📝 Grammar A2 ✓ Native Reviewed

-(으)ㄹ 수 있다

-(eu)l su itda

Can / Be able to

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What it means

The most natural way to express ability or possibility in Korean. 수 = means/way, 있다 = exists/to have. Together: "there is a way to (verb)" = can.

Nuance & when to use

할 수 있다 = can do. 할 수 없다 = cannot do. 할 수 있어요? = Can you do it? / Is it possible? Softer and more formal than just using 안 (not). 못 expresses inability due to inability, while 할 수 없다 implies impossibility.

⚠ Common mistake

Don't confuse 할 수 있다 (can do) with 할 수 있을 것 같다 (I think I can do it — expressing uncertainty about ability).

Example sentences

한국어 할 수 있어요. Hangugeor hal su isseoyo. I can speak Korean.
이거 도와줄 수 있어요? Igeo dowajul su isseoyo? Can you help me with this?
혼자 할 수 있어요. Honja hal su isseoyo. I can do it alone.

See also

못하다 -(으)ㄹ 수 없다 가능하다
References Naver Korean Dictionary ↗ 국립국어원 표준국어대사전 ↗
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More A2 lessons

괜찮아? gwaenchana Are you okay? (casual) 하지만 hajiman However / But (sentence-initial) -(으)면 -(eu)myeon If / When (conditional)
← -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 -(으)면 →

FAQ

When is this used?

할 수 있다 = can do. 할 수 없다 = cannot do. 할 수 있어요? = Can you do it? / Is it possible? Softer and more formal than just using 안 (not). 못 expresses inability due to inability, while 할 수 없다 implies impossibility.

What's a common mistake?

Don't confuse 할 수 있다 (can do) with 할 수 있을 것 같다 (I think I can do it — expressing uncertainty about ability).

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