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. 체셔 고양이: “그건 네가 어디로 가고 싶은지에 달려 있어,” 고양이가 말했다.³
   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.

4. 푸른 바람이 말해 주는 것 같아⁴
   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.

5. 지수: 요즘 봤던 드라마 중에 뭐가 제일 기억에 남아?⁵
   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.

6. 내가 하나 먹으면, 너도 하나만 먹는 거야.⁶
   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.

7. 나 떡볶이 먹고 싶어.⁷
   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.

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

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

9. 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.

10. 체셔 고양이: “그럼 어느 쪽으로 가든 상관없어,” 고양이가 말했다.³
    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.

11. 구름 위를 걷는 것 같아⁴
    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.

12. 태민: 나는 나의 아저씨가 진짜 좋았어.⁵
    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.

13. 분명 네가 포도를 세 개씩 먹었을 거야.”⁶
    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.

14. 밥 먹으러 와서 떡볶이만 먹을 거야?⁷
    You came out to eat, and you’re only going to have tteokbokki?

    • 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.

15. 민준: 나 친구들이랑 노래방 갈까 생각 중이야.¹
    Minjun: I’m thinking about going to a karaoke room with my friends.

    • 중 means ‘middle’, ‘in the course of’, or ‘during’.
    • 이다 is the verb ‘to be’, and 이야 is its casual conjugated form used in informal speech.
    • Following a noun, 중이다 signifies being in the midst of a state or activity associated with that noun.

16. 오른쪽과 왼쪽 멀리서 벽이 보이기 시작했을 때 기뻤어.²
    I was glad when I saw walls far away to the right and left.

    • 기쁘다 means ‘to be glad’.
    • 었 is a past tense marker.
    • 어 is a casual ending used in informal speech.

17. 체셔 고양이: “오, 넌 분명히 갈 곳이 있을 거야,” 고양이가 말했다, “오래 걷기만 하면 돼.”³
    Cheshire Cat: “Oh, you’re sure to find a place,’ said the cat, ‘as long as you walk long enough.”

    • 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 을 것 이다 is commonly used to express future tense in Korean.

18. 지수: 나도 나의 아저씨 좋아해.⁵
    Jisoo: I also like ‘My Mister’.

    • 좋아하다 means ‘to like’. It is derived from the adjective 좋다 (to be good) using the pattern -아하다, which transforms adjectives into verbs to describe the feeling or perception of an emotion.
    • 여 is a casual ending used in informal speech.

19. 그래서 넌 분명히 세 개씩 먹었을 거야.”⁶
    So you surely must have eaten 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.