How to say “Can” in Korean Posted by Soo on Apr 20, 2016 in Uncategorized
Today, you are going to learn how to say can in Korean, it is very useful and high frequency you need to know when you are learning Korean. The grammar point is “V.S. + 을/ㄹ 수 있다.” You have to use 을 with consonant ending and ㄹ with vowel ending. Please see the examples below with phonetic alphabet.
To eat 먹다
먹 + 을 수 있다 / meok eul soo it da/ can eat
I can eat now/지금 먹을 수 있어요/ ji kum meok eul soo it eo yo.
To watch 보다
보 + ㄹ 수 있다/ bol soo it eo yo
I can watch now/ 지금 볼 수 있어요/ ji kum bol soo it eo yo.
To meet 만나다
만나+ ㄹ 수 있다/ man nal soo it da
I can meet you now/ 지금 만날 수 있어요/ ji kum man nal soo it eo yo.
To wear 입다
입 + 을 수 있다/ ip eul soo it da
I can wear the shirt / 그 셔츠 입을 수 있어요/ gu shirt ip eul soo it eo yo.
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About the Author: Soo
Soo came to America in 2002 for studying English and getting degrees in higher education. He’d never expected to work in America after he finished his college, but he got a great job in construction and had worked with them for three years. He also has working as a FT and PT Korean instructor and tutor for seven years in Korean and America. He got his TESOL certificate in 2011 and finished his master’s degree in 2014.
Comments:
Marek:
Hi Soo, thanks for very clear and useful description! So if I would like to say “I can read hangul”. I would say: 한글 밁을수있다. Is that correct?
Soo:
@Marek GOOD. But when you speak, use 요 form: “한글 읽을 수 있어요” instead of 있다