KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -(으)ㄹ 수 있다
Korean Grammar “-(으)ㄹ 수 있다”: How to Use It (TOPIK 1)
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 수 있다 | bol su itda |
| 읽다 | to read | 읽을 수 있다 | ilgeul su itda |
| 하다 | to do | 할 수 있다 | hal su itda |
| 살다 | to live | 살 수 있다 | sal su itda |
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 한국어를 말할 수 있어요.
“-(으)ㄹ 수 있다” expresses ability or possibility (“can”). Attach “-ㄹ/을 수 있다” to a verb stem, so “말하다” becomes “말할 수 있어요,” meaning “I can speak Korean.” The noun “줄” is used with “알다,” as in “말할 줄 알아요,” and does not combine with “있다.”
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 저는 한국어를 말할 수 있어요.
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 |
| 한국어를 | ||
| 한 | ㅎ+ㅏ+ㄴ | han |
| 국 | ㄱ+ㅜ+ㄱ | [구] gu |
| 어 | ㅇ+ㅓ | [거] geo |
| 를 | ㄹ+ㅡ+ㄹ | reul |
| 말할 | ||
| 말 | ㅁ+ㅏ+ㄹ | mal |
| 할 | ㅎ+ㅏ+ㄹ | hal |
| 수 | ㅅ+ㅜ | su |
| 있어요 | ||
| 있 | ㅇ+ㅣ+ㅆ | [이] i |
| 어 | ㅇ+ㅓ | [써] sseo |
| 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. 국어 → [구거]
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 말하다 | verb | to speak, to say | TOPIK level 1 |
| 있다 | verb | to exist, to have | TOPIK level 1 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 저는 한국어를 말할 ____ 있어요.
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Answer: 저는 한국어를 말할 수 있어요.
Question 2 Which is the correct form of 보다 + -(으)ㄹ 수 있다?
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Answer: 볼 수 있다
Question 3 Which is the correct form of 읽다 + -(으)ㄹ 수 있다?
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Answer: 읽을 수 있다
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