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. 현우: 아, 맞아.⁶
   Hyunwoo: Oh, that’s right.

   • 맞다 means ‘to be correct’ or ‘to be right’.
   • 아 is a casual ending used in informal speech.

7. 지수: 요즘 봤던 드라마 중에 뭐가 제일 기억에 남아?⁷
   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.

8. 내가 하나 먹으면, 너도 하나만 먹는 거야.⁸
   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 nominalizes the preceding clause and presents it as a statement or question, similar to saying ‘the thing is…’ or ‘isn’t it that…?’, shifting the focus from simply stating an action to emphasizing what it is that the subject did or is doing. It adds an explanatory layer absent in simple declarative or interrogative sentences and is commonly used to clarify the nature of an action, explain the reason behind a situation, or directly inquire about someone’s activities.

9. 비가 와도 우산은 필요 없어⁹
   Even if it rains, I don’t need an umbrella

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

10. 소음 속에서 잊혀진 날 찾아¹⁰
    Searching for myself, forgotten in the noise

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

11. 난 태어날 때부터 자유 원했어¹¹
    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.

12. 나 떡볶이 먹고 싶어.¹²
    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.

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

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

14. 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.

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

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

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 최근에 고척스카이돔에서 블랙핑크 공연 봤어.⁶
    I recently saw the BLACKPINK concert at the Gocheok Sky Dome.

    • 보다 means ‘to see’ or ‘to watch’.
    • -았- is a past tense marker.
    • -어 is a casual ending used in informal speech.

19. 태민: 나는 나의 아저씨가 진짜 좋았어.⁷
    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.

20. 분명 네가 포도를 세 개씩 먹었을 거야.”⁸
    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.