못 V

Put 못 before a verb to say you cannot do it because of lack of ability or outside circumstances, not because you don't want to.

능력·허락·의무Can, may & must

Han: With 'noun + 하다' verbs like 공부하다, 못 must go between the noun and 하다 (공부 못 해요), not before the whole verb.

Examples

비가 와서 오늘은 공원에 못 가요.It's raining, so I can't go to the park today.

저는 수영을 못 해요.I can't swim.

어제 바빠서 숙제를 못 했어요.I was busy yesterday, so I couldn't do my homework.

김치가 너무 매워서 못 먹어요.The kimchi is too spicy, so I can't eat it.

못 VvsV-지 못하다Same meaning, but longer and more formal, common in writing: 가지 못했습니다.

못 VvsV-(으)ㄹ 수 없다Also 'cannot', but stresses that something is impossible in the situation; 못 is more everyday: 여기에서 담배를 피울 수 없어요.

못+V (N+하다 verbs: N + 못 + 하다)

가다 → 못 가요; 수영하다 → 수영 못 해요

With 'noun + 하다' verbs, 못 goes between the noun and 하다: 운동 못 해요, not 못 운동해요.
Use 못 with verbs only; adjectives are negated with 안 (안 예뻐요, not 못 예뻐요).
Do not use 못 in commands or suggestions; use -지 마세요 / -지 맙시다 instead (가지 마세요, not 못 가세요).
Watch the pronunciation: 못 해요 sounds like [모태요], 못 먹어요 like [몬머거요].

Wrong: ~~저는 바빠서 못 공부해요.~~

Right: 저는 바빠서 공부 못 해요.

With 'noun + 하다' verbs like 공부하다, 못 must go between the noun and 하다 (공부 못 해요), not before the whole verb.

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