Example Sentences#

1. 앨리스: “제가 미쳤다는 걸 어떻게 아세요?” 앨리스가 말했다.¹
   Alice: “How do you know I’m mad?” said Alice.
   • 알다 means ‘to know’.
   • -세요 is an informal polite honorific ending formed by combining the honorific marker -시- — used to show respect toward the subject of the verb, typically when referring to or addressing someone of higher social standing, or when politely addressing the listener in requests, questions, or commands — with the informal polite ending -어요.
2. 알 수 없는 길이지만 재밌어 보여²
   It’s an unknown path, yet it looks fun
   • 알다 means ‘to know’.
   • -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.
3. 그러나 언젠가 이 떨어져 있는 지식들이 모이면, 현실의 무서운 모습을 드러내고, 그 속에서 우리의 무서운 위치를 알게 되어 우리는 그 사실로 인해 미쳐버리거나 그 빛을 피해 새로운 어두운 시대의 평화와 안전 속으로 도망칠 것입니다.³
   However, someday, if these separate pieces of knowledge come together, they will reveal the fearful reality, and in that, we will come to know our terrifying position and either go mad or flee into the peace and safety of a new dark age, avoiding the light.
   • 알다 means ‘to know’.
   • -게 is a connective ending that turns the preceding clause into an adverbial modifier, indicating the purpose, result, manner, or degree of the action or state described in the following clause. Its meaning varies with the construction that follows, such as causation with -게 하다 or a change of state with -게 되다.
4. “사람은 자기가 길들인 것만 알 수 있어.” 여우가 말했다.⁴
   “One only knows the things one has tamed,” said the fox.
   • 알다 means ‘to know’ or ‘to understand’.
   • -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.
5. 서준: 알았어.⁵
   Seojun: Got it.
   • 알다 means ‘to know’ or ‘to understand’.
   • -았- is a past tense marker.
   • -어 is a casual ending used in informal speech.
6. “그렇다면 당신은 어떻게 자신이 미쳤다는 걸 아세요?”¹
   “If so, how do you know that you are mad?”
   • 알다 means ‘to know’.
   • -세요 is an informal polite honorific ending formed by combining the honorific marker -시- — used to show respect toward the subject of the verb, typically when referring to or addressing someone of higher social standing, or when politely addressing the listener in requests, questions, or commands — with the informal polite ending -어요.
7. 행복의 대가를 알게 될 거야.⁴
   I shall come to know the price of happiness.
   • 알다 means ‘to know’ or ‘to understand’.
   • -게 is a connective ending that turns the preceding clause into an adverbial modifier, indicating the purpose, result, manner, or degree of the action or state described in the following clause. Its meaning varies with the construction that follows, such as causation with -게 하다 or a change of state with -게 되다.
8. 하지만 네가 아무 때나 온다면, 나는 몇 시에 마음의 준비를 해야 할지 알 수 없을 거야…”⁴
   But if you come at just any time, I shall never know at what hour to prepare my heart…”
   • 알다 means ‘to know’ or ‘to understand’.
   • -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.