How to use 을/ㄹ 줄 알아요 in Korean

Pattern: -(으)ㄹ 줄 알아요

-(으)ㄹ 줄 알아요 (-(eu)ㄹjulal-a-yo, (eu)ㄹjulalayo)

-(으)ㄹ 줄 알아요 expresses ability or knowledge of how to do something. It's often used to talk about skills or ask if someone can do something.

Example of Korean grammar 을 줄 알아요 usage

Usage guide

When and how native speakers actually use it.

-(으)ㄹ 줄 알아요(-(eu)ㄹjulal-a-yo, (eu)ㄹjulalayo)

Indicates knowing how to do something or having the ability to do it.

When to use

Expressing ability, Asking how to do something, Describing experience

The nuance

Attach -(으)ㄹ 줄 알아요 to the verb stem. Use -을 줄 알아요 if the stem ends with a consonant, -ㄹ 줄 알아요 if it ends with a vowel. It expresses ability or knowledge of how to do something, used to ask or state skills.

Real-world examples

  • 저는 한국어를 할 줄 알아요.

    jeo-neun han-guk-eo-reul hal jul al-a-yo., jeo neun han guk eo reul hal jul al a yo.

    Verb '하다' + '-ㄹ 줄 알아요' correctly expresses ability.

  • 그는 수영할 줄 알아요.

    geu-neun su-yeong-hal jul al-a-yo., geu neun su yeong hal jul al a yo.

    Stem '수영하' + '-ㄹ 줄 알아요' correctly shows ability.

  • 저는 피아노를 칠 줄 알아요.

    jeo-neun pi-a-no-reul chil jul al-a-yo., jeo neun pi a no reul chil jul al a yo.

    Stem ends with consonant '치' → '칠 줄 알아요' is correct.

  • 그녀는 운전할 줄 몰라요.

    geu-nyeo-neun un-jeon-hal jul mol-ra-yo., geu nyeo neun un jeon hal jul mol ra yo.

    Negative form correctly expresses inability.

  • 나는 요리할 줄 알다.

    na-neun yo-ri-hal jul al-da., na neun yo ri hal jul al da.

    Incorrect verb ending; must be '-아요/어요' for present tense.

  • 그는 춤출 줄 알아요.

    geu-neun chum-chul jul al-a-yo., geu neun chum chul jul al a yo.

    Incorrect stem form; '춤출' is not correct.

  • 저는 영어를 말 줄 알아요.

    jeo-neun yeong-eo-reul mal jul al-a-yo., jeo neun yeong eo reul mal jul al a yo.

    Wrong verb stem; correct is '말할 줄 알아요'.

Quick quiz

  1. Which sentence is correct?

    다음 중 올바른 문장은?(da-eumjungol-ba-reunmun-jang-eun?, daeumjungolbareunmunjangeun?)
  2. What does '운전할 줄 몰라요' mean?

    ‘운전할 줄 몰라요’의 의미는?(‘un-jeon-haljulmol-ra-yo’uiui-mi-neun?, ‘unjeonhaljulmolrayo’uiuimineun?)
  3. What is the correct '-(으)ㄹ 줄 알아요' form for '먹다'?

    ‘먹다’ 동사에 맞는 '-(으)ㄹ 줄 알아요' 형태는?(‘meok-da’dong-sa-emaj-neun'-(eu)ㄹjulal-a-yo'hyeong-tae-neun?, ‘meokda’dongsaemajneun'(eu)ㄹjulalayo'hyeongtaeneun?)

More usage guides

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