V-(으)ㄹ 수 있다/없다

can

Explanation

This pattern expresses ability or possibility.

When someone or something is able to do something, or when something is possible, -()ㄹ 수 있다 is used, and when someone or something is not able to do something, or when something is not possible, -()ㄹ 수 없다 is used.

In English it means 'can'. When a verb stem ends in a vowel or , -ㄹ 수 있다/없다 is used, and when a verb stem ends in a consonant, -을 수 있다/없다 is used.

Details

Adding the particle -가 to -(으)ㄹ 수 있다/없다 to form -(으)ㄹ 수가 있다/없다 makes the phrase more emphatic in meaning than -(으)ㄹ 수 있다/없다 alone.

떡볶이가 매워서 먹을 수 없어요.
The ddeokbokki is spicy, so I can't eat it.
맥볶이가 매워서 먹을 수가 없어요.
The ddeokbokki is so spicy that I (really) can't eat it.
길이 막혀서 갈 수 없어요.
There's a lot of traffic, so I won't be able to make it.
길이 막혀서 갈 수가 없어요.
There's so much traffic that I really can't make it no matter what.

Kimchi Reader

A pattern to expresses when someone is able to do something or when something is possible.

Details

Emphasis with 수가

The particle can be added to to make the sentence more emphatic.

그렇게 사랑했던 두 사람이 헤어지다니 믿을 수가 없어요.
I can't believe that the two people who loved each other so much broke up.

Examples
<span class='focus'>운전할 수 있어요</span>.
I can drive.
저는 그 사실을 <span class='focus'>믿을 수 없어요</span>.
I can't believe that.
이 영화를 <span class='focus'>볼 수 있어요.</span>
(We) can see this movie.

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