Korean Grammar - "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 있어요 follows. 

 

Ex)

말하다 (infinitive verb) to speak

말하 (infinitive stem) speak + ㄹ 수 있어요 can

말할 수 있어요 (Polite form) can speak

 

저는 한국어를 말할 수 있어요. (한국어 Korean language)

I can speak Korean.

 

Ex)

가다 (infinitive verb) to go

가 (infinitive stem) go + ㄹ 수 있어요 can

갈 수 있어요 (Polite form) can go

 

저는 지금 한국에 갈 수 있어요. (한국에 to Korea, 지금 now)

I can go to Korea now.

 

 

2. If the stem of the infinitive verb or adjective, whose last syllable has a bottom consonant (CVC(C) form), we need an extra syllable 을 before adding 수 있어요. This is because the bottom consonant of the stem is fixed.  

 

Ex)

먹다 (infinitive  verb) to eat

먹 (infinitive stem) eat + 을 수 있어요 can

먹을 수 있어요 (Polite form) can eat

 

저는 매운 음식을 먹을 수 있어요. (매운 음식 spicy food)

I can eat spicy food.

 

Ex)

읽다 (infinitive  verb) to read

읽 (infinitive stem) read + 을 수 있어요 can

읽을 수 있어요 (Polite form) can read

 

저는 한국어 책을 읽을 수 있어요.  (한국어 책 Korean book)

I can read a Korean book.

 

 

 

3. If the stem of the infinitive verb or adjective, whose last syllable already has the bottom consonantㄹ (CVC form), we only add 수 있어요 after the infinitive stem.   

Ex)

놀다 (infinitive  verb) to play

놀 (infinitive stem) play + 수 있어요 can

*놀 수 있어요 (Polite form) can play

 

그는 오늘 놀 수 있어요. (오늘 today)

He can play today.

 

 

Ex)

살다 (infinitive  verb) to live

살 (infinitive stem) live + 수 있어요 can

*살 수 있어요 (Polite form) can live

 

그들은 시골에서 살 수 있어요. (시골 countryside)

They can live in countryside.

 

 

 

4-1. If the stem of the infinitive verb or adjective, whose last syllable has the bottom consonant ㄷ (CVC form), and if the bottom consonantㄷ changes to ㄹ during conjugation, then instead of using the infinitive stem, we keep the conjugated stem and 을 수 없어요 follows. This is because the bottom consonant of the stem is fixed.

 

Ex)

듣다 (infinitive  verb) to listen

듣다 → 들어요 (conjugated form) listen : 들listen + 을 수 있어요 can

*들을 수 있어요 (Polite form) can listen

 

저는 한국 음악을 들을 수 있어요. (한국 음악 Korean music)

I can listen to Korean music.

 

 

Ex)

걷다 (infinitive  verb) to walk

걷다 → 걸어요 (conjugated form) walk : 걸 walk + 을 수 있어요 can

*걸을 수 있어요 (Polite form) can walk

 

저는 빨리 걸을 수 있어요. (빨리 fast)

 I can walk fast.

 

4-2. If the stem of the infinitive verb or adjective, whose last syllable has the bottom consonant ㄷ (CVC form), and if the bottom consonantㄷ is not dropped during its conjugation, we keep the infinitive stem and 을 수 있어요 is added after the stem. This is because the bottom consonant of the stem is fixed.       

Ex)

받다 (infinitive  verb) to receive

받다 → 받아요 (conjugated stem) receive : 받receive + 을 수 있어요 can

*받을 수 있어요 (Polite form) can receive

 

저는 당신의 문자를 받을 수 있어요. (문자 text message)

I can receive your text message.

 

 

 

5-1. If the stem of the infinitive verb or adjective, whose last syllable has the bottom consonant ㅂ (CVC form), and if the bottom consonant ㅂ is dropped during its conjugation, then instead of using the infinitive stem, we keep the conjugated stem and 울 수 있어요 is added after the stem. 

Ex)

굽다 (infinitive  verb) to bake

굽다 → 구워요 (conjugated form) bake : 구 bake +울 수 있어요 can

*구울 수 있어요 (Polite form) can bake

 

저는 고기를 실내에서 구울 수 있어요. (고기meat, 실내indoors)

I can bake meat indoors.

 

5-2. If the stem of the infinitive verb or adjective, whose last syllable has the bottom consonant ㅂ (CVC form), and if the bottom consonant ㅂ is not dropped during its conjugation, we keep the infinitive stem and을 수 있어요 is added after the stem.                                                                                                            

Ex)

잡다 (infinitive  verb) to catch

잡다 → 잡아요 (conjugated form) catch : 잡 catch + 을 수 있어요 can

*잡을 수 있어요 (Polite form) can catch

 

저는 그들을 잡을 수 있어요.

I can catch them.

 

6-1. If the stem of the infinitive verb or adjective, whose last syllable has the bottom consonant ㅅ (CVC form), and if the bottom consonant ㅅ is dropped during its conjugation, then instead of using the infinitive stem, we keep the conjugated stem and 을 수 있어요 is added after the stem. 

stem.                                                                                                            

Ex)

짓다 (infinitive  verb) to build

짓다 → 지어요 (conjugated form) build: 지 build + 을 수 있어요 can

*지을 수 있어요 (Polite form) can build

 

저는 집을 지을 수 있어요.

I can build a house.

 

 

6-2. If the stem of the infinitive verb or adjective, whose last syllable has the bottom consonant ㅅ (CVC form), and if the bottom consonant ㅅ is not dropped during its conjugation, we keep the infinitive stem and 을 수 있어요 is added after the stem.                                                                                                            

Ex)

웃다 (infinitive  verb) to smile

웃다 → 웃어요 (conjugated form) smile : 웃 smile + 을 수 있어요 can

*웃을 수 있어요 (Polite form) can smile

 

저는 환하게 웃을 수 있어요.

I can smile brightly.