(no subject)

[lexabear.livejournal.com]

I recently ran across the verb уметь/суметь, and was wondering under what circumstances one would use "мочь" versus "уметь"? Is it a question of quality (being able to do something versus being able to do it well)? Does мочь signify only physical capability (like "may" vs "can" in English)?

Comments

[notanaccount.livejournal.com]

physical vs. mental I believe. of course I can't remember which is which...

[yers.livejournal.com]

уметь signifies skill, мочь ability or possibility.

уметь/мочь roughly corresponds to savoir/pouvoir in French.