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Korean grammar

Saying you cannot

못

A0 · Starter Saying no Questions 10

The rule

안 is a choice; 못 is an inability. 안 가요 means I am not going, 못 가요 means I cannot. It sits in front of the verb with a space and splits X하다 the same way: 운동 못 해요. It only works with action verbs — an adjective cannot be "unable".

Pattern

못 + 동사 · 명사 + 못 해요

Examples

  1. 오늘 회사에 못 가요.

    I cannot come to work today.

  2. 한국어를 잘 못 해요.

    I cannot speak Korean well.

  3. 매운 음식은 못 먹어요.

    I cannot eat spicy food.

Keep in mind

  • 안 가요

    I choose not to go

  • 못 가요

    I am not able to go

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    Which form is right?

    오늘 아파서 회사에 _____.

    1. 못 가요
    2. 가 못 요
    3. 안 가요
    4. 못가요
    Show answer

    Answer: A 못 가요

    Illness is an inability.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    Which form is right?

    저는 고기를 좋아하지 않아요. 그래서 고기를 _____.

    1. 못 먹어요
    2. 안먹어요
    3. 먹 안 어요
    4. 안 먹어요
    Show answer

    Answer: D 안 먹어요

    A preference is a choice.

  3. 3Choose the correct sentence.

    Which form is right?

    한국어를 잘 _____. 조금만 해요.

    1. 해 못 요
    2. 못 해요
    3. 안 해요
    4. 못해요
    Show answer

    Answer: B 못 해요

    Ability, not choice.

  4. 4Choose the correct sentence.

    Which form is right?

    시간이 없어서 오늘 _____. (운동하다)

    1. 운동해 못 요
    2. 못 운동해요
    3. 운동 못 해요
    4. 운동못해요
    Show answer

    Answer: C 운동 못 해요

    X하다 splits around 못 too.

  5. 5This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is correct?

    —

    1. 매운 음식은 먹 못 어요.
    2. 매운 음식은 못 먹어요.
    3. 매운 음식은 안 못 먹어요.
    4. 매운 음식은 못먹어요.
    Show answer

    Answer: B 매운 음식은 못 먹어요.

    A space, and only one negator.

  6. 6This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is correct?

    —

    1. 제 휴대폰을 못 찾아요.
    2. 제 휴대폰을 안 찾아요.
    3. 제 휴대폰이 못 찾아요.
    4. 제 휴대폰을 못찾아요.
    Show answer

    Answer: A 제 휴대폰을 못 찾아요.

    Not finding it is an inability.

  7. 7Fill in the gap.

    Which form is right?

    오늘 저녁에 _____. 약속이 있어요.

    1. 못만나요
    2. 안 만나요
    3. 만나 못 요
    4. 못 만나요
    Show answer

    Answer: D 오늘 저녁에 못 만나요. 약속이 있어요.

    Another appointment prevents it.

  8. 8Fill in the gap.

    Which form is right?

    잠을 잘 _____. 너무 시끄러워요.

    1. 못자요
    2. 자 못 요
    3. 안 자요
    4. 못 자요
    Show answer

    Answer: D 잠을 잘 못 자요. 너무 시끄러워요.

    Noise prevents it.

  9. 9Put the words in the right order.

    Build the sentence.

    가요. 못 오늘 회사에

    Show answer

    Answer: 오늘 회사에 못 가요.

  10. 10Put the words in the right order.

    Build the sentence.

    해요. 못 운동

    Show answer

    Answer: 운동 못 해요.

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