Middle School - Grade 7
Lesson 12: "Know how to..."
-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다
Expressing Skill vs. Ability
This grammar point is used to talk about whether you possess the **skill** or **knowledge** to do something.
It's different from `-(으)ㄹ 수 있다/없다` (can/cannot), which is about your *general ability* or the *situation* allowing it.
The Conjugation Rules
This attaches to action verb stems. `알다` means "to know" and `모르다` means "to not know."
Stem ends in Vowel or ㄹ
... + ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다
운전하다 운전하ㄹ 줄 알아요
"I know how to drive."
Stem ends in Consonant (except ㄹ)
... + 을 줄 알다/모르다
읽다 읽을 줄 몰라요
"I don't know how to read (it)."
Examples in Action
ASKING ABOUT SKILL
수영할 줄 알아요?
Do you know how to swim?
STATING LACK OF SKILL
김치를 만들 줄 몰라요.
I don't know how to make kimchi.
Key Distinction: "Skill" vs. "Ability"
`-(으)ㄹ 줄 모르다` (Skill)
수영할 줄 몰라요. = "I don't know how to swim." (I never learned the skill.)
`-(으)ㄹ 수 없다` (Ability/Situation)
수영할 수 없어요. = "I can't swim." (Maybe I'm sick today, or the pool is closed. It doesn't mean I don't know how.)
Coming Up Next...
You've learned how to talk about your plans, intentions, and skills. Next, let's learn how to talk about decisions you've made: "I've decided to..."