-기는 하다

-기는 하다

Example #1

갔어요 = I went there.

- 가기는 갔어요 = I DID go there, but....

- 가기는 했어요 = I DID go there, but...

- 가기는 갔는데, 일찍 왔어요. = I DID go there, but I came back early.

Example #2

봤어요 = I saw it.

- 보기는 봤어요 = I DID see it, but...

- 보기는 했어요 = I DID see it, but...

- 보기는 봤는데 기억이 안 나요. = I DID see it, but I don't remember.

How to say "I COULD do it but..."

To say that you can do something, you use the structure, -(으)ㄹ 수 있다. And since here it's a NOUN GROUP that literally means "a method for doing something" or "possibility/ability" you can just use the topic marker without having to change it again into the noun form. It's already a noun.

할 수 있어요 = I can do it.

- 할 수는 있어요 = I COULD do it, but...

- 할 수는 있는데, 안 하고 싶어요. = I COULD do it, but I don't want to.

- 할 수는 있는데, 조건이 있어요. = I COULD do it, but there is no condition.

More sample sentences

1. 어제 친구를 만나기는 했는데, 금방 헤어졌어요.

I DID meet a friend yesterday, but we parted soon.

2. 시간 맞춰서 도착하기는 했는데, 준비를 못 했어요.

I DID manage to get there on time, but I couldn't prepare.

3. 읽기는 읽었는데 이해가 안 돼요.

I DID read it, but I don't understand it.

4. 좋기는 좋은데, 너무 비싸요.

It IS good but it's too expensive.

5. 맜있기는 맜있는데, 좀 짜요.

It IS delicious, but it's a bit salty.