 'can eat'. The mistake here is in the '없어요' part if you meant 'cannot eat', it would be '먹을 수 없어요'. Let's clarify with an example of incorrect attachment itself.)

Wrong Example (Incorrect attachment)

자다 + 을 수 있다 = 잘 수 있다 (Incorrect, should be '잘 수 있다')

Right Example (Correct attachment)

자다 + ㄹ 수 있다 = 잘 수 있다 (Sleep + can = can sleep)

§ Forgetting the '없다' for 'cannot'

To express 'cannot' or 'to not be able to', you simply replace 있다 with 없다. Some learners might try to put 안 or 못 before the verb, but this is usually incorrect with ~을 수 있다.

Wrong

저는 수영을 안 할 수 있어요. (I can not swim - grammatically awkward)

Right

저는 수영을 할 수 없어요. (I cannot swim.)

§ Overusing it in every 'can' situation

While ~을 수 있다 is versatile, sometimes there are more natural ways to express similar ideas, especially in casual speech or when discussing permission. Don't force ~을 수 있다 into every sentence where 'can' appears in English.

Less Natural

제가 도와줄 수 있어요? (Can I help you? - often sounds a bit too direct or asking about your own ability to perform a task.)

More Natural

도와드릴까요? (Shall I help you? / Can I help you? - offering help)

§ Misunderstanding the nuance of possibility

While ~을 수 있다 can imply possibility, it's more about 'being able to' do something due to circumstances or ability. Sometimes, learners confuse this with a more general 'it might happen' where other grammatical structures like ~을지도 모르다 are more appropriate.

Wrong

비가 올 수 있어요. (Rain can come - sounds like rain has the ability to come.)

Right

비가 올지도 몰라요. (It might rain.)

§ Understanding ~을 수 있다

• If the verb stem ends in a consonant, you add ~을 수 있다. For example, 먹다 (meokda - to eat) becomes 먹을 수 있다 (meogeul su itda - can eat).
• If the verb stem ends in a vowel or the consonant 'ㄹ' (rieul), you add ~ㄹ 수 있다. For example, 가다 (gada - to go) becomes 갈 수 있다 (gal su itda - can go), and 만들다 (mandeulda - to make) becomes 만들 수 있다 (mandeul su itda - can make).

§ Examples of ~을 수 있다 in use

§ Similar words and when to use this one vs alternatives

Can/Be able to

~을 수 있다 is the most common and versatile way to express general ability or possibility. It's used for both physical and mental capabilities, as well as situations where something is possible or allowed.

하다 (hada) as 'can do'

Sometimes, especially with nouns that combine with 하다 to form verbs (e.g., 공부하다 - to study, 요리하다 - to cook), you might hear or use the simple 하다 form to imply ability in a context where it's clear. However, ~을 수 있다 is more explicit about the 'ability' aspect.

잘 하다 (jal hada) for 'do something well'

If you want to say you 'can do something well' or are 'good at something', you would use 잘 하다 (jal hada), which combines 잘 (jal - well) with 하다 (hada - to do).

§ Key takeaway