🧱

Long Form Negation: 지 않다 / 지 못하다

Keywords
지 않다/지 못하다
Lesson #
S
Done
Section
Basic Grammar
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TL;DR 🦄
  • Long-form negation uses verb stem + 지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{지 않아요}} for do not / not.
  • Long-form inability uses verb stem + 지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{지 못해요}} for cannot / be unable to.
  • Examples: 가지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{가지 않아요}} [ga-ji a-na-yo], 가지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{가지 못해요}} [ga-ji mo-tae-yo].
🔊
🎧 Iru Helper Note — Use
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets to hear 가지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{가지 않아요}} and 가지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{가지 못해요}}.
 

🌈 The Big Picture

Long-form negation is the clearer, slightly more formal way to say “do not” or “cannot” in Korean. Instead of placing a short word before the verb, you attach a longer ending to the verb stem.
 
The basic idea is:
  • simple negation / not doing something → verb stem + 지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{지 않아요}}
  • inability / cannot do something → verb stem + 지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{지 못해요}}
 
This pattern is useful when you want your sentence to sound a little more complete, careful, or textbook-clear than short negation. For example, 안 가요\color{purple}{\text{안 가요}} and 가지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{가지 않아요}} both mean “I do not go,” but the long form sounds more deliberate.
 

🧩 Core Pattern

Start with the dictionary form, remove 다\color{purple}{\text{다}}, then add 지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{지 않아요}} or 지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{지 못해요}}.
 
  • 가다\color{purple}{\text{가다}} → stem 가\color{purple}{\text{가}} → 가지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{가지 않아요}} / 가지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{가지 못해요}}
  • 오다\color{purple}{\text{오다}} → stem 오\color{purple}{\text{오}} → 오지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{오지 않아요}} / 오지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{오지 못해요}}
  • 먹다\color{purple}{\text{먹다}} → stem 먹\color{purple}{\text{먹}} → 먹지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{먹지 않아요}} / 먹지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{먹지 못해요}}
  • 공부하다\color{purple}{\text{공부하다}} → stem 공부하\color{purple}{\text{공부하}} → 공부하지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{공부하지 않아요}} / 공부하지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{공부하지 못해요}}
 

🛠️ How to Build Long Negation

  1. Find the dictionary form: 가다\color{purple}{\text{가다}}, 먹다\color{purple}{\text{먹다}}, 공부하다\color{purple}{\text{공부하다}}.
  1. Remove 다\color{purple}{\text{다}} to get the verb stem: 가\color{purple}{\text{가}}, 먹\color{purple}{\text{먹}}, 공부하\color{purple}{\text{공부하}}.
  1. Add 지\color{purple}{\text{지}}.
  1. Choose the ending:
      • 않아요\color{purple}{\text{않아요}} = do not / not
      • 못해요\color{purple}{\text{못해요}} = cannot / be unable to
 

🔍 지 않아요 vs 지 못해요

  • Use 지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{지 않아요}} when the action simply does not happen.
    • 먹지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{먹지 않아요}} = I do not eat.
  • Use 지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{지 못해요}} when the action cannot happen because of ability, situation, time, or another limitation.
    • 먹지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{먹지 못해요}} = I cannot eat.
 

🔁 Short Form vs Long Form

  • 안 가요\color{purple}{\text{안 가요}} ≈ 가지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{가지 않아요}} = I do not go.
  • 못 가요\color{purple}{\text{못 가요}} ≈ 가지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{가지 못해요}} = I cannot go.
  • 안 먹어요\color{purple}{\text{안 먹어요}} ≈ 먹지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{먹지 않아요}} = I do not eat.
  • 못 먹어요\color{purple}{\text{못 먹어요}} ≈ 먹지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{먹지 못해요}} = I cannot eat.
 
The meaning is similar, but the long form makes the grammar structure more visible: verb stem + 지 + ending.
 

