Example Sentences#

1. 처음에는 너무 넓어서 두려웠고, 계속 달리기만 했어.¹
   At the beginning it was so big that I was afraid, and I kept running and running.
   • 달리다 means ‘to run’.
   • -기 is a nominalizing suffix that turns the verb into a noun form, allowing for the use of particles like 만.
   • 만 is a particle meaning ‘only’ or ‘just’.
2. 체셔 고양이: “그건 네가 어디로 가고 싶은지에 달려 있어,” 고양이가 말했다.²
   Cheshire Cat: “That depends on where you want to go,” said the cat.
   • 달리다 means ‘to be influenced’ or ‘to be affected’.
   • 어 is a verb ending, part of the pattern -어 있다 used to express a continuing state of a completed action, often used with intransitive verbs or passive verbs.
3. 자유를 꿈꾸며 달렸지만³
   I chased freedom in my dreams, but…
   • 달리다 means ‘to run’.
   • 었 is a past tense marker.
   • -지만 is a connective ending used to introduce a contrasting statement, similar to ‘but’ or ‘although’ in English. It acknowledges the preceding statement while adding information that contrasts with or differs from it.
4. 호랑이는 등에 있는 것을 떼어내려고 더 빨리 달렸습니다.⁴
   The tiger ran even faster, trying to shake off whatever was on its back.
   • 달리다 means ‘to run’.
   • 었 is a past tense marker.
   • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.