Example Sentences#

1. 오른쪽과 왼쪽 멀리서 벽이 보이기 시작했을 때 기뻤어.¹
   I was glad when I saw walls far away to the right and left.
   • 시작하다 means ‘to start’.
   • 였 is a past tense marker.
   • -을 is a modifier that turns the preceding statement into a phrase describing the following noun, conveying assumption, intention, or possibility and including future, potential, or unrealized actions and states.
2. 내일마다 새 시작이야²
   Every tomorrow is a new beginning
   • 시작 means ‘beginning’ or ‘start’.
   • 이다 is the copula ‘to be’, and 이야 is its casual conjugated form used in informal speech.
3. 이십사 시간 안에 저는 최고의 사람도 미워하기 시작합니다.³
   Within twenty-four hours, I start to hate even the best of people:
   • 시작하다 means ‘to begin’ or ‘to start’.
   • ㅂ니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
4. 라사로는 맹인의 제안을 받아들여 둘은 포도를 먹기 시작했다.⁴
   Lazaro accepted the blind man’s suggestion, and the two began eating the grapes.
   • 시작하다 means ‘to begin’ or ‘to start’.
   • 였 is a past tense marker.
   • -다 is the plain declarative ending used to state facts or describe events in an impersonal, neutral tone without addressing a specific listener, found in objective narration (stories, articles, diaries), self-directed speech, announcements, and emphatic exclamations.
5. 눈부신 길 따라 시작되는 세상⁵
   A world begins along the dazzling path
   • 시작되다 is a compound verb formed from 시작 (beginning) and 되다 (to become), a verb commonly used to form the passive voice in Korean, meaning ‘to be started’ or ‘to begin’ in the passive voice.
   • -는 is a present tense modifier that turns the preceding statement into a phrase describing the following noun.
6. 끝난 시간을 넘어 시작되는 순간들⁶
   Moments arising beyond the end of time
   • 시작되다 is a compound verb formed from 시작 (beginning) and 되다 (to become), a verb commonly used to form the passive voice in Korean, meaning ‘to be started’ or ‘to begin’ in the passive voice.
   • -는 is a present tense modifier that turns the preceding statement into a phrase describing the following noun.
7. “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.
   • 시작하다 means ‘to begin’ or ‘to start’.
   • -ㄹ is a modifier that turns the preceding statement into a phrase describing the following noun, conveying assumption, intention, or possibility and including future, potential, or unrealized actions and states.
8. 하지만 곧, 만족하지 못하는 마음이 그를 괴롭히기 시작했습니다.⁸
   But soon, dissatisfaction began to torment him.
   • 시작하다 means ‘to begin’.
   • 였 is a past tense marker.
   • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
9. 하지만 얼마 지나지 않아 맹인은 두 개씩 집어먹기 시작했다.⁴
   But not long after, the blind man began eating two at a time.
   • 시작하다 means ‘to begin’ or ‘to start’.
   • 였 is a past tense marker.
   • -다 is the plain declarative ending used to state facts or describe events in an impersonal, neutral tone without addressing a specific listener, found in objective narration (stories, articles, diaries), self-directed speech, announcements, and emphatic exclamations.
10. 이를 눈치챈 라사로도 맹인을 따라 두 개씩, 세 개씩 먹기 시작했다.⁴
    Noticing this, Lazaro also began eating two at a time, then three at a time, following the blind man’s example.
    • 시작하다 means ‘to begin’ or ‘to start’.
    • 였 is a past tense marker.
    • -다 is the plain declarative ending used to state facts or describe events in an impersonal, neutral tone without addressing a specific listener, found in objective narration (stories, articles, diaries), self-directed speech, announcements, and emphatic exclamations.