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 in indirect quotation of speech or thoughts, composed of -다 (the plain declarative ending) and -고 (a quotative particle).

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

   • 불행 means ‘misfortune’ or ‘unhappiness’. It is formed from the Sino-Korean negative prefix 불- (similar to ‘un-’, ‘non-’, ‘dis-’, or ‘mis-’ in English) and 행 meaning ‘fortune’.
   • 이다 is the verb ‘to be’.
   • -라고 is a quotative marker used in indirect quotation of speech or thoughts, composed of -라 (the declarative ending variant used after 이다) and -고 (a quotative particle).

3. 일본 콘서트는 분위기가 좀 다르다고 들었어.³
   I heard concerts in Japan have a bit of a different atmosphere.

   • 다르다 means ‘to be different’.
   • -다고 is a quotative marker used in indirect quotation of speech or thoughts, composed of -다 (the plain declarative ending) and -고 (a quotative particle).

4. 세상에서 가장 다행스러운 것은 인간의 마음이 모든 것을 연결하지 못하는 능력이라고 생각합니다.⁴
   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 used in indirect quotation of speech or thoughts, composed of -라 (the declarative ending variant used after 이다) and -고 (a quotative particle).

5. 원하던 세상은 없었다고⁵
   The world I wanted never existed.

   • 없다 means ‘to not exist’.
   • 었 is a past tense marker.
   • -다고 is a quotative marker used in indirect quotation of speech or thoughts, composed of -다 (the plain declarative ending) and -고 (a quotative particle). When used sentence-finally, the reporting verb is omitted and understood from context, often creating an emphatic or assertive tone. Here, it conveys the speaker’s reflective realization with an omitted verb like 깨닫다 (to realize).

6. 그것은 숲의 오래된 영혼의 목소리였고, 타로에게 원하는 무엇이든 변할 수 있는 힘을 주겠다고 했습니다.⁶
   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 used in indirect quotation of speech or thoughts, composed of -다 (the plain declarative ending) and -고 (a quotative particle).

7. 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 used to report speech or thoughts indirectly, composed of -다 (the plain declarative ending) and -고 (a quotative particle).

8. 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 marking the preceding phrase as a direct quotation.

9. 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.

   • 힘 means ‘strength’.
   • 이다 is the verb ‘to be’.
   • -라고 is a quotative marker used in indirect quotation of speech or thoughts, composed of -라 (the declarative ending variant used after 이다) and -고 (a quotative particle).

10. 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 used in indirect quotation of speech or thoughts, composed of -라 (the declarative ending variant used after 이다) and -고 (a quotative particle).

11. 타로는 점점 더 절망을 느끼며, 산이 되면 정말로 강할 것이라고 확신했습니다.⁶
    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 used in indirect quotation of speech or thoughts, composed of -라 (the declarative ending variant used after 이다) and -고 (a quotative particle).

12. 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 marking the preceding phrase as a direct quotation.

13. 오래된 산이 된 타로는 영원히 강할 것이라고 느꼈습니다.⁶
    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 used in indirect quotation of speech or thoughts, composed of -라 (the declarative ending variant used after 이다) and -고 (a quotative particle).

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

    • 불행 means ‘misfortune’ or ‘unhappiness’. It is formed from the Sino-Korean negative prefix 불- (similar to ‘un-’, ‘non-’, ‘dis-’, or ‘mis-’ in English) and 행 meaning ‘fortune’.
    • 이다 is the verb ‘to be’.
    • -라고 is a quotative marker used in indirect quotation of speech or thoughts, composed of -라 (the declarative ending variant used after 이다) and -고 (a quotative particle).

15. 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 marking the preceding phrase as a direct quotation.