Example Sentences#

1. 처음에는 너무 넓어서 두려웠고, 계속 달리기만 했어.¹
   At the beginning it was so big that I was afraid, and I kept running and running.

   • 달리다 means ‘to run’.
   • -기 is a nominalizing suffix that turns the verb into a noun form, allowing for the use of particles like 만.
   • 만 is a particle meaning ‘only’ or ‘just’.

2. 앨리스: “—어디든 가기만 하면 돼요,” 앨리스가 덧붙였다.²
   Alice: “—so long as I get somewhere,” Alice added.

   • 가다 means ‘to go’.
   • -기 is a nominalizer, turning the verb into a noun form.
   • -만 is a particle meaning ‘only’ or ‘just’.

3. 이십사 시간 안에 저는 최고의 사람도 미워하기 시작합니다.³
   Within twenty-four hours, I start to hate even the best of people:

   • 미워하다 means ‘to hate’. It is derived from the adjective 밉다 (to be hateful) using the pattern -어하다, which transforms adjectives into verbs to describe the feeling or perception of an emotion from an external viewpoint.
   • -기 is a nominalizing suffix, turning the verb into a noun form.

4. 포도가 너무 잘 익어서 가방에 넣을 수 없었기에, 맹인은 그 자리에서 라사로와 함께 포도를 나누어 먹기로 결심했다.⁴
   The grapes were so ripe that they couldn’t be put in the bag, so the blind man decided to share them on the spot with Lazaro.

   • 먹다 means ‘to eat’.
   • -기 is a nominalizing suffix, turning the verb into a noun form.
   • -로 is a particle indicating method or means, marking a decision in this context.

5. 그들은 여자를 만지지 않기로 다짐했기 때문이다.⁵
   They had promised not to touch a woman.

   • 않다 is an auxiliary verb that makes the clause negative.
   • -기 is a nominalizing suffix, turning the verb into a noun form.
   • -로 is a particle indicating method or means, marking a decision in this context.

6. 그는 마을의 지도자의 멋진 행사를 보고 질투를 느꼈고, 더 큰 힘을 원하여 지도자가 되기를 원했습니다.⁶
   He felt jealous after seeing the village leader’s wonderful event, and wanted greater power to become a leader.

   • 되다 means ‘to become’.
   • -기 is a nominalizing suffix, turning the verb into a noun form.
   • 를 is the object marker.

7. 오른쪽과 왼쪽 멀리서 벽이 보이기 시작했을 때 기뻤어.¹
   I was glad when I saw walls far away to the right and left.

   • 보이다 is the passive form of 보다 (to see), where the suffix -이- is added to create a passive or causative verb, meaning ‘to be seen’ or ‘to appear’.
   • -기 is a nominalizing suffix, turning the verb into a noun form.

8. 체셔 고양이: “오, 넌 분명히 갈 곳이 있을 거야,” 고양이가 말했다, “오래 걷기만 하면 돼.”²
   Cheshire Cat: “Oh, you’re sure to find a place,’ said the cat, ‘as long as you walk long enough.”

   • 걷다 means ‘to walk’.
   • -기 is a nominalizer, turning the verb into a noun form.
   • -만 is a particle meaning ‘only’ or ‘just’.

9. 한 사람은 저녁 식사에 너무 오랜 시간을 보내고, 다른 사람은 감기에 걸려 계속 코를 풀기 때문입니다.³
   One because he spends too much time at dinner, and another because he has a cold and keeps on blowing his nose.

   • 풀다 means ‘to blow (one’s nose)’.
   • -기 is a nominalizing suffix, turning the verb into a noun form.

10. 라사로는 맹인의 제안을 받아들여 둘은 포도를 먹기 시작했다.⁴
    Lazaro accepted the blind man’s suggestion, and the two began eating the grapes.

    • 먹다 means ‘to eat’.
    • -기 is a nominalizing suffix, turning the verb into a noun form.

11. “스님, 우리는 여자를 만지지 않기로 했는데, 어떻게 그 여자를 들어 건너셨습니까?”⁵
    “We promised not to touch a woman. How could you carry her across the river?”

    • 않다 is an auxiliary verb that makes the clause negative.
    • -기 is a nominalizing suffix, turning the verb into a noun form.
    • -로 is a particle indicating method or means, marking a decision in this context.

12. 하지만 곧, 만족하지 못하는 마음이 그를 괴롭히기 시작했습니다.⁶
    But soon, dissatisfaction began to torment him.

    • 괴롭히다 means ‘to torment’. It is derived from the adjective 괴롭다 (to be painful or distressing) with the causative suffix -히- added.
    • -기 is a nominalizing suffix, turning the verb into a noun form.

13. 하지만 얼마 지나지 않아 맹인은 두 개씩 집어먹기 시작했다.⁴
    But not long after, the blind man began eating two at a time.

    • 집어먹다 is a compound verb combining 집다 (to pick up) and 먹다 (to eat), meaning ‘to pick up and eat’.
    • -기 is a nominalizing suffix, turning the verb into a noun form.

14. 그는 실망하여 태양이 되는 것이 진정한 힘이라고 생각하며 태양이 되기를 소원했습니다.⁶
    Disappointed, he wished to become the sun, believing it would give him true strength.

    • 되다 means ‘to become’.
    • -기 is a nominalizing suffix, turning the verb into a noun form.
    • 를 is the object marker.

15. 이를 눈치챈 라사로도 맹인을 따라 두 개씩, 세 개씩 먹기 시작했다.⁴
    Noticing this, Lazaro also began eating two at a time, then three at a time, following the blind man’s example.

    • 먹다 means ‘to eat’.
    • -기 is a nominalizing suffix, turning the verb into a noun form.

16. 그는 결심하여 구름이 되기를 원했습니다.⁶
    He decided that he wanted to become a cloud.

    • 되다 means ‘to become’.
    • -기 is a nominalizing suffix, turning the verb into a noun form.
    • 를 is the object marker.

17. 그의 힘은 사라져서 조절하기 어려운 상태가 되었습니다.⁶
    His power disappeared, leaving him in a state where it was difficult to maintain control.

    • 조절하다 means ‘to control’.
    • -기 is a nominalizing suffix, turning the verb into a noun form.

18. 바람의 힘을 깨달은 타로는 바람이 되기를 원했습니다.⁶
    Realizing the wind’s power, Taro wished to become it.

    • 되다 means ‘to become’.
    • -기 is a nominalizing suffix, turning the verb into a noun form.
    • 를 is the object marker.