Korean Grammar The "ㄹ Variation Rules"
Korean Grammar The "ㄹ Variation Rules"
1. If the stem of the infinitive verb or adjective, whose last syllable ends with a vowel (CV form), ㄹ is added under the last syllable and 수 없어요 follows.
Ex)
말하다 (infinitive verb) to speak
말하 (infinitive stem) speak + ㄹ 수 없어요 can’t
말할 수 없어요 (Polite form) can’t speak
저는 한국어를 말할 수 없어요. (한국어 Korean language)
I can’t speak Korean.
Ex)
가다 (infinitive verb) to go
가 (infinitive stem) go + ㄹ 수 없어요 can’t
갈 수 없어요 (Polite form) can’t go
저는 지금 한국에 갈 수 없어요. (한국에 to Korea, 지금 now)
I can’t go to Korea now.
2. If the stem of the infinitive verb or adjective, whose last syllable has a final consonant (CVC(C) form), we need an extra syllable 을 before adding 수 없어요. This is because the final consonant of the stem is fixed.
Ex)
먹다 (infinitive verb) to eat
먹 (infinitive stem) eat + 을 수 없어요 can’t
먹을 수 없어요 (Polite form) can’t eat
저는 매운 음식을 먹을 수 없어요. (매운 음식 spicy food)
I can’t eat spicy food.
Ex)
읽다 (infinitive verb) to read
읽 (infinitive stem) read + 을 수 없어요 can’t
읽을 수 없어요 (Polite form) can’t read
저는 한국어 책을 읽을 수 없어요. (한국어 책 Korean book)
I can’t read a Korean book.
3. If the stem of the infinitive verb or adjective, whose last syllable already has the final consonantㄹ (CVCform), we only add 수 없어요 after the infinitive stem.
Ex)
놀다 (infinitive verb) to play
놀 (infinitive stem) play + 수 없어요 can’t
*놀 수 없어요 (Polite form) can’t play
그는 오늘 놀 수 없어요. (오늘 today)
He can’t play today.
Ex)
살다 (infinitive verb) to live
살 (infinitive stem) live + 수 없어요 can’t
*살 수 없어요 (Polite form) can’t live
그들은 시골에서 살 수 없어요. (시골 countryside)
They can’t live in countryside.
4-1. If the stem of the infinitive verb or adjective ends in the final consonant ㄷ (CVC form), and if the final consonant ㄷ changes to ㄹ during conjugation, then instead of using the infinitive stem, the first syllable of the conjugated stem is retained, and 을 수 없어요 follows. This is because the final consonant of the stem is fixed.
Ex)
듣다 (infinitive verb) to listen
듣다 → 들어요 (conjugated form) listen : 들listen + 을 수 없어요 can’t
*들을 수 없어요 (Polite form) can’t listen
저는 한국 음악을 들을 수 없어요. (한국 음악 Korean music)
I can’t listen to Korean music.
Ex)
걷다 (infinitive verb) to walk
걷다 → 걸어요 (conjugated form) walk : 걸 walk + 을 수 없어요 can’t
*걸을 수 없어요 (Polite form) can’t walk
저는 빨리 걸을 수 없어요. (빨리 fast)
I can’t walk fast.
4-2. If the stem of the infinitive verb or adjective, whose last syllable has the final consonant ㄷ (CVC form),and if the final consonantㄷ is not dropped during its conjugation, we keep the infinitive stem and 을 수 없어요is added after the stem. This is because the final consonant of the stem is fixed.
Ex)
받다 (infinitive verb) to receive
받다 → 받아요 (conjugated stem) receive : 받receive + 을 수 없어요 can’t
*받을 수 없어요 (Polite form) can’t receive
저는 당신의 문자를 받을 수 없어요. (문자 text message)
I can’t receive your text message.
5-1. If the stem of the infinitive verb or adjective ends in the final consonant ㅂ (CVC form), and if the final consonant ㅂ is dropped during conjugation, then instead of using the infinitive stem, the first syllable of the conjugated stem is retained, and 울 수 없어요 follows.
Ex)
굽다 (infinitive verb) to bake
굽다 → 구워요 (conjugated form) bake : 구 bake +울 수 없어요 can’t
*구울 수 없어요 (Polite form) can’t bake
저는 고기를 실내에서 구울 수 없어요. (고기meat, 실내indoors)
I can’t bake meat indoors.
5-2. If the stem of the infinitive verb or adjective, whose last syllable has the final consonant ㅂ (CVC form),and if the final consonant ㅂ is not dropped during its conjugation, we keep the infinitive stem and을 수 없어요is added after the stem.
Ex)
잡다 (infinitive verb) to catch
잡다 → 잡아요 (conjugated form) catch : 잡 catch + 을 수 없어요 can’t
*잡을 수 없어요 (Polite form) can’t catch
저는 그들을 잡을 수 없어요.
I can’t catch them.
6-1. If the stem of the infinitive verb or adjective ends in the final consonant ㅅ (CVC form), and if the final consonant ㅅ is dropped during conjugation, then instead of using the infinitive stem, the first syllable of the conjugated stem is retained, and 을 수 없어요 follows.
Ex)
짓다 (infinitive verb) to build
짓다 → 지어요 (conjugated form) build : 지build + 을 수 없어요 can’t
*지을 수 없어요 (Polite form) can’t build
저는 집을 지을 수 없어요.
I can’t build a house.
6-2. If the stem of the infinitive verb or adjective, whose last syllable has the final consonant ㅅ (CVC form),and if the final consonant ㅅ is not dropped during its conjugation, we keep the infinitive stem and을 수 없어요is added after the stem.
Ex)
웃다 (infinitive verb) to smile/laugh
웃다 → 웃어요 (conjugated form) smile/laugh : 웃 smile/laugh + 을 수 없어요 can’t
*웃을 수 없어요 (Polite form) can’t smile/laugh
저는 웃을 수 없어요.
I can’t smile/laugh.