Example Sentences#

1. 민준: 이번 주말 뭐 할 거야?¹
   Minjun: What are you doing this weekend?

   • 거 is a contracted form of 것, a bound noun meaning ‘thing’, often used with modifiers to nominalize the preceding clause or phrase.
   • 이다 is the verb ‘to be’, and 야 is its casual conjugated form used in informal speech.
   • The pattern ᆯ 것이다 is commonly used to express future tense in Korean.

2. “세상이 날마다 더 좁아지고 있어.²
   “The world is getting narrower every day.

   • 있다 means ‘to be’ or ‘to exist’.
   • -고 있다 is a grammar pattern used to indicate a continuous or ongoing action.
   • 어 is a casual ending used in informal speech.

3. 조용히 내일을 만들어 가³
   Quietly shaping tomorrow

   • 가다 means ‘to go’.
   • -어 가다 is a grammatical construction indicating that the action or state mentioned in the preceding statement continues or progresses over time.
   • 아 is a casual ending used in informal speech.

4. 체셔 고양이: “그건 네가 어디로 가고 싶은지에 달려 있어,” 고양이가 말했다.⁴
   Cheshire Cat: “That depends on where you want to go,” said the cat.

   • 있다 means ‘to exist’ or ‘to be’. In this context, it is part of the phrase 에 달려 있다, which emphasizes the ongoing state of dependency on the preceding clause.
   • 어 is a casual ending used in informal speech.

5. 푸른 바람이 말해 주는 것 같아⁵
   It feels like the blue breeze is whispering

   • 같다 means ‘to be like’ or ‘to seem’.
   • -는 것 같다 is a grammar pattern meaning ‘it seems that…’
   • 아 is a casual ending used in informal speech.

6. 지수: 요즘 봤던 드라마 중에 뭐가 제일 기억에 남아?⁶
   Jisoo: Among the dramas you’ve watched recently, which one remains most memorable?

   • 남다 means ‘to remain’ or ‘to be left’.
   • 아 is a casual ending used in informal speech.

7. 내가 하나 먹으면, 너도 하나만 먹는 거야.⁷
   If I eat one, you also eat one.

   • 거 is a contracted form of 것, a bound noun meaning ‘thing’, often used with modifiers to nominalize the preceding clause or phrase.
   • 이다 is the verb ‘to be’, and 야 is its casual conjugated form used in informal speech.
   • The construction -는 것이다 goes beyond simple tense conjugation; it introduces an emotional or explanatory layer to the statement. It is used to emphasize, clarify, or add a sense of realization to what is being said.

8. 비가 와도 우산은 필요 없어⁸
   Even if it rains, I don’t need an umbrella

   • 없다 means ‘to not exist’.
   • 어 is a casual ending used in informal speech.

9. 소음 속에서 잊혀진 날 찾아⁹
   Searching for myself, forgotten in the noise

   • 찾다 means ‘to search’ or ‘to look for’.
   • 아 is a casual ending used in informal speech.

10. 난 태어날 때부터 자유 원했어¹⁰
    I wanted freedom since the day I was born.

    • 원하다 means ‘to want’ or ‘to wish’.
    • 였 is a past tense marker.
    • 어 is a casual ending used in informal speech.

11. 나 떡볶이 먹고 싶어.¹¹
    I want to eat tteokbokki.

    • 싶다 is an adjective meaning ‘to be desirous of’, and when used after the connective ending -고, it expresses a desire to do something or to be in a certain state.
    • 어 is a casual ending used in informal speech.

12. 특별한 계획 있어?¹
    Got any special plans?

    • 있다 means ‘to exist’.
    • 어 is a casual ending used in informal speech.

13. 처음에는 너무 넓어서 두려웠고, 계속 달리기만 했어.²
    At the beginning it was so big that I was afraid, and I kept running and running.

    • 하다 means ‘to do’.
    • 였 is a past tense marker.
    • 어 is a casual ending used in informal speech.

14. 잃어버린 것만 소중하게 남아³
    Only what’s lost remains precious

    • 남다 means ‘to remain’.
    • 아 is a casual ending used in informal speech.

15. 체셔 고양이: “그럼 어느 쪽으로 가든 상관없어,” 고양이가 말했다.⁴
    Cheshire Cat: “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the cat.

    • 상관없다 combines 상관 (correlation or relation) and 없다 (to not exist), literally meaning ‘there is no relation’, conveying the idea of ‘it doesn’t matter’ or ‘I don’t care’.
    • -어 is a casual ending used in informal speech.

16. 구름 위를 걷는 것 같아⁵
    It’s like we’re walking on clouds

    • 같다 means ‘to be like’ or ‘to seem’.
    • -는 것 같다 is a grammar pattern meaning ‘it seems that…’
    • 아 is a casual ending used in informal speech.

17. 태민: 나는 나의 아저씨가 진짜 좋았어.⁶
    Taemin: I really liked ‘My Mister’.

    • 좋다 means ‘to be good’.
    • 았 is the past tense marker.
    • 어 is a casual ending used in informal speech.

18. 분명 네가 포도를 세 개씩 먹었을 거야.”⁷
    I’m sure you ate the grapes three at a time.”

    • 거 is a contracted form of 것, a bound noun meaning ‘thing’, often used with modifiers to nominalize the preceding clause or phrase.
    • 이다 is the verb ‘to be’, and 야 is its casual conjugated form used in informal speech.
    • The pattern 었을 것이다 is used to express strong speculation or assumption about a past event.

19. 잡을 수 없지만 눈에 남아⁸
    Though I can’t catch it, it remains in my eyes

    • 남다 means ‘to remain’.
    • 아 is a casual ending used in informal speech.

20. 낡은 노래가 다시 울려 퍼져⁹
    An old song echoes once again

    • 퍼지다 means ‘to spread’ or ‘to disperse’.
    • 어 is a casual ending used in informal speech.