Your goal
Explain what you can do and where you need help
The same can-expression can describe skill or present circumstances. Use the situation card to understand which.
Before you start
- 능력
- ability or an acquired skill
- 가능
- possible under the current conditions
- 혼자
- on your own
- 지금
- now
- 도와주세요
- a request for help
Explore the situation
| Situation | Known facts |
|---|---|
| Has the skill | Yuna can make gimbap without help. |
| Not possible now | She knows how, but the ingredients are missing now. |
| Help needed | Jun cannot yet make gimbap on his own. |
Learn the expressions
| Dictionary form | Can | Cannot |
|---|---|---|
| 가다 | 갈 수 있어요. | 갈 수 없어요. |
| 읽다 | 읽을 수 있어요. | 읽을 수 없어요. |
| 하다 | 할 수 있어요. | 할 수 없어요. |
| 만들다 | 만들 수 있어요. | 만들 수 없어요. |
Put spaces around 수. Do not add another ㄹ after final ㄹ: 만들 수 있어요. Use the stated facts; do not infer inability just because it is a first attempt.
| Not wanting to do it | Unable to do it |
|---|---|
| 오늘은 공부 안 해요. | 오늘은 시간이 없어요. 지금 공부할 수 없어요. |
Read the conversation
What you can do
한글을 읽을 수 있어요?
Show meaning
Can you read Hangul?
네, 읽을 수 있어요.
Show meaning
Yes, I can.
Ask for help
혼자 김밥을 만들 수 있어요?
Show meaning
Can you make gimbap on your own?
혼자 만들 수 없어요. 도와주세요.
Show meaning
I can’t make it on my own. Please help me.
Build a sentence
Change the card details and try a sentence before revealing the example. Then assemble the sentence pieces.
Change the facts and express them
Skill and materials
Knows how · ingredients available
- Skill
- Can make it without help.
- Now
- Ingredients are available.
Example and explanation
김밥을 만들 수 있어요. 지금 만들 수 있어요.
Both skill and current circumstances are confirmed.
Knows how · no ingredients
- Skill
- Can make it without help.
- Now
- Ingredients are unavailable.
Example and explanation
김밥을 만들 수 있어요. 지금은 만들 수 없어요.
Not possible now does not erase a learned skill.
Needs help · ingredients available
- Skill
- Cannot yet make it alone.
- Now
- Ingredients are available.
Example and explanation
혼자 만들 수 없어요. 도와주세요.
Having ingredients is not the same as being able to do it alone.
Sentence-piece practice
1. Say you can read Hangul.
Sentence pieces
- 을
- 있어요.
- 한글
- 읽을 수
2. Say you cannot go now.
Sentence pieces
- 갈 수
- 지금
- 없어요.
Practice
Choose a response that fits the situation using the expressions you learned.
1. Choose the ability form of 읽다.
- 읽을 수 있어요.
- 읽을수있어요.
- 읽 수 있어요.
2. Choose the ability form of 만들다.
- 만들ㄹ 수 있어요.
- 만들 수 있어요.
- 만들을 수 있어요.
3. You know how, but have no ingredients now. Which fits?
- 만드는 방법을 몰라요.
- 한 번도 본 적이 없어요.
- 지금 만들 수 없어요.
4. It is difficult alone. Which asks for help?
- 도와주세요.
- 저는 가방이에요.
- 다 했어요.
Try a new situation
Use the new role information. Write the required details in Korean and try saying them.
Tasks
Try the tasks first, then compare with the answers and examples in step 10.
1. Your role can read Hangul. Reply briefly.
한글을 읽을 수 있어요?
Show a hint
Use the pattern and keep the supplied information.
2. Your role cannot make gimbap alone. State that and ask for help.
Show a hint
Use the pattern and keep the supplied information.
3. Fictional condition: the library is closed today. Say you cannot go today.
Show a hint
Use the pattern and keep the supplied information.
4. Ask whether the other person can study with you today.
Show a hint
Use the pattern and keep the supplied information.
5. Your role is busy today and free tomorrow. Explain both.
Show a hint
Use the pattern and keep the supplied information.
Check your learning
Read the new conditions and distinguish the key information.
1. What is not established by 김밥 만들기는 처음이에요?
- No earlier attempt
- Inability even with any help
- A first attempt now
2. There is time today. Ask whether studying together is possible.
- 어제 같이 공부했어요?
- 공부는 얼마예요?
- 오늘 같이 공부할 수 있어요?
3. The library is closed today. Which fits?
- 오늘 도서관에 갈 수 없어요.
- 도서관에서 읽을 능력이 없어요.
- 도서관에 가 본 적이 없어요.
4. Not possible now, but there is time tomorrow. Which pair fits?
- 지금 갔어요. 내일 갔어요.
- 지금 갈 수 없어요. 내일 갈 수 있어요.
