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. 남겨진 마음은 어디로 가는 걸까?²
   Where does a heart left behind go?
   • 걸까 is a contraction of 것일까, where 것 is a bound noun meaning ‘thing’, often used to nominalize a clause, 이다 is the copula meaning ‘to be’, and -ㄹ까 is a question ending expressing uncertainty, curiosity, or wonder, often used when the speaker is asking themselves a question.
   • -는 걸까 is used to express self-questioning or speculation about a situation, action, or state.
3. 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.
4. 네가 내게 다가오는 걸까?⁴
   Could it be you, coming closer to me?
   • 걸까 is a contraction of 것일까, where 것 is a bound noun meaning ‘thing’, often used to nominalize a clause, 이다 is the copula meaning ‘to be’, and -ㄹ까 is a question ending expressing uncertainty, curiosity, or wonder, often used when the speaker is asking themselves a question.
   • -는 걸까 indicates a rhetorical or speculative question, translating roughly as ‘Could it be that…’.
5. 근데 너 일본에서도 공연 본 거 아니야?⁵
   By the way, didn’t you also see a concert in Japan?
   • 거 is a contraction of 것, a bound noun meaning ‘thing’, often used with modifiers to nominalize the preceding clause or phrase.
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 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.
7. 나는 슬쩍 너를 바라볼 거고, 너는 아무 말도 하지 마.⁷
   I will steal a glance at you, and you will say nothing.
   • 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 copula ‘to be’ and is omitted here, which commonly occurs when it follows a vowel-ending noun and attaches to a vowel-initial ending.
   • The pattern ᆯ 것이다 is commonly used to express future tense in Korean.
   • -고 is a connective ending used to link two actions or states, meaning ‘and’, or to join the main verb to auxiliary verbs.
8. 내 앞길에 모든 걸 태워버렸어⁸
   I burned everything in my path.
   • 걸 is a contraction of 것을, where 것 is a bound noun meaning ‘thing’, and 을 is an object marker.
9. 밥 먹으러 와서 떡볶이만 먹을 거야?⁹
   You came here for a meal, and you’re just 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.
10. 하린: 아직 별다른 건 없는데…¹
    Harin: Nothing in particular yet…
    • 건 is a contraction of 것은, where 것 is a bound noun meaning ‘thing’, often used to nominalize a clause, and 은 is the topic particle.
11. 결국 남는 건 후회뿐이야²
    Only regret remains in the end
    • 건 is a contraction of 것은, where 것 is a bound noun meaning ‘thing’, often used to nominalize a clause, and 은 is the topic marker.
12. 앨리스: “제가 미쳤다는 걸 어떻게 아세요?” 앨리스가 말했다.³
    Alice: “How do you know I’m mad?” said Alice.
    • 걸 is a contraction of 것을, where 것 is a bound noun meaning ‘thing’, often used with modifiers to nominalize the preceding clause or phrase, and 을 is an object marker.
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. “네가 오후 네 시에 온다면, 나는 세 시부터 벌써 행복해지기 시작할 거야.⁷
    “If you come at four in the afternoon, then at three o’clock I shall begin to feel happy.
    • 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. 이 모든 건 내가 원했던 풍경⁸
    All of this is the scenery I wanted.
    • 건 is a contraction of 것은, where 것 is a bound noun meaning ‘thing’, and 은 is the topic marker.
16. 너 진짜 밥 안 먹고 사는 거 아니야?⁹
    Are you really living without eating proper meals?
    • 거 is a contracted form of 것, a bound noun meaning ‘thing’, often used with modifiers to nominalize the preceding clause or phrase.
17. 같이 한강에 자전거 타러 가는 건 어때?¹
    How about we go biking along the Han River together?
    • 건 is a contraction of 것은, where 것 is a bound noun meaning ‘thing’, often used to nominalize a clause, and 은 is the topic particle.
18. “그렇다면 당신은 어떻게 자신이 미쳤다는 걸 아세요?”³
    “If so, how do you know that you are mad?”
    • 걸 is a contraction of 것을, where 것 is a bound noun meaning ‘thing’, often used with modifiers to nominalize the preceding clause or phrase, and 을 is an object marker.
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.