지 못하다

Table of content

Lack of ability

cannot

A pattern to expresses the subject's inability to do something or the fact that something does not go according to the subject's will.

Example

제 동생은 스케이트를 타지 못해요.

My younger sibling cannot skate.
우리는 삼 일 동안 협상하였지만, 거래를 하지 못했습니다.

We negotiated for three days, but we couldn't make a deal.

Some of the pattern(s) used in this grammar

못+V is another way to use this pattern.

With 하다 verbs, 하지 못하다 can be shortened to 치 못하다. Specifically after voiced support consonants such as ㄴ; ㅇ; ㅁ; ㄹ.

This shortened form also applies to other negated grammar such as 지 않다 and 지 말다

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