Present
현재 · now and habits: polite, formal and casual speech
| Form | Polite | Formal | Casual |
|---|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI am unable | |||
| NegativeI am not unable |
Conjugation
Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.
Past
과거 · finished actions: 갔어요, 갔습니다, 갔어
| Form | Polite | Formal | Casual |
|---|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI was unable | |||
| NegativeI was not unable |
Future
미래 · plans and guesses: -(으)ㄹ 거예요
| Form | Polite | Formal | Casual |
|---|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI will be unable | |||
| NegativeI won’t be unable |
Honorific
높임말 · to or about an elder: the -시- forms
| Form | Polite | Formal |
|---|---|---|
| PresentI am unable (respectfully) | ||
| PastI was unable (respectfully) | ||
| FutureI will be unable (respectfully) |
Connectives
연결 어미 · and, so, if, because, but: joining two sentences
- And (-고) being unable, and…, and…
- So, and then (-아/어서) being unable, and…, so…
- If, when (-(으)면) if I am unable
- Because (-(으)니까) because I am unable
- But (-지만) I am unable, but…
How to use 못하다
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present
저는 아직 운전을 잘 못해요.
I still can't drive well.
-
Past
어제는 바빠서 운동을 못했어요.
Yesterday I was busy, so I couldn't exercise.
-
Future
다음 주에는 출장 때문에 수업을 못할 거예요.
Next week I won't be able to do the class because of a business trip.
-
Honorific
할머니는 눈이 나빠서 이제 바느질을 못하세요.
Grandma's eyes are bad, so she can't sew anymore.
-
Connectives
수영을 못해서 바다에 안 들어가요.
I can't swim, so I don't go in the sea.
Good to know
- 못 before a verb is can't, 못 가요; 못하다 on its own is to be bad at it: 저는 노래를 못해요.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: 하다 verb.