Korean grammar - Negation and cannot/unable - 안 and 못

Negation and cannot/unable - 안 and 못

Pattern: 안 and 못

The particles 안 and 못 are used to negate statements.

They are inserted immediately before the verb.

• 안 means 'not' or 'do not'

• 못 means 'not able' or 'cannot' both in the sense of ability and permission.

You will often see 못 prefaced with 잘 ⇒ 잘 못 meaning 'cannot do something well'.

Note that 못하다 (with no space) is itself a verb meaning 'to not be able to do (something) well'.

Examples:
	저는 아침을 안 먹어요. I do not eat breakfast. 먹어요 ⇒ 안 먹어요 아침 means 'morning' but here with the object marker 을 means 'breakfast'
	저는 텔레비전을 자주 안 봐요. I do not often watch TV. 봐요 ⇒ 안 봐요 자주 means 'often'
	저는 술을 안 마셔요. I do not drink alcohol. 마셔요 ⇒ 안 마셔요 술 means 'alcohol (beverage)'
	저는 술을 못 마셔요. I can’t drink alcohol. 마셔요 ⇒ 못 마셔요
	어머니는 골프를 못 쳐요. (My) mother cannot play golf. 쳐요 ⇒ 못 쳐요 골프 치다 means 'to play golf' 치다 means 'to hit'
	친구는 게임을 안 해요. (My) friend does not play games. 해요 ⇒ 안 해요 게임 하다 means 'to play (a) game'
	저는 스키를 못 타요. I cannot ski (well). 타요 ⇒ 못 타요 스키 타다 means 'to ski' 타다 means 'to ride' or 'to take (transport)'
	저는 담배를 안 피워요. I do not smoke. 피워요 ⇒ 안 피워요 담배 means 'tabaco' or 'cigarette' 피우다 means 'to smoke'
	여동생은 요리를 잘 못해요. (My) younger sister cannot cook well. 해요 ⇒ 잘 못해요 못하다 (with no space) means 'to not be able to do (something) well' 잘 means 'well' or 'in a good way'
	제 여자 친구는 영어를 잘 못해요. My girlfriend cannot speak English well. 해요 ⇒ 잘 못해요 못하다 means 'to not be able to do (something) well 영어 means 'English language'