Example Sentences#

1. 그것은 사실 지붕 위에 있던 도둑이었습니다.¹
   Actually, it was a thief who had been on the roof.
   • 도둑 means ‘thief’.
   • 이다 is the verb ‘to be’.
   • 었 is a past tense marker.
   • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
2. 도둑은 소를 훔치려고 몰래 올라갔지만, 어두워서 호랑이를 소로 착각하고 뛰어내린 것이었습니다.¹
   The thief had secretly climbed up to steal a cow, but because it was dark, he mistook the tiger for a cow and jumped down.
   • 도둑 means ‘thief’.
   • 은 is a topic marker, indicating what the sentence is about or the topic of discussion. It can emphasize an element, contrast it with another, or set the context for what follows, highlighting the theme rather than the actor and conveying a sense of ‘as for…’ or ‘regarding…’.
3. 도둑은 떨어지면 호랑이에게 잡아먹힐까 봐 등을 꽉 붙잡았습니다.¹
   The thief, afraid he would be eaten by the tiger if he fell off, held on tightly to its back.
   • 도둑 means ‘thief’.
   • 은 is a topic marker, indicating what the sentence is about or the topic of discussion. It can emphasize an element, contrast it with another, or set the context for what follows, highlighting the theme rather than the actor and conveying a sense of ‘as for…’ or ‘regarding…’.
4. 그러다 도둑은 나뭇가지를 붙잡고 겨우 나무 위로 올라갔습니다.¹
   At that moment, the thief grabbed a tree branch and barely managed to climb up the tree.
   • 도둑 means ‘thief’.
   • 은 is a topic marker, indicating what the sentence is about or the topic of discussion. It can emphasize an element, contrast it with another, or set the context for what follows, highlighting the theme rather than the actor and conveying a sense of ‘as for…’ or ‘regarding…’.