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Obligation, Permission, Prohibition

Modality patterns

-아/어야 하다(되다) = must / have to

Obligation.

📊 Modality
Form Meaning Example
-아/어야 하다 must 가야 해요
-아/어도 되다 may / it's okay to 먹어도 돼요
-(으)면 안 되다 must not 가면 안 돼요
💬 Examples
가야 해요.
gaya haeyo.
(I) have to go.
📝 -아야 하다 = must
공부해야 돼요.
gongbuhaeya dwaeyo.
(I) have to study.
📝 -어야 되다 = have to
-아/어도 되다 = may / it's okay to

Permission.

💬 Examples
먹어도 돼요?
meogeodo dwaeyo?
May (I) eat?
📝 -어도 되다 = permission
여기 앉아도 돼요.
yeogi anjado dwaeyo.
(You) may sit here.
📝 Granting permission
-(으)면 안 되다 = must not

Prohibition.

💬 Examples
여기서 담배를 피우면 안 돼요.
yeogiseo dambaereul piumyeon an dwaeyo.
(You) must not smoke here.
📝 -면 안 되다 = prohibition
늦으면 안 돼요.
neujeumyeon an dwaeyo.
(You) must not be late.
📝 Prohibition