Example Sentences#

1. 민준: 이번 주말 뭐 할 거야?¹
   Minjun: What are you doing this weekend?
   • 하다 means ‘to do’.
   • -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.
2. “아, 이럴 수가,” 쥐가 말했다.²
   “Ah, how could this be,” the mouse said.
   • 말하다 means ‘to say’ or ‘to speak’.
   • 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.
3. 앨리스: “여기서 어느 쪽으로 가야 할지 말씀해 주시겠어요?”³
   Alice: “Would you please tell me which way I should go from here?”
   • 하다 means ‘to do’, and here functions as an auxiliary verb in the -아야 conditional structure, expressing that the preceding action is necessary for an implied result.
   • -아야 하다 is an expression used to indicate that the preceding statement is a required act or condition to realize a certain situation, meaning ‘have to (do something)’.
   • -ㄹ지 is a connective ending used to indicate uncertainty or doubt about a future action. It encapsulates the clause as a noun form, often used in contexts where there is a question, assumption, or speculation about what will happen.
4. 마을 사람들은 그에게 큰 불행이라고 말했습니다.⁴
   The villagers said to him it was a great misfortune.
   • 말하다 means ‘to say’.
   • 였 is a past tense marker.
   • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
5. 모르는 것처럼 할까⁵
   Should I pretend not to know?
   • 하다 means ‘to do’.
   • -ㄹ까 is a question ending indicating curiosity, wonder, or uncertainty, often reflecting deliberation or weighing options. It can suggest actions to do together (‘Shall we…?’), ask someone’s opinion or show curiosity about a situation (‘Do you think…?’), or express personal deliberation about one’s own actions (‘Shall I…?’).
6. 현우: 맞아, 사람이 너무 많아서 지하철도 몇 번이나 그냥 지나가고, 택시도 잘 안 잡혀서 늦을 뻔했어.⁶
   Hyunwoo: Yeah, there were so many people that a bunch of subways just passed by, and taxis were hard to catch, so I was almost late.
   • 뻔 is a bound noun indicating that something almost happened but ultimately did not.
   • 하다 means ‘to do’.
   • -(으)ㄹ 뻔하다 is a grammar pattern expressing that something almost happened but ultimately did not occur.
   • -였- is a past tense marker.
   • -어 is a casual ending used in informal speech.
7. 지수: 나도 나의 아저씨 좋아해.⁷
   Jisoo: I also like ‘My Mister’.
   • 좋아하다 means ‘to like’. It is derived from the adjective 좋다 (to be good) using the pattern -아하다, which transforms adjectives into verbs to describe the feeling or perception of an emotion.
   • 여 is a casual ending used in informal speech.
8. 저는 인류 전체를 사랑할수록 특정 사람을 덜 사랑하게 됩니다.⁸
   The more I love humanity, the less I come to love any particular person.
   • 사랑하다 means ‘to love’.
   • ㄹ수록 is a grammar pattern indicating that as the extent of the preceding action or condition increases, the following statement changes accordingly. It means ‘the more (something happens)’.
9. 어느 날, 라사로와 맹인은 알모록스라는 마을에 도착했다.⁹
   One day, Lazaro and the blind man arrived in a village called Almorox.
   • 도착하다 means ‘to arrive’.
   • 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. 숨바꼭질하는 빛과 그림자¹⁰
    Light and shadow playing hide and seek
    • 숨바꼭질 is a Korean term for the children’s game hide and seek, with debated origins. Some suggest it derives from words like 숨다 (to hide) and 바꾸다 (to change), while others trace it to the old Korean term 숨막질 (where 숨 means breath and -질 is a suffix indicating repeated action), which described diving underwater.
    • 하다 means ‘to do’ and allows the noun to function as part of a verb phrase (to play hide and seek).
    • -는 is a present tense modifier that turns the preceding statement into a phrase describing the following noun.
11. 고요한 물결처럼 마음을 채워가¹¹
    Like gentle waves, gradually filling my heart
    • 고요하다 means ‘to be calm’ or ‘to be quiet’.
    • -ㄴ is a modifier that turns the preceding statement into a phrase describing the following noun.
12. 세상에서 가장 다행스러운 것은 인간의 마음이 모든 것을 연결하지 못하는 능력이라고 생각합니다.¹²
    I think the most fortunate thing in the world is the human mind’s inability to connect everything.
    • 연결하다 means ‘to connect’.
    • 지 is part of the negation pattern -지 못하다, an expression used to indicate inability to perform the action or reach the state described in the preceding statement.
13. 두 명의 스님, 한 명은 나이 든 스님이고 다른 한 명은 젊은 스님이 함께 여행하고 있었다.¹³
    Two monks, one old and one young, were traveling together.
    • 여행하다 means ‘to travel’.
    • -고 is a connective ending used to link two actions or states, meaning ‘and’, or to join the main verb to auxiliary verbs.
14. “나를 길들여 줘…” 여우가 말했다.¹⁴
    “Please tame me…” said the fox.
    • 말하다 means ‘to say’ or ‘to speak’.
    • 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.
15. 나조차 나를 용서 못해도¹⁵
    Even if I can’t forgive myself.
    • 못하다 means ‘to be unable to do something’ or ‘to do something poorly’, formed from 못 (meaning ‘cannot’ or ‘poorly’) and 하다 (to do).
    • -여도 is a connective ending that acknowledges or assumes the truth of the preceding statement while implying that it does not affect or influence the following statement. It is often translated as ‘even if’ or ‘although.’
16. 고요한 마을에는 타로라는 성실한 돌을 다듬는 사람이 살고 있었습니다.¹⁶
    In a quiet village, there lived a diligent stone carver named Taro.
    • 고요하다 means ‘to be quiet’ or ‘to be calm’.
    • -ㄴ is a modifier that turns the preceding statement into a phrase describing the following noun.
17. 호랑이는 한 집 앞에 도착했습니다.¹⁷
    The tiger arrived in front of a house.
    • 도착하다 means ‘to arrive’.
    • 였 is a past tense marker.
    • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
18. 해진: 나도 떡볶이 좋아하지만, 불고기도 먹자.¹⁸
    Haejin: I like tteokbokki too, but let’s eat bulgogi as well.
    • 좋아하다 means ‘to like’. It is derived from the adjective 좋다 (to be good) using the pattern -아하다, which transforms adjectives into verbs to describe the feeling or perception of an emotion.
    • -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.
19. 처음에는 너무 넓어서 두려웠고, 계속 달리기만 했어.²
    At the beginning it was so big that I was afraid, and I kept running and running.
    • 하다 means ‘to do’.
    • 였 is a past tense marker.
    • 어 is a casual ending used in informal speech.
20. 체셔 고양이: “그건 네가 어디로 가고 싶은지에 달려 있어,” 고양이가 말했다.³
    Cheshire Cat: “That depends on where you want to go,” said the cat.
    • 말하다 means ‘to say’.
    • 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.