The rule for putting a verb into the short negative form is simple: place immediately before the verb one of the two negative words 안 and 못.
However, DESCRIPTIVE verbs (translated is. . .) cannot take the short negative with 못 in this way; instead you must use the long form that is optional for the other verbs. (The long negative form is discussed later, in lesson 12).
안 is an abbreviation of 아니 no; the full form is used before the copula (아니에요 it isn’t.. It is a simple negative word meaning not.
못 basically means cannot, but can also be more emphatic than 아니. Its meaning ranges from not possibly, cannot to emphatically (definitely, absolutely) not; not at all.
Pronunciation of 못
You will never hear the ㅅ written in the word 못, because it never occurs in those environments where the ㅅ can be released ? before a particle or the copula -이에요. When 못 precedes a verb beginning with /i-/ or /y-/ it is usual for the sequence to be pronounced /-nni-/ or /-nny-/. So when one wants to say 못 읽어요 can’t read; doesn’t read at all, the form is pronounced [몬닐거요], and when one wants to say 못 열어요 can’t open it, doesn’t open it at all, the form is pronounced [몬녀러요]. One may occasionally hear versions of these sequences with the final ㅅ retained as un-released ㄷ: 못 읽어요 as [모딜거요], 못 열어요 as [모뎌러요].
Here are some examples of 안 and 못:
- 우리 애기는 잘 안 자요.
My baby doesn’t sleep well [or much]. - 요즘은 잘 못 자요.
Lately I can’t sleep well. - 나는 술을 못 마셔요.
I can’t drink (alcohol) [I am allergic to alcohol]. - 나는 술을 안 마셔요.
I don’t drink (alcohol) [as a matter of personal policy? it is my conscious decision]. - 비싸요? 아니오, 안 비싸요. 싸요.
Is it expensive? No, it’s not expensive. It’s cheap. - 빵 먹어요? 아니오, 안 먹어요.
Do you eat bread? No, I don’t [I just don’t like it]. - 빵 먹어요? 아니오, 못 먹어요.
Do you eat bread? No, I can’t [I’m allergic to wheat-based foods]. - 학교에 가요? 아니오, 안 가요.
Are you going to school? No, I’m not [I’ve decided to skip class today]. - 학교에 가요? 아니오, 못 가요.
Are you going to school? No, I’ can’t [I have a doctor’s appointment]. - A. 야구 좋아해요? Do you like baseball?
B.아니오, 안 좋아해요. [not 좋아 안 해요! ]
No, I don’t. - A. 한국신문을 읽으세요? Do you read Korean newspapers?
B.아직 못 읽어요. I can’t read [them] yet. - 수영을 해요? 아니오, 못해요.
Do you swim? No, I can’t swim. - 만호씨는 오늘 안 와요.
Manho doesn’t come today. - 만호씨는 오늘 못 와요.
Manho can’t come today. - 나는 한국신문을 못 읽어요.
I can’t read Korean newspapers. - 나는 한국신문을 안 읽어요.
I don’t read Korean newspapers [I choose not to].