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

  • ❌ 가다지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{가다지 않아요}} → ✅ 가지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{가지 않아요}}
  • ❌ Using 지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{지 않아요}} for “cannot” → ✅ use 지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{지 못해요}}
  • ❌ Using 지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{지 못해요}} for simple “not” → ✅ use 지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{지 않아요}}
 

Try this exercise

Instructions
Fill each blank with 않아요\color{purple}{\text{않아요}} or 못해요\color{purple}{\text{못해요}}. Check whether the meaning is “not” or “cannot.” 🎯
1. 가지\color{purple}{\text{가지}} ＿＿＿＿
[ga-ji ＿＿＿＿] — I do not go.
Answer
않아요 — simple negation.
2. 가지\color{purple}{\text{가지}} ＿＿＿＿
[ga-ji ＿＿＿＿] — I cannot go.
Answer
못해요 — inability.
3. 오지\color{purple}{\text{오지}} ＿＿＿＿
[o-ji ＿＿＿＿] — I do not come.
Answer
않아요 — simple negation.
4. 오지\color{purple}{\text{오지}} ＿＿＿＿
[o-ji ＿＿＿＿] — I cannot come.
Answer
못해요 — inability.
5. 먹지\color{purple}{\text{먹지}} ＿＿＿＿
[meok-ji ＿＿＿＿] — I do not eat.
Answer
않아요 — simple negation.
6. 먹지\color{purple}{\text{먹지}} ＿＿＿＿
[meok-ji ＿＿＿＿] — I cannot eat.
Answer
못해요 — inability.
7. 공부하지\color{purple}{\text{공부하지}} ＿＿＿＿
[gong-bu-ha-ji ＿＿＿＿] — I do not study.
Answer
않아요 — simple negation.
8. 공부하지\color{purple}{\text{공부하지}} ＿＿＿＿
[gong-bu-ha-ji ＿＿＿＿] — I cannot study.
Answer
못해요 — inability.
9. ❌ 가다지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{가다지 않아요}} → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
가지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{가지 않아요}}
10. ❌ 먹다지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{먹다지 못해요}} → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
먹지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{먹지 못해요}}
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{지 않아요}} → do not / not
  • 지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{지 못해요}} → cannot / be unable to
  • 가다\color{purple}{\text{가다}} → go
  • 오다\color{purple}{\text{오다}} → come
  • 먹다\color{purple}{\text{먹다}} → eat
  • 공부하다\color{purple}{\text{공부하다}} → study
  • 가지\color{purple}{\text{가지}} → go + 지
  • 오지\color{purple}{\text{오지}} → come + 지
  • 먹지\color{purple}{\text{먹지}} → eat + 지
  • 공부하지\color{purple}{\text{공부하지}} → study + 지
 
📦
🎯 Practice Hub — Long Form Negation: 지 않다 / 지 못하다
 
Fill each blank with the correct long-form negation piece. Each exercise has 10 questions, A-J.

Exercise 1 — 지 않아요: Simple Negation

A. 가지 ____.\color{purple}{\text{가지 \_\_\_\_.}} [ga-ji ＿＿＿＿] (do not go)
Answer
않아요
B. 오지 ____.\color{purple}{\text{오지 \_\_\_\_.}} [o-ji ＿＿＿＿] (do not come)
Answer
않아요
C. 먹지 ____.\color{purple}{\text{먹지 \_\_\_\_.}} [meok-ji ＿＿＿＿] (do not eat)
Answer
않아요
D. 공부하지 ____.\color{purple}{\text{공부하지 \_\_\_\_.}} [gong-bu-ha-ji ＿＿＿＿] (do not study)
Answer
않아요
E. 오늘 가지 ____.\color{purple}{\text{오늘 가지 \_\_\_\_.}} [o-neul ga-ji ＿＿＿＿] (do not go today)
Answer
않아요
F. 오늘 오지 ____.\color{purple}{\text{오늘 오지 \_\_\_\_.}} [o-neul o-ji ＿＿＿＿] (do not come today)
Answer
않아요
G. 오늘 먹지 ____.\color{purple}{\text{오늘 먹지 \_\_\_\_.}} [o-neul meok-ji ＿＿＿＿] (do not eat today)
Answer
않아요
H. 오늘 공부하지 ____.\color{purple}{\text{오늘 공부하지 \_\_\_\_.}} [o-neul gong-bu-ha-ji ＿＿＿＿] (do not study today)
Answer
않아요
I. 저는 가지 ____.\color{purple}{\text{저는 가지 \_\_\_\_.}} [jeo-neun ga-ji ＿＿＿＿] (I do not go.)
Answer
않아요
J. 저는 먹지 ____.\color{purple}{\text{저는 먹지 \_\_\_\_.}} [jeo-neun meok-ji ＿＿＿＿] (I do not eat.)
Answer
않아요
 

