-(으)ㄹ 수도 있다
Might, Could Possibly
Use -ㄹ/을 수도 있다 to say something 'might' happen or 'could possibly' be true. It indicates a potential outcome among other possibilities.
How It Works
This pattern is used to talk about a future possibility or a potential state. It's important not to confuse it with -ㄹ 수 있다, which usually means 'can' or 'to have the ability to'. It can also mean 'it is possible', as in 내일 비가 올 수 있어요 ('It might rain tomorrow'). The added particle -도 stresses that this is one possibility among several.
Conjugation Rules:
- Vowel or ㄹ ending stem + -ㄹ 수도 있다
- 가다 (to go) → 갈 수도 있다 (might go)
- 만들다 (to make) → 만들 수도 있다 (might make) - Consonant ending stem + -을 수도 있다
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹을 수도 있다 (might eat)
- 좋다 (to be good) → 좋을 수도 있다 (might be good)
Past Tense:
To express that something 'might have' happened, you can use the past tense form -았/었을 수도 있다.
- 그가 이미 갔을 수도 있어요. (He might have already gone.)
Ability or Possibility?
Both sentences are correct, but they say different things.
- 저는 피아노를 칠 수 있어요. (I can play the piano.)
- 저는 피아노를 칠 수도 있어요. (I might play the piano, among other things.)
This pattern is very similar to -ㄹ지도 모르다 (might, may). They are often interchangeable, but -ㄹ 수도 있다 can sometimes feel slightly more grounded in reality, while -ㄹ지도 모르다 can imply a bit more uncertainty or speculation.
Examples (4)
- 내일은 비가 올 수도 있어요.
It might rain tomorrow.
Word by Word: Tomorrow rain might come.
- 차가 막혀서 약속에 늦을 수도 있어요.
I might be late for the appointment because of the traffic.
Word by Word: Car is blocked so to the appointment might be late.
- 이 문제가 생각보다 어려울 수도 있어요.
This problem might be more difficult than you think.
Word by Word: This problem than thought might be difficult.
- 그 사람이 제 전화를 못 받았을 수도 있어요.
He might have missed my call.
This uses the past tense form -았/었을 수도 있다 to talk about a past possibility.
Common Mistakes
Adding 을 after a stem that ends in ㄹ.
Not Quite저녁에 케이크를 만들을 수도 있어요.Better저녁에 케이크를 만들 수도 있어요.A stem that already ends in ㄹ takes -ㄹ 수도 있다, not -을 수도 있다. 만들다 becomes 만들 수도 있다.
Learn This First
To express 'might/could possibly', you need ability patterns and the particle 도.
Related Patterns
- -(으)ㄹ지도 모르다Might, May Possibly
Has a very similar meaning of 'might' or 'may possibly'. They are often interchangeable, but -ㄹ지도 모르다 can sometimes imply a slightly greater degree of uncertainty or speculation.
- -ㄴ/는/ㄹ 것 같다Seems Like, Looks Like
Both express uncertainty, but -ㄴ/는/ㄹ 것 같다 is used for making a guess or assumption based on some observation ('it seems like'), whereas -ㄹ 수도 있다 states a general possibility that exists, regardless of current evidence.