TOPIK I · LEVEL 2
-(으)ㄹ 수 있다/없다
Attach it to a verb to say that someone can or cannot do something, either because of their ability or because the situation allows or prevents it.
능력·허락·의무Can, may & mustHan: 만들다 has a stem ending in ㄹ, so you do not add 을; the stem already ends in ㄹ and 수 follows directly: 만들 수 있어요.
Examples
밖이 너무 시끄러워서 어젯밤에 잠을 잘 수 없었어요.It was so noisy outside that I couldn't sleep last night.
저는 한국어 신문을 읽을 수 있어요.I can read Korean newspapers.
이번 주말에는 일이 있어서 모임에 갈 수 없어요.I have work this weekend, so I can't go to the get-together.
여기에서 사진을 찍을 수 있어요?Can I take pictures here?
Don’t mix up
-(으)ㄹ 수 있다/없다vs-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다줄 알다 is about knowing how (a learned skill); 수 있다 also covers what the situation allows: 수영할 줄 알지만 오늘은 추워서 수영할 수 없어요.-(으)ㄹ 수 있다/없다vs못 V / V-지 못하다못 simply reports that the action didn't or can't happen and is more casual; 수 없다 stresses that it is impossible and suits rules and notices: 어제 못 갔어요 / 여기에서는 담배를 피울 수 없습니다.
-(으)ㄹ 수 있다/없다vs-아/어도 되다아/어도 되다 asks for or gives permission; 수 있다 asks whether it is possible: 창문을 열어도 돼요? (May I open the window?) vs 이 창문은 열 수 있어요? (Does this window open?)
How to build it
V+(으)ㄹ 수 있다 / 없다
먹다 → 먹을 수 있어요, 가다 → 갈 수 없어요, 만들다 → 만들 수 있어요
- After a consonant use 을 (먹을 수), after a vowel use ㄹ (갈 수). ㄹ-stem verbs just add 수 (만들다 → 만들 수, 살다 → 살 수), and ㄷ-irregular verbs change (듣다 → 들을 수).
- Put tense on 있다/없다, not on the main verb: 'I couldn't go' is 갈 수 없었어요. The form 갔을 수 있어요 means something else: 'he may have gone'.
- 수 is a separate word, so write a space: 할 수 있어요. Particles can attach to 수: 갈 수도 있어요 (I might go), 참을 수가 없어요 (I just can't stand it).
- With adjectives it shows possibility, not ability: 처음에는 어려울 수 있어요 (It may be hard at first).
Classic mistake
Wrong: 저는 불고기를 만들을 수 있어요.
Right: 저는 불고기를 만들 수 있어요.
만들다 has a stem ending in ㄹ, so you do not add 을; the stem already ends in ㄹ and 수 follows directly: 만들 수 있어요.
Practise -(으)ㄹ 수 있다/없다 on real TOPIK questions
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All TOPIK grammar- -(으)면 안 되다States that an action is not allowed or not acceptable: 'you must not… / it's not okay to…'.
- -(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다Use it to say whether someone knows how to do something, meaning a skill or method they have learned.
- -(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다Says there is no other choice or that a result is unavoidable: 'have no choice but to, can't help but, is bound to'.
- -는 게 좋겠다-는 게 좋겠다 gives soft advice or a suggestion: 'it would be better to …'.
- -지 못하다-지 못하다 says someone cannot do something (lack of ability or circumstances), the long form of 못.
- -아도/어도 되다-아도/어도 되다 means 'it's okay to / you may do it', and it is used to give or ask for permission.
- -아야/어야 되다(하다)Use it to say that someone must or has to do something, or that a certain state is necessary.
- -(으)면-(으)면 attaches to a verb or adjective to set a condition: "if X happens or is true, then Y," and it can also mean "whenever X" for things that regularly happen.
- -(으)ㄴ 지Shows how much time has passed since an action happened.