Exercise 2 — 지 못해요: Inability

A. 가지 ____.\color{purple}{\text{가지 \_\_\_\_.}} [ga-ji ＿＿＿＿] (cannot go)
Answer
못해요
B. 오지 ____.\color{purple}{\text{오지 \_\_\_\_.}} [o-ji ＿＿＿＿] (cannot come)
Answer
못해요
C. 먹지 ____.\color{purple}{\text{먹지 \_\_\_\_.}} [meok-ji ＿＿＿＿] (cannot eat)
Answer
못해요
D. 공부하지 ____.\color{purple}{\text{공부하지 \_\_\_\_.}} [gong-bu-ha-ji ＿＿＿＿] (cannot study)
Answer
못해요
E. 오늘 가지 ____.\color{purple}{\text{오늘 가지 \_\_\_\_.}} [o-neul ga-ji ＿＿＿＿] (cannot go today)
Answer
못해요
F. 오늘 오지 ____.\color{purple}{\text{오늘 오지 \_\_\_\_.}} [o-neul o-ji ＿＿＿＿] (cannot come today)
Answer
못해요
G. 오늘 먹지 ____.\color{purple}{\text{오늘 먹지 \_\_\_\_.}} [o-neul meok-ji ＿＿＿＿] (cannot eat today)
Answer
못해요
H. 오늘 공부하지 ____.\color{purple}{\text{오늘 공부하지 \_\_\_\_.}} [o-neul gong-bu-ha-ji ＿＿＿＿] (cannot study today)
Answer
못해요
I. 저는 가지 ____.\color{purple}{\text{저는 가지 \_\_\_\_.}} [jeo-neun ga-ji ＿＿＿＿] (I cannot go.)
Answer
못해요
J. 저는 먹지 ____.\color{purple}{\text{저는 먹지 \_\_\_\_.}} [jeo-neun meok-ji ＿＿＿＿] (I cannot eat.)
Answer
못해요
 

Exercise 3 — Stem + 지 Builder

A. 가다\color{purple}{\text{가다}} → ＿＿＿＿ 않아요\color{purple}{\text{않아요}}
Answer
가지\color{purple}{\text{가지}}
B. 오다\color{purple}{\text{오다}} → ＿＿＿＿ 않아요\color{purple}{\text{않아요}}
Answer
오지\color{purple}{\text{오지}}
C. 먹다\color{purple}{\text{먹다}} → ＿＿＿＿ 않아요\color{purple}{\text{않아요}}
Answer
먹지\color{purple}{\text{먹지}}
D. 공부하다\color{purple}{\text{공부하다}} → ＿＿＿＿ 않아요\color{purple}{\text{않아요}}
Answer
공부하지\color{purple}{\text{공부하지}}
E. 가다\color{purple}{\text{가다}} → ＿＿＿＿ 못해요\color{purple}{\text{못해요}}
Answer
가지\color{purple}{\text{가지}}
F. 오다\color{purple}{\text{오다}} → ＿＿＿＿ 못해요\color{purple}{\text{못해요}}
Answer
오지\color{purple}{\text{오지}}
G. 먹다\color{purple}{\text{먹다}} → ＿＿＿＿ 못해요\color{purple}{\text{못해요}}
Answer
먹지\color{purple}{\text{먹지}}
H. 공부하다\color{purple}{\text{공부하다}} → ＿＿＿＿ 못해요\color{purple}{\text{못해요}}
Answer
공부하지\color{purple}{\text{공부하지}}
I. ❌ 가다지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{가다지 않아요}} → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
가지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{가지 않아요}}
J. ❌ 먹다지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{먹다지 못해요}} → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
먹지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{먹지 못해요}}
 

