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Easy Korean Level 4 - Unit 8: It is okay to..., You don't have to... / -아/어/여도 돼요, 안 -아/어/여도 돼요

In this lesson, we will learn how to give permission ("It is okay to...") and how to say "You don't have to..."

1. It is okay to... / -아/어/여도 돼요

To say "It is okay to (do something)" or "You may (do something)", attach -아/어/여도 돼요 to the verb stem.

Conjugation

This follows the same conjugation rules as the present tense (-아요/어요), but instead of 요, you add -도 돼요. - 가다 (to go) -> 가도 돼요. (It is okay to go. / You may go.) - 먹다 (to eat) -> 먹어도 돼요. (It is okay to eat. / You may eat.) - 하다 (to do) -> 해도 돼요. (It is okay to do it. / You may do it.)

Asking for permission: Simply raise your intonation at the end to make it a question! - 이거 먹어도 돼요? (Is it okay if I eat this? / Can I eat this?) - 내일 와도 돼요? (Is it okay if I come tomorrow?)

2. You don't have to... / 안 -아/어/여도 돼요

To say "You don't have to (do something)" or "It is okay NOT to (do something)", simply add 안 (not) in front of the verb, or use the negative ending -지 않아도 돼요.

  • 안 가도 돼요. = 가지 않아도 돼요. (You don't have to go. / It is okay not to go.)
  • 안 해도 돼요. = 하지 않아도 돼요. (You don't have to do it.)

Examples

  1. 사진을 찍다 (to take a picture)
  2. 여기서 사진을 찍어도 돼요? (Can I take pictures here?)

  3. 네, 찍어도 돼요. (Yes, you may take pictures.)

  4. 기다리다 (to wait)

  5. 저 안 기다려도 돼요. 먼저 가세요. (You don't have to wait for me. Go ahead first.)

  6. 맵다 (to be spicy - ㅂ irregular)

  7. 매워도 돼요? (Is it okay if it's spicy?)
  8. 네, 매워도 돼요. (Yes, it's okay if it's spicy.)