Middle School - Grade 7
Lesson 3: Permission
-(아/어)도 되다 (May / It's okay to...)
"May I...?" vs. "Must I...?"
You've learned how to say "I *must* do" (`-야 되다`) and "I *must not* do" (`-으면 안 되다`).
Now, let's learn how to ask for permission ("May I...?") and how to give it ("It's okay to...").
The grammar for "it's okay to..." is `-(아/어)도 되다`. It literally means "even if... it's okay."
Rule 1: Asking/Giving Permission (`-(아/어)도 되다`)
This *also* follows the exact same `아요/어요` conjugation rules!
If stem's last vowel is `ㅏ` or `ㅗ`
Add -아도 되다
가다 가 + 도 되다 가도 돼요? (May I go?)
앉다 앉 + 아도 되다 앉아도 돼요. (It's okay to sit.)
If stem's last vowel is *not* `ㅏ` or `ㅗ`
Add -어도 되다
먹다 먹 + 어도 되다 먹어도 돼요? (May I eat?)
If verb is `하다`
Becomes 해도 되다
전화하다 전화해도 돼요. (It's okay to call.)
Example Conversation
저기요... 여기 앉아도 돼요?
(Excuse me... May I sit here?)
네, 앉아도 돼요.
(Yes, it's okay to sit.)
(Or, to deny permission...)
아니요, 앉으면 안 돼요.
(No, you must not sit.)
Crucial Difference: "Don't Have To"
What if you want to say "You don't *have* to..."? This is completely different from "You *must not*."
"Must Not" (Prohibition)
`-(으)면 안 되다`
가면 안 돼요.
(You must not go.)
"Don't Have To" (No Obligation)
`안 -(아/어)도 되다`
안 가도 돼요.
(You don't have to go.)
Example Question:
`지금 가야 돼요?` (Do I have to go now?)
Possible Answers:
`아니요, 안 가도 돼요.` (No, you don't have to go.)
`네, 가면 안 돼요.` (Yes, you must not go.) (Doesn't make sense here!)