KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -(으)ㄹ 줄 알다
Korean Grammar “-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다”: How to Use It (TOPIK 2)
How to attach it
Attach the pattern to the verb stem, which is the dictionary form without 다. Compare how each verb below changes depending on its last sound.
| Dictionary form | Meaning | With this pattern | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 보다 | to see, to watch | 볼 줄 알다 | bol jul alda |
| 읽다 | to read | 읽을 줄 알다 | ilgeul jul alda |
| 하다 | to do | 할 줄 알다 | hal jul alda |
| 살다 | to live | 살 줄 알다 | sal jul alda |
What changes
- After a stem ending in a vowel, ㄹ is added to the last syllable (보 → 볼). After a stem ending in a consonant, 을 is added (읽 → 읽을). A stem ending in ㄹ keeps it (살 → 살), and 하 becomes 할.
Explanation
저는 한국 요리를 만들 줄 알아요.
“-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다” expresses an acquired ability, “know how to ~”; its negative is “-(으)ㄹ 줄 모르다.” Add -ㄹ/을 to the stem. The sentence means “I know how to cook Korean food.” “-(으)ㄹ 수 있다” can also say that circumstances make something possible, whereas “줄 알다” focuses on a learned skill.
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 저는 한국 요리를 만들 줄 알아요.
In natural speech, sounds link and shift across words. The table below reads each word separately, as it sounds when said on its own.
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 저는 | ||
| 저 | ㅈ+ㅓ | jeo |
| 는 | ㄴ+ㅡ+ㄴ | neun |
| 한국 | ||
| 한 | ㅎ+ㅏ+ㄴ | han |
| 국 | ㄱ+ㅜ+ㄱ | guk |
| 요리를 | ||
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
| 리 | ㄹ+ㅣ | ri |
| 를 | ㄹ+ㅡ+ㄹ | reul |
| 만들 | ||
| 만 | ㅁ+ㅏ+ㄴ | man |
| 들 | ㄷ+ㅡ+ㄹ | deul |
| 줄 | ㅈ+ㅜ+ㄹ | jul |
| 알아요 | ||
| 알 | ㅇ+ㅏ+ㄹ | [아] a |
| 아 | ㅇ+ㅏ | [라] ra |
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.
Sound changes in this phrase
- Linking: when a syllable ending in a consonant (patchim) is followed by a syllable that starts with a vowel, the consonant moves over to the next syllable. 알아 → [아라]
Politeness level of the example
Ends in -요. The everyday polite style, and a safe choice with shop staff, colleagues, strangers and anyone older than you.
Words in the example sentence
These words from the TOPIK vocabulary lists appear in the phrase (shown in dictionary form).
| Korean | Part of speech | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 알다 | verb | to know | TOPIK level 1 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 저는 한국 요리를 만들 ____ 알아요.
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Answer: 저는 한국 요리를 만들 줄 알아요.
Question 2 Which is the correct form of 보다 + -(으)ㄹ 줄 알다?
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Answer: 볼 줄 알다
Question 3 Which is the correct form of 읽다 + -(으)ㄹ 줄 알다?
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Answer: 읽을 줄 알다
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