Example Sentences#

1. 앨리스: 앨리스는 이 말을 부정할 수 없다고 느껴서 다른 질문을 해 보았다.¹
   Alice: Feeling that she couldn’t deny this, Alice asked another question.

   • 없다 means ‘to not exist’.
   • ㄹ 수 없다 forms a grammar pattern that expresses inability or impossibility.
   • -다고 is a quotative marker used to report speech or thoughts.

2. 마을 사람들은 그에게 큰 불행이라고 말했습니다.²
   The villagers said to him it was a great misfortune.

   • 불행 means ‘misfortune’.
   • 이다 is the verb ‘to be’.
   • 라고 is a quotative marker, indicating that the phrase is being quoted or reported.

3. 세상에서 가장 다행스러운 것은 인간의 마음이 모든 것을 연결하지 못하는 능력이라고 생각합니다.³
   I think the most fortunate thing in the world is the human mind’s inability to connect everything.

   • 능력 means ‘ability’ or ‘capability’.
   • 이다 is the verb ‘to be’.
   • 라고 is a quotative marker, indicating that the phrase is being quoted or reported.

4. 원하던 세상은 없었다고⁴
   The world I wanted never existed.

   • 없다 means ‘to not exist’.
   • 었 is a past tense marker.
   • 다고 is a quotative marker used to report speech or thoughts. In this context, it reflects the speaker’s inner recognition or realization of a past truth, often with a tone of personal reflection.

5. 그것은 숲의 오래된 영혼의 목소리였고, 타로에게 원하는 무엇이든 변할 수 있는 힘을 주겠다고 했습니다.⁵
   It was the voice of an old spirit of the forest, promising Taro the power to change anything he wanted.

   • 주다 means ‘to give’.
   • -겠- is a future tense marker indicating intention, expressing the speaker’s will or determination to perform the action.
   • -다고 is a quotative marker, indicating reported speech.

6. 앨리스: 앨리스는 이 말이 전혀 증명되지 않는다고 생각했지만, 계속해서 물었다.¹
   Alice: Alice thought that this statement was not proven at all, but she continued to ask.

   • 않다 is an auxiliary verb that makes the clause negative.
   • -는다고 is a quotative marker indicating reported speech or thought.

7. 그러나 노인은 단지 “좋을 수도 있고, 나쁠 수도 있습니다”라고 대답했습니다.²
   However, the old man just answered, “It could be good, or it could be bad.”

   • 있다 means ‘to exist’ or ‘to be’.
   • ㄹ 수 있다 forms a grammar pattern that expresses ability or possibility. Adding 도 implies this possibility exists alongside others, shifting the nuance from ‘can’ to ‘might’.
   • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
   • 라고 is a quotative marker, indicating that the phrase is being quoted or reported.

8. 그는 실망하여 태양이 되는 것이 진정한 힘이라고 생각하며 태양이 되기를 소원했습니다.⁵
   Disappointed, he wished to become the sun, believing it would give him true strength.

   • 힘 means ‘strength’.
   • 이다 is the verb ‘to be’.
   • 라고 is a quotative marker, indicating that the phrase is being quoted or reported.

9. 마을 사람들은 이번에는 큰 행운이라고 말했습니다.²
   The villagers said this time it was a great fortune.

   • 행운 means ‘fortune’.
   • 이다 is the verb ‘to be’.
   • 라고 is a quotative marker, indicating that the phrase is being quoted or reported.

10. 타로는 점점 더 절망을 느끼며, 산이 되면 정말로 강할 것이라고 확신했습니다.⁵
    Taro gradually felt more despair and was sure that if he became a mountain, he would truly be strong.

    • 것 is a bound noun meaning ‘thing’, often used with modifiers to nominalize the preceding clause or phrase.
    • 이다 is the verb ‘to be’.
    • 라고 is a quotative marker, indicating that the phrase is being quoted or reported.

11. 하지만 노인은 다시 “좋을 수도 있고, 나쁠 수도 있습니다”라고 대답했습니다.²
    But the old man again answered, “It could be good, or it could be bad.”

    • 있다 means ‘to exist’ or ‘to be’.
    • ㄹ 수 있다 forms a grammar pattern that expresses ability or possibility. Adding 도 implies this possibility exists alongside others, shifting the nuance from ‘can’ to ‘might’.
    • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
    • 라고 is a quotative marker, indicating that the phrase is being quoted or reported.

12. 오래된 산이 된 타로는 영원히 강할 것이라고 느꼈습니다.⁵
    Taro, who had become an old mountain, felt that he would be strong forever.

    • 것 is a bound noun meaning ‘thing’, often used with modifiers to nominalize the preceding clause or phrase.
    • 이다 is the verb ‘to be’.
    • 라고 is a quotative marker, indicating that the phrase is being quoted or reported.

13. 마을 사람들은 이번에는 큰 불행이라고 말했습니다.²
    The villagers said this time it was a great misfortune.

    • 불행 means ‘misfortune’.
    • 이다 is the verb ‘to be’.
    • 라고 is a quotative marker, indicating that the phrase is being quoted or reported.

14. 그러나 노인은 여전히 “좋을 수도 있고, 나쁠 수도 있습니다”라고 대답했습니다.²
    However, the old man still answered, “It could be good, or it could be bad.”

    • 있다 means ‘to exist’ or ‘to be’.
    • ㄹ 수 있다 forms a grammar pattern that expresses ability or possibility. Adding 도 implies this possibility exists alongside others, shifting the nuance from ‘can’ to ‘might’.
    • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
    • 라고 is a quotative marker, indicating that the phrase is being quoted or reported.