Lesson 36 · Asking Permission: -아/어도 돼요
Hyeju’s Beginner Korean · Lesson 36 · Grammar
Asking Permission: -아/어도 돼요
Learn Asking Permission: -아/어도 돼요 with form rules, natural examples, common mistakes, romanization, and six practice questions with answers.
Introduction / Review
Ask whether an action is allowed with -아/어도 돼요? A reply with the same form grants permission. Use it in classrooms, dormitories, and shared facilities.
N = noun; V = action verb; A = descriptive verb. Romanization is a reading aid.
Today’s Grammar / Explanation
- Use the familiar 아/어 form + 도 돼요: 가다 → 가도 돼요; 먹다 → 먹어도 돼요; 하다 → 해도 돼요.
- Contractions and irregulars apply: 보다 → 봐도 돼요; 듣다 → 들어도 돼요; 쓰다 → 써도 돼요.
- 돼요 is a contraction of 되어요. Write 먹어도 돼요 with a space before 돼요.
Examples
여기에 앉아도 돼요?
yeogie anjado dwaeyo
May I sit here?
창문을 열어도 돼요?
changmuneul yeoreodo dwaeyo
May I open the window?
이 펜을 써도 돼요?
i peneul sseodo dwaeyo
May I use this pen?
여기에서 사진을 찍어도 돼요.
yeogieseo sajineul jjigeodo dwaeyo
You may take photos here.
오늘은 안 와도 돼요.
oneureun an wado dwaeyo
You don’t have to come today.
사용해도 돼요.
sayonghaedo dwaeyo
You may use it.
Compare with similar grammar
LESSON 37
-아/어야 해요
보고서를 내일까지 내야 해요.An obligation, “have to”. -아/어도 돼요 gives permission, “may”.
Look ahead: Lesson 37 →LESSON 38
-(으)ㄹ 수 있어요
이 주차장은 24시간 이용할 수 있어요.Ability or possibility, “can”. -아/어도 돼요 is about permission.
Look ahead: Lesson 38 →LESSON 64
-(으)면
숙제를 다 하면 놀아도 돼요.Combine with -(으)면 for conditions: “If you finish, you may…”.
Look ahead: Lesson 64 →| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -아/어도 돼요 | may, it’s okay to | 먹어도 돼요 |
| -(으)면 안 돼요 | must not | 먹으면 안 돼요 |
| -아/어야 해요 | have to | 먹어야 해요 |
| 안 -아/어도 돼요 | don’t have to | 안 먹어도 돼요 |
Common mistakes
안 해도 돼요 means “You do not have to do it,” not “You must not do it.” To refuse permission, use -지 마세요 or the useful extension -(으)면 안 돼요. That extension is recognition material here, not a required quiz form.
Permission uses 돼요 (되다), not 해요.
도 attaches to the -아/어 form: 먹어도.
“Must not” is -(으)면 안 돼요.
The spelling is 돼요 (되 + 어요), not 되요.
Mini practice · six questions
All sentences below are new. Try each one before opening the answer.
- Fill in the blank이 펜 좀 ______? (쓰다)
Check answer
이 펜 좀 써도 돼요?
쓰다 → 써 + 도 돼요. “May I use this pen?”
- Fill in the blankA: 내일 일찍 와야 해요? B: 아니요, 일찍 ______. (안 오다)
Check answer
아니요, 일찍 안 와도 돼요.
“You don’t have to” → 안 + 와도 돼요.
- Choose the correct form박물관 안에서 사진을 찍으면 (안 돼요 / 돼요). 금지예요.
Check answer
안 돼요
It’s prohibited (금지), so -(으)면 안 돼요.
- Choose the better form피곤하면 먼저 (가도 돼요 / 가야 돼요).
Check answer
가도 돼요
You’re giving permission, not an order.
- Find and fix the mistake여기에 주차해도 되요?
Check answer
여기에 주차해도 돼요?
Spelling: 돼요, not 되요.
- Say it in KoreanMay I turn on the air conditioner?
Check answer
에어컨을 켜도 돼요?
켜다 → 켜 + 도 돼요?
Today’s Key Point
아/어도 돼요 asks or grants permission; 안 …-아/어도 돼요 means no obligation; spell 돼요.
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