LESSON 39

“Knows” and “Can”

To say someone knows something or someone, you use the verb arayo (a-l-); the negative of this is a special verb, mollayo (moreu-) does not know. These verbs are often used with the FUTURE gesseoyo, even though the English translation uses the present:

Arayo?

알아요?

Do you know?

Geu-ga moreujiman geu saram abeoji-neun arayo.

그가 모르지만 그 사람 아버지는 알아요.

He doesn’t know but his father knows.

You will recall that the future sometimes means just a PROBABLE PRESENT. Notice the deferential way in English we say:

Gicha-ga tteonaneun sigan arayo?

기차가 떠나는 시간 알아요?

Would you know what time the train leaves?

Seoul-e dochak haneun sigan-eul moreugesseoyo.

서울에 도착하는 시간을 모르겠어요

I wouldn’t know what time it gets to Seoul.

(tteonada- = leave, dochak hada- = arrive.)

To say someone knows THAT something happened, you say someone knows the FACT (geot) that something happened:

Gitcha-ga beolsseo tteonan geol aseyo?

기차가 벌써 떠난 걸 아세요?

Do you know (realize) that the train has already left?

Note: The verb arayo sometimes means realizes, finds out.

To say someone knows HOW TO do something, you use the future modifier -eul followed by the word jul and arayo:

Yeongeo hal jul aseyo?

영어 할 줄 아세요?

Do you know how to speak English? Can you speak English?

Hangukmaleul jal hal jul mollayo.

한국말을 잘 할 줄 몰라요.

I don’t know how to speak Korean very well.

Hangeul-eul sseul jul moreujiman, gongbu hago sipeunde gareuchyeo juseyo.

한글을 쓸 줄 모르지만, 공부하고 싶은데 가르쳐 주세요.

I don’t know how to write Korean script (Hangeul) but I want to study it, so please teach (gareuchi-) me a little.

Suyeong hasil jul aseyo?

수영 하실 줄 아세요?

Do you know how to swim?

(suyeong- = swim, suyeong haeyo = swims.)

You will notice that this expression -eul jjul arayo (and its negative -eul jjul mollayo) is sometimes translated knows how to (doesn’t know how to) and sometimes can (can’t).

This is a special meaning of the English word can; the more general meaning is able to, is in a position to is expressed in Korean by the expression: -eul hal su isseoyo. The literal meaning of this expression is something like there exists the possibility to do:

Hangeul-eul sseul jul aljiman, pen-i eopseoseo, jigeum-eun sseul su eopseoyo.

한글을 쓸 줄 알지만 펜이 없어서 지금은 쓸 수 없어요.

I know how to write Korean letters but I don’t have a pen, so I can’t write (them) right now.

Sigan-i eopseoseo chungbunhi gongbu hal su eopseosseoyo.

시간이 없어서 충분히 공부 할 수 없었어요.

I didn’t have any time, so I couldn’t study enough.

Sigan-eun ijjiman don-i eopseoseo chingu mannareo nagal su-ga eopseoyo.

시간은 있지만 돈이 없어서 친구 만나러 갈수가 없어요.

I’ve got the time, but I don’t have any money so I can't go out to meet my friends.

There is still a third meaning of can—the same as the word may:

Nae haendeupon-eul sseodo gwaen chanayo.

내 핸드폰을 써도 괜찮아요.

You can (may) use my cell phone (because you have my permission).

Contrast this with:

Nae handeupon-eul sseul su isseoyo.

내 핸드폰을 쓸 수 있어요.

You can (are able to) use my cell phone (because it is working).

Here are some more examples of these expressions:

Oneul bame gonghang-e gaya haneunde jihacheol tago gal su ikkesseoyo?

오늘밤 공항에 가야하는데 지하철 타고 갈 수 있겠어요?

I have to go to the airport tonight, but will I be able to go by subway?

Jadongcha han dae ijjiman, unjeonhal su inneun saram-i inneunji moreugesseoyo.

자동차 한 대 있지만 운전할 수 있는 사람이 있는지 모르겠어요.

There is a (one) car available, but I don’t know that there is anyone who can drive it.

Unjeonhasil jul aseyo?

운전하실 줄 아세요?

Do you know how to drive?

Molla yo. Unjeonhal jul mollayo.

몰라요, 운전할 줄 몰라요.

No I don’t, I don’t know how to drive.

Geureona uri chingu-ga unjeon hal jul arayo. Geu-ga deryeoga jul su isseulgeoeyo.

그러나 우리 친구가 운전할 줄 알아요. 그가 데려갈 수 있을 거에 요.

But my friend probably knows how to drive. He will be able to take you to the airport.