Log inSign up

gyesanhal ttae hyeongeumgwa kadeureul modu sayonghal su isseoyo.

계산할 때 현금과 카드를 모두 사용할 수 있어요.gyesanhal ttae hyeongeumgwa kadeureul modu sayonghal su isseoyo.
You can use both cash and a card when paying.
FromLesson 14inHardcore Korean
……

Questions & Answers about gyesanhal ttae hyeongeumgwa kadeureul modu sayonghal su isseoyo.

What function does the ending -을 때 serve in this sentence?
-을 때 attaches to the verb stem 계산하- (from 계산하다, “to calculate/pay”) to form 계산할 때, meaning “when (you) pay.” It marks the time or occasion of an action.
Why are 현금 and 카드 joined with 과, and why is the object marker -를 attached only to 카드?
과 is the conjunction “and” used after a noun ending in a consonant (현금 ends in ㅁ). When you list items and then apply a case marker to the whole list, you only mark the final noun. Here, 카드 takes -를 to mark “cash and card” collectively as the object of 사용할 수 있다.
What is the role of 모두 here? Can you use 둘 다 instead?

모두 means “all” or “both” and emphasizes inclusion of the entire list (cash and card). You can also say 둘 다 (“both of the two”) for two items:
• 계산할 때 현금과 카드를 둘 다 사용할 수 있어요.
모두 sounds slightly more formal/neutral and works for any number of items, while 둘 다 is casual and limited to two.

What does 사용할 수 있어요 literally mean, and what is its grammatical structure?

Breakdown:
• 사용하다 = “to use”
• -ㄹ 수 있다 = ability construction, “can do” (attach ㄹ to the verb stem, then 수 있다)
• -어요 = polite informal ending
So 사용할 수 있어요 literally means “(you) are able to use” or simply “can use.”

How would you change this sentence to make it more formal or less formal?

Less formal (casual):
• 계산할 때 현금과 카드를 모두 사용할 수 있어.
More formal (business/very polite):
• 계산할 때 현금과 카드를 모두 사용하실 수 있습니다.

What’s the difference between 계산하다 and 결제하다?

• 계산하다 is general: “to calculate” or “to pay a bill” (especially in restaurants).
• 결제하다 is often used for electronic/digital transactions or formal settlement of payments (e.g., online shopping, invoices).

Is it normal to split a payment between cash and card in Korea? Does this sentence imply you can pay partially with each?
Yes, many shops and restaurants allow split payments (e.g., part cash, part card). This sentence tells you it’s permitted to use both methods—often in any proportion—though individual businesses may set their own limits.
Can you replace 사용하다 with 쓰다 here? If so, is there any nuance?
Yes. You can say 현금과 카드를 모두 쓸 수 있어요 because 쓰다 also means “to use.” There’s little difference in meaning. 사용하다 is slightly more formal/standard, while 쓰다 feels more casual.

More from this lesson

cheongsohada~geonajeongrihadajumalmada jibeseo cheongsohageona jeongrihaeyo.chaekjangchaekjang yeope gabangi isseoyo.bangeul cheongsohago chaekjangeul jeongrihaesseoyo.geosil
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“How do speech levels work in Korean?”
Korean has multiple speech levels that indicate formality and politeness. The most common are the formal polite (‑습니다/‑ㅂ니다), informal polite (‑아요/‑어요), and casual (‑아/‑어) forms. Which level you use depends on who you're speaking to and the social context.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Korean

Master Korean — from gyesanhal ttae hyeongeumgwa kadeureul modu sayonghal su isseoyo to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.

  • ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Korean freeBrowse the full course