못 V-아/어요
Inability negation. Expresses inability to do something or impossibility. Alternative to V-지 못해요.
Formation
못 + Verb. 못 가요 (cannot go), 못 먹어요 (cannot eat), 못 해요 (cannot do). Past: 못 갔어요, 못 먹었어요. Future: 못 갈 거예요, 못 먹을 거예요.
Examples
한국어를 못 해요.
hangugeoreul mot haeyo
I cannot do Korean (I am not good at Korean).
Expressing inability
오늘 모임에 못 가요.
oneul moime mot gayo
I cannot go to the meeting today (due to circumstances).
Cannot due to circumstances
Usage
Used to express inability or impossibility. 못 means "cannot" due to lack of ability or external circumstances. Placed before the verb. Different from 안 (not) - 못 implies inability, not just negation.
Notes
Inability marker: 못. Placed before the verb. 못 + Verb. Works with all tenses: 못 가요 (present), 못 갔어요 (past), 못 갈 거예요 (future). 하다 verbs: 못 해요.
Formation
Examples
Notes
- Inability marker: 못.
- Placed before the verb.
- 못 + Verb.
- Works with all tenses: 못 가요 (present), 못 갔어요 (past), 못 갈 거예요 (future).
- 하다 verbs: 못 해요.
Usage
- Used to express inability or impossibility.
- 못 means "cannot" due to lack of ability or external circumstances.
- Placed before the verb.
- Different from 안 (not) - 못 implies inability, not just negation.
See Also
No cross-references available.