영어를 할 수 있어요
yeong-eoreul hal su isseoyo
The English phrase "I can speak english" is translated into Korean as 영어를 할 수 있어요 (yeong-eoreul hal su isseoyo).
This phrase is used to inform someone that you have the ability to communicate in the English language.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 영어 (yeong-eo), which means the English language. And 할 수 있어요 (hal su isseoyo), a grammatical construction meaning "can do" or "am able to do".
Which one should you use?
While 영어를 할 수 있어요 emphasizes your ability or capability to speak English, the phrase 영어를 해요 simply states the action of speaking English.
How does it change in a sentence?
The level of politeness is determined by the sentence ending. The default form 영어를 할 수 있어요 uses the polite ending '-어요'. Replacing '있어요' with '있습니다' to create 영어를 할 수 있습니다 makes the sentence highly formal.
How do you pronounce it?
yeong-eoreul hal su isseoyo
Did you know?
- The word 수 in this phrase is a dependent noun derived from a Sino-Korean word meaning 'hand' or 'way'.
- While 영어를 할 수 있어요 claims you can speak English, saying it with a questioning intonation is a common way to ask if the other person can speak it.
- In older Korean, you might have used the native word 줄 (jul) instead of 수 (su) to express your ability to do something.
Examples in context
- 영어를 할 수 있어요.I can speak English.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase 영어를 할 수 있어요.Tatoeba #13174568 by atitarev, translation #256187 by CK
- 네, 저는 영어를 할 수 있습니다Yes, I can speak English
- 응, 나는 영어를 할 수 있어Yeah, I can speak English
- 조금이지만 영어를 할 수 있어요.jogeum-ijiman yeong-eoreul hal su isseoyo.I can speak English, even if it is just a little.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their language skills.
- 서연 Seo-yeon현우 씨는 영어를 할 수 있어요?Hyeon-u ssineun yeong-eoreul hal su isseoyo?Hyunwoo, can you speak English?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo네, 영어를 할 수 있어요.ne, yeong-eoreul hal su isseoyo.Yes, I can speak English.
- 서연 Seo-yeon와, 정말 대단해요!wa, jeongmal daedanhaeyo!Wow, that's really impressive!
- 현우 Hyeon-woo아니에요, 아직 많이 부족해요.anieyo, ajik manhi bujokhaeyo.No, I still have a long way to go.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 수, 할, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