Exercise 4 — Short vs Long

A. 안 가요\color{purple}{\text{안 가요}} ≈ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
가지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{가지 않아요}}
B. 못 가요\color{purple}{\text{못 가요}} ≈ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
가지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{가지 못해요}}
C. 안 와요\color{purple}{\text{안 와요}} ≈ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
오지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{오지 않아요}}
D. 못 와요\color{purple}{\text{못 와요}} ≈ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
오지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{오지 못해요}}
E. 안 먹어요\color{purple}{\text{안 먹어요}} ≈ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
먹지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{먹지 않아요}}
F. 못 먹어요\color{purple}{\text{못 먹어요}} ≈ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
먹지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{먹지 못해요}}
G. 공부 안 해요\color{purple}{\text{공부 안 해요}} ≈ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
공부하지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{공부하지 않아요}}
H. 공부 못 해요\color{purple}{\text{공부 못 해요}} ≈ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
공부하지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{공부하지 못해요}}
I. Long “not” ending → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{지 않아요}}
J. Long “cannot” ending → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{지 못해요}}
 

Exercise 5 — Mixed Mastery

A. 지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{지 않아요}} means ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
not / do not
B. 지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{지 못해요}} means ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
cannot / be unable to
C. For “cannot,” use ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{지 못해요}}
D. Before 지\color{purple}{\text{지}}, use the verb ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
stem
E. 저는 가지 ____.\color{purple}{\text{저는 가지 \_\_\_\_.}} [jeo-neun ga-ji ＿＿＿＿] (I do not go.)
Answer
않아요
F. 저는 가지 ____.\color{purple}{\text{저는 가지 \_\_\_\_.}} [jeo-neun ga-ji ＿＿＿＿] (I cannot go.)
Answer
못해요
G. 오늘 오지 ____.\color{purple}{\text{오늘 오지 \_\_\_\_.}} [o-neul o-ji ＿＿＿＿] (I do not come today.)
Answer
않아요
H. 오늘 먹지 ____.\color{purple}{\text{오늘 먹지 \_\_\_\_.}} [o-neul meok-ji ＿＿＿＿] (I cannot eat today.)
Answer
못해요
I. 공부하지 ____.\color{purple}{\text{공부하지 \_\_\_\_.}} [gong-bu-ha-ji ＿＿＿＿] (I do not study.)
Answer
않아요
J. 공부하지 ____.\color{purple}{\text{공부하지 \_\_\_\_.}} [gong-bu-ha-ji ＿＿＿＿] (I cannot study.)
Answer
못해요
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{지 않아요}} → not / do not
  • 지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{지 못해요}} → cannot / be unable to
  • 않아요\color{purple}{\text{않아요}} → not / do not
  • 못해요\color{purple}{\text{못해요}} → cannot
  • 저는\color{purple}{\text{저는}} → I
  • 오늘\color{purple}{\text{오늘}} → today
  • 가다\color{purple}{\text{가다}} / 가요\color{purple}{\text{가요}} → go
  • 오다\color{purple}{\text{오다}} / 와요\color{purple}{\text{와요}} → come
  • 먹다\color{purple}{\text{먹다}} / 먹어요\color{purple}{\text{먹어요}} → eat
  • 공부하다\color{purple}{\text{공부하다}} / 공부해요\color{purple}{\text{공부해요}} → study
  • 가지\color{purple}{\text{가지}} → go + 지
  • 오지\color{purple}{\text{오지}} → come + 지
  • 먹지\color{purple}{\text{먹지}} → eat + 지
  • 공부하지\color{purple}{\text{공부하지}} → study + 지
  • 가지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{가지 않아요}} → do not go
  • 가지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{가지 못해요}} → cannot go
  • 오지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{오지 않아요}} → do not come
  • 오지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{오지 못해요}} → cannot come
  • 먹지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{먹지 않아요}} → do not eat
  • 먹지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{먹지 못해요}} → cannot eat
  • 공부하지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{공부하지 않아요}} → do not study
  • 공부하지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{공부하지 못해요}} → cannot study
Tip 💡 Remove 다\color{purple}{\text{다}} from the dictionary form, then add 지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{지 않아요}} or 지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{지 못해요}}.
 
 
🎉
Great job! You finished the long-form negation practice — now you can clearly choose between 지 않아요\color{purple}{\text{지 않아요}} for “not” and 지 못해요\color{purple}{\text{지 못해요}} for “cannot.”