(으)ㄹ 수도 있다/없다

Overview

The grammar pattern (으)ㄹ 수도 있다/없다 is used to express possibility or impossibility. It indicates that something might happen, could be true, or might not happen/be true. The particle 도 adds a nuance of "even" or "also," suggesting that the stated possibility is one among others, or perhaps an unexpected one.

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Usage

This expression is primarily used to convey a non-certain possibility or a strong unlikelihood/impossibility.

1. Possibility (있다): When attached to a verb or adjective stem, (으)ㄹ 수도 있다 means "it might be that...", "it could be that...", or "there's a possibility that...". It's used when you are not entirely sure but want to acknowledge a potential outcome or state. For example, "비가 올 수도 있어요" means "It might rain," acknowledging the possibility without certainty.
2. Impossibility/Unlikelihood (없다): When used with 없다, (으)ㄹ 수도 없다 means "it might not be that...", "it could not be that...", or "there's a possibility that it's not...". It expresses that something is unlikely or impossible, or that a certain situation might not occur. For instance, "그 소문은 사실이 아닐 수도 있어요" means "That rumor might not be true."

This pattern differs from simple future predictions like (으)ㄹ 것이다 by emphasizing the contingent nature of the possibility, often implying "even if it's not the most obvious or desired outcome."

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Conjugation Rules

The conjugation depends on whether the verb or adjective stem ends in a vowel or a consonant.

• If the stem ends in a vowel or 'ㄹ': Attach -ㄹ 수도 있다/없다.

  • 가다 (to go) → 갈 수도 있다 (might go)
  • 만들다 (to make) → 만들 수도 있다 (might make)
  • 크다 (to be big) → 클 수도 있다 (might be big)

• If the stem ends in a consonant (not 'ㄹ'): Attach -을 수도 있다/없다.

  • 먹다 (to eat) → 먹을 수도 있다 (might eat)
  • 좋다 (to be good) → 좋을 수도 있다 (might be good)
  • 읽다 (to read) → 읽을 수도 있다 (might read)

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Knowledge Plus

• Distinction from (으)ㄹ 수 있다: While (으)ㄹ 수 있다 can express ability ("can do") or possibility ("it is possible to do"), (으)ㄹ 수도 있다 specifically highlights the likelihood or chance of something happening, often with the nuance of "even if it's unexpected" or "it's one of the possibilities." The particle 도 is key here, adding the meaning of "even" or "also."
  • Example: "저는 한국어를 할 수 있어요." (I can speak Korean - ability)
  • Example: "내일 시험이 어려울 수도 있어요." (The exam might be difficult tomorrow - possibility, perhaps unexpected)
• This pattern can be combined with past tense markers (았/었) to express past possibility: 았/었을 수도 있다 (might have been/done).
  • Example: "그가 이미 떠났을 수도 있어요." (He might have already left.)
• It can also be used with the future/conjecture marker (겠) for a more speculative future possibility, though this is less common: 겠을 수도 있다.
  • Example: "내일은 더 춥겠을 수도 있어요." (It might be even colder tomorrow.)