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-(으)로, -고 있다, -(으)ᄅ 수 있다/없다, 잘, 못 하다

 In this lesson we’re going to learn how to express “with” (using an object), how to say “I am doing”, how to express ability, and how to say you are good at something !

-(으)로

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Used to express “with” or “towards”.

*With does not mean “with a person”. It’s “using an object”

It is used to indicate direction, means, method, capacity, materials, cause etc.

Conjugation

With 받침: 으로

Without 받침: 로

Examples

1. 김밥을 칼로 썰어요.

I cut the kimbap with a knife.

2. 지금 집으로 가는 중이야.

I’m on my way home right now.

Other common usages

1. Using a language

한국어로 말씀해 주세요.

Please say it in Korean.

2. Choice

사다리 여러 가지가 있는데, 높은 것으로 할까?

There are many ladders, should we go with a tall one?

3. Transformation

미술사의 토끼가 꽃으로 변했어요!

The magician’s rabbit turned into a flower!

여행을 다음 주로 미루면 어때요?

What if we delay the trop to next week?

4. Order

혜민이가 친구들 중에 첫 번째로 결혼 했어요.

Hyemin was the first to get married amongst her friends.


-고 있다

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Used for the present progressive

English equivalent: -ing

Conjugation

1. Take the infinitive form of the verb

2. Drop -다

3. Add -고 있다

4. Conjugate 있다 as needed

Examples

1. 지금 텔레비전을 보고 있어. 건들지마.

I’m watching TV. Leave me alone.

2. 태민 씨는 등산하고 있었어요.

Taemin was hiking.

3. 밥 먹고 있어요?

Are you eating?

4. 아버지가 신문을 읽고 있어요.

Dad is reading the newspaper.

5. 동생은 컴퓨터게임을 하고 있어요.

My younger sibling is playing a computer game.


-(으)ᄅ 수 있다/없다

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Used to express ability (“can” or “can’t”)

있다 - can

없다 - can’t

*ᄅ 수 없다 differs from 못하다

- ᄅ 수 없다 is more temporary and says that you’re unable to do it because of your situation

- 못하다 is more permanent and says that you’re unable to do it because you don’t have the ability

Conjugation

1. Take the infinitive form of the verb

2. Drop -다

3. No 받침: add -ᄅ 수 있다/없다

Yes 받침: add -을 수 있다/없다

Examples

1. 피아노를 칠 수 있어요?

Can you play the piano?

2. 나를 믿을 수 있어.

You can trust me.

3. 밖에 비가 와서 놀 수 없습니다.

We can’t play outside because it’s raining.

4. 영어를 잘 할 수 있어요.

I can speak English well.

5. 운전 할 수 있어요?

Can you drive?

6. 배가 너무 아파서 많이 먹을 수 없어요.

My stomach hurts a lot so I can’t eat too much.

잘

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Used to express “well”

Conjugation

1. Add 잘 before the verb

Examples

1. 피아노를 잘 쳐요.

I play the piano well.

2. 민호 씨, 잘 지내세요?

Minho, are you doing well?

3. 한국어를 잘 해요?

Do you speak Korean well?


못 (하다/V)

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Used to describe something you can’t do.

- ᄅ 수 없다 is more temporary and says that you’re unable to do it because of your situation

- 못 하다 is more permanent and says that you’re unable to do it because you don’t have the ability

- However there are also situations where they are near interchangeable.

지금 피곤해서 수영을 할 수 없어요.

(Here -을 수 없다 is more natural because you in this situation (of being tired) are contemporarily unable to swim)

수영을 배우지 않아서 수영을 못 해요.

(Here 못 하다 is more natural because it is talking about your more permanent disability of swimming because you never learnt how to swim.

잘 못 하다 - to be not good at

1. 저는 운전을 잘 못 해요.

I can’t drive well.

2. 춤을 잘 못 춰요.

I am not good at dancing.

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