jeoneun suyeonghal jul arayo.

I know how to swim.

Breakdown of jeoneun suyeonghal jul arayo.

• 저: I
• ~는: topic particle
• 수영할 줄 알다: to know how to swim

Questions & Answers about jeoneun suyeonghal jul arayo.

What does -(으)ㄹ 줄 알다 convey, and how is it different from -(으)ㄹ 수 있다?

• -(으)ㄹ 줄 알다 = “know how to (do a learned skill).”
  • Example: 저는 수영할 줄 알아요. (I know how to swim.)
• -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 = “can/be able to,” focusing on ability or possibility (often situational).
  • Example: 저는 수영할 수 있어요. (I can swim.)
• You can know how but still be unable due to circumstances:
  • 지금은 다쳐서 수영할 수 없어요. (I can’t swim now because I’m injured.)
• Negative forms:
  • 수영할 줄 몰라요. (I don’t know how to swim.)
  • 수영을 못해요. (I can’t/don’t do swimming well or am unable.)

Why is it 수영할 줄 and not 수영하는 줄?

• V-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다 = know/don’t know how to do V.
• V-는 줄 알다 usually means “I thought (mistakenly) that (someone) V.”
  • 수영하는 줄 알았어요. = I thought (someone) was swimming / I thought you swim (but I was wrong).
• So for “know how,” use 수영할 줄 (not 수영하는 줄).

Is it okay to say 저는 수영을 할 줄 알아요?

• Yes. Both 수영할 줄 알아요 and 수영을 할 줄 알아요 are used.
• The version without 을 (using the verb 수영하다 → 수영할) is a bit leaner and very common. The version with 을 is also natural because 수영을 하다 is a common verb phrase.

What does 줄 literally mean here?

• 줄 is a noun meaning “way/method/idea that…” In this grammar it pairs with 알다/모르다 to express “knowing (or not knowing) the way to do something.”
• Think of V-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다 as “know the way to V.” Always use the -(으)ㄹ form before 줄 in this meaning.

Why use 저는 instead of 제가? And can I drop the pronoun?

• 저는 (topic) = “as for me,” a neutral, general statement about yourself.
• 제가 (subject) emphasizes “I (and not someone else).”
  • 제가 수영할 줄 알아요. can sound contrastive or corrective.
• Korean often drops obvious subjects, so 수영할 줄 알아요. is perfectly natural in context.

How polite is 알아요? What are other levels?

• Polite informal: 알아요 (what you have).
• Formal polite: 압니다.
• Casual: 알아 (no 요).
• When the respected subject is someone else, use honorific: 수영할 줄 아세요?
  • Don’t use honorifics for yourself: say 알아요, not 아세요, about your own ability.

How do I say the negative or “can’t” naturally?

• Don’t know how: 수영할 줄 몰라요.
• Can’t/poor ability: 수영을 못해요.
• Not good at it: 수영을 잘 못해요.
• Circumstantial inability: 지금은 수영할 수 없어요.

Any pronunciation tips for this sentence?

• 줄 알아요 flows with liaison and sounds like “주라라요” in quick speech.
• 알아요 itself is pronounced close to “아라요.”
• 저는 is often reduced to “전” in casual speech, so you may hear 전 수영할 줄 알아요.

How should I space it correctly?

• Correct: 저는 수영할 줄 알아요.
  • 수영할 is one unit (from 수영하다 → 수영할).
  • 줄 is a separate noun, so write 할 줄 with a space.
• Don’t write 수영 할줄 or 수영할줄.

Can I use 헤엄치다 instead of 수영하다?

• Yes. 헤엄치다 is a native verb for “to swim,” often a bit more physical/literal.
• Example: 저는 헤엄칠 줄 알아요. (I know how to swim.)

How do I ask “Do you know how to swim?”

• Polite: 수영할 줄 알아요?
• Polite honorific (about the listener): 수영할 줄 아세요?
• Casual: 수영할 줄 알아?

How do I say “I learned to swim” or “I became able to swim”?

• Learned: 수영을 배웠어요.
• Became able to: 수영할 줄 알게 됐어요.
• Be careful: 수영할 줄 알았어요 often means “I thought I knew how (but I was wrong),” not simply “I knew how.”

What nuance does 수영할 줄은 알아요 have?

• Adding 은 after 줄 gives contrast/emphasis: 수영할 줄은 알아요 ≈ “I do at least know how to swim,” implying there may be other things you don’t know or aren’t good at.

Are there any irregulars to watch for with 알다/모르다?

• 알다 is regular: 알아요 / 알아 / 압니다.
• 모르다 is an 르-irregular verb: 몰라요 (not “모르아요”). So the negative is 수영할 줄 몰라요.