- 지금 갈 수 있어요. 내일 갈 수 없어요.
5. Choose the correct spacing around 수.
- 갈수 있어요.
- 갈 수있어요.
- 갈 수 있어요.
6. Are 오늘은 안 해요 and 오늘은 할 수 없어요 always the same?
- Distinguish a choice from inability.
- Both always mean lack of skill.
- Both express past experience.
Reflect on your reading
Tick only what you actually checked. Feedback from another person is optional and is not required to finish the lesson.
Answers and explanations
Show answers and explanations
Practice questions
1. Choose the ability form of 읽다.
Answer: 읽을 수 있어요.
Write 읽을 / 수 / 있어요 with spaces.
- 읽을수있어요. — Put spaces around 수.
- 읽 수 있어요. — 을 is missing.
2. Choose the ability form of 만들다.
Answer: 만들 수 있어요.
Do not add another ㄹ after final ㄹ.
- 만들ㄹ 수 있어요. — ㄹ was duplicated.
- 만들을 수 있어요. — An unnecessary 을 was added.
3. You know how, but have no ingredients now. Which fits?
Answer: 지금 만들 수 없어요.
The current circumstances prevent doing it now.
- 만드는 방법을 몰라요. — The card says you know how.
- 한 번도 본 적이 없어요. — No experience history was supplied.
4. It is difficult alone. Which asks for help?
Answer: 도와주세요.
도와주세요 asks for help.
- 저는 가방이에요. — This does not request help.
- 다 했어요. — This states completion instead.
Learning check
1. What is not established by 김밥 만들기는 처음이에요?
Answer: Inability even with any help
Experience and ability are different.
- No earlier attempt — This fits the first attempt at that activity.
- A first attempt now — This fits first attempt.
2. There is time today. Ask whether studying together is possible.
Answer: 오늘 같이 공부할 수 있어요?
Ask about current availability.
- 어제 같이 공부했어요? — This asks about the past.
- 공부는 얼마예요? — This changes to a price question.
3. The library is closed today. Which fits?
Answer: 오늘 도서관에 갈 수 없어요.
This concerns the place’s present availability.
- 도서관에서 읽을 능력이 없어요. — The person’s reading skill is unknown.
- 도서관에 가 본 적이 없어요. — The experience history is unknown.
4. Not possible now, but there is time tomorrow. Which pair fits?
Answer: 지금 갈 수 없어요. 내일 갈 수 있어요.
Distinguish now from tomorrow.
- 지금 갔어요. 내일 갔어요. — Past forms do not give these availability facts.
- 지금 갈 수 있어요. 내일 갈 수 없어요. — The availability was reversed.
5. Choose the correct spacing around 수.
Answer: 갈 수 있어요.
Separate 수 on both sides.
- 갈수 있어요. — No space before 수.
- 갈 수있어요. — No space after 수.
6. Are 오늘은 안 해요 and 오늘은 할 수 없어요 always the same?
Answer: Distinguish a choice from inability.
안 expresses not doing it; 수 없어요 expresses inability or impossibility in context.
- Both always mean lack of skill. — It may be a choice not to act.
- Both express past experience. — Neither is an experience construction.
Example answers
Written responses are examples. Other wording can also meet the same conditions.
1. Your role can read Hangul. Reply briefly.
한글을 읽을 수 있어요?
네, 한글을 읽을 수 있어요.
네, 읽을 수 있어요.
한글을 읽을 수 있어요.
Confirm the ability on the card.
2. Your role cannot make gimbap alone. State that and ask for help.
혼자 김밥을 만들 수 없어요. 도와주세요.
혼자 만들 수 없어요. 도와주세요.
Include on your own and a request for help.
3. Fictional condition: the library is closed today. Say you cannot go today.
오늘 도서관에 갈 수 없어요.
오늘은 도서관에 갈 수 없어요.
This is a venue condition, not lack of personal skill.
4. Ask whether the other person can study with you today.
오늘 같이 공부할 수 있어요?
오늘 공부할 수 있어요?
Ask about availability first.
5. Your role is busy today and free tomorrow. Explain both.
오늘은 갈 수 없어요. 내일은 갈 수 있어요.
오늘 갈 수 없어요. 내일 갈 수 있어요.
State not today but possible tomorrow.
Sentence-piece practice
1. Say you can read Hangul.
한글을 읽을 수 있어요.
Use 을 수 after 읽.
2. Say you cannot go now.
지금 갈 수 없어요.
지금 limits the statement to the current situation.
Review and continue
Come back to these
Recall with the example closed
Explain what you can do and where you need help
Change one detail
Change a person, action or time and make two sentences.
Combine with earlier expressions
Make a short exchange with a question and response.
Review what felt difficult
Review this expressionDistinguish ability from current possibility →Earlier learningReconnect the foundation →Look separately at activity completion and core learning results.