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Lesson 15
Lesson 15
Permission / Prohibition in Korean. (Im)possibility
44. Sentences like ‘I can/can’t do this.’ 이 일을 할 수 있습니다/없습니다. /i irɯɭ haɭ sʰu issɯmnida/ʌ̹psɯmnida/
The construction meaning the physical possibility or impossibility of performing an action in Korean is built according to the model: the verb in the form of the future participle + the particle 수 /sʰu/ + the verb 있다 /itta/ or 없다 /ʌ̹pta/.
Exercises
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I can do this. |
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If I go to a tea shop, can I meet a friend? |
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I’m sick. Therefore, I can’t go to school. |
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The weather is too hot. Therefore, I can’t study. |
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I can read Chinese characters easily. |
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I can eat Korean food. |
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I can’t leave the house now. |
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I also can’t wait. |
Additional vocabulary
몸 | body | |
아프다 | to be painful, to hurt | |
쉽다 | to be easy | |
쉽게 | easily | |
떠나다 | to leave | |
45. Sentences like ‘You can’t go now.’ 지금 가면 안 됩니다. /t͡ɕigɯm kamjʌ̹n an twemnida/
The prohibition of an action is formed as follows: A verb with the ending -면 /mjʌ̹n/ + 안 되다 /an tweda/.
Exercises
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You can’t go now. |
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You can’t go there. |
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You can’t smoke here./Smoking is not allowed here. |
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You can’t drink a lot of beer. |
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It can’t be too difficult. |
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You can’t swim here. |
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You may/must not (or are not allowed to) speak Russian in class. |
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You can’t go too fast. |
Additional vocabulary
담배 | tobacco, cigarette | |
담배를 피우다 | to smoke | |
많이 | many, much, a lot | |
어렵다 | to be difficult/ hard | |
수영하다 | to swim | |
빨리 | quickly, fast | |
46. Sentences like ‘May I go home?’ 집에 가도 됩니까? /t͡ɕibe kado twemnikka?/
The action permission is formed in Korean by the following model: the second verb stem + the particle 도 (to/do) + the verb 되다 /tweda/.
Exercises
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May I go home? |
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May I open this door? |
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May I come in? |
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You may stay there. |
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You may eat this cookie. |
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May I smoke? |
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May I sing? |
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You may sleep. |
Additional vocabulary
과자 cookie, etc.