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-(으)ㄹ 수 있다

-(eu)l su itda

Not ability — an open door

The picture A door stands ahead of you. If it's open, you can walk through. What opened it might be your skill, a rule, or just today's schedule. -ㄹ 수 있다 is the door in front of you standing open; 못 is a wall someone else built in the same spot. Open way versus blocked way.

Everyday expressions

Where the picture shows up in -(으)ㄹ 수 있다

  1. your skill opens the door

    저는 운전할 수 있어요.

    jeo-neun un-jeon-hal su i-sseo-yo

    I can drive.

    Your own hand turns the key in the driver's seat, and the door in front of you swings open.

  2. asking whether the rule opens it

    여기서 사진 찍을 수 있어요?

    yeo-gi-seo sa-jin jji-geul su i-sseo-yo

    Can I take photos here?

    Looking up at the posted sign before raising the camera, letting the notice say whether the door is open.

    The same form does duty for asking permission.

  3. today's circumstances open it

    오늘은 일찍 갈 수 있어요.

    o-neu-reun il-jjik gal su i-sseo-yo

    I can leave early today.

    Today's box on the calendar is empty, so the door out of work stands wide open.

    Nothing to do with skill — the door is open only today.

  4. you open the door for someone

    제가 도와드릴 수 있어요.

    je-ga do-wa-deu-ril su i-sseo-yo

    I can give you a hand.

    You at the door, hand on the handle, pushing it open toward the other person.

  5. the door of possibility is ajar

    비가 올 수도 있어요.

    bi-ga ol su-do i-sseo-yo

    It might rain.

    The door not fully open — just a hand's width ajar.

    With 수도 it leans away from ability and toward likelihood.

All of it in one picture

-ㄹ 수 있다 is one door standing in front of you. Your own hand on the key opens it and that reads as skill; a posted sign opens it and that reads as permission; an empty box on the calendar opens it and that reads as today's slack; your hand on the handle opens it for someone and that reads as help; a hand's width ajar and that reads as possibility. Across all five, what changes is who opened the door, never the door itself. So -ㄹ 수 있다 is never a boast about your ability — it is a report that the way is open right now.

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