Example Sentences#

1. “아, 이럴 수가,” 쥐가 말했다.¹
   “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.
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.
   • 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.
3. 어느 날 그의 말이 도망갔습니다.³
   One day, his horse ran away.
   • 말 means ‘horse’.
   • 이 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
4. 푸른 바람이 말해 주는 것 같아⁴
   It feels like the blue breeze is whispering
   • 말하다 means ‘to say’ or ‘to tell’.
   • 여 is part of the pattern -여 주다, which indicates that the action is done for someone else.
5. 태민: 응, 말 없이도 서로 힘이 되어 주는 게 진짜 감동이었지.⁵
   Taemin: Yes, it was really touching that they could be a source of strength for each other even without words.
   • 말 means ‘words’ or ‘speech’.
6. 맹인이 라사로에게 말했다.⁶
   The blind man said to Lazaro:
   • 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.
7. 그때 나이 든 스님은 아무 말 없이 여자를 들어 강을 건너게 도와주고, 다른 쪽에 내려놓은 후 다시 길을 떠났다.⁷
   At that moment, the old monk picked up the woman without a word, helped her cross the river, set her down on the other side, and resumed the journey.
   • 말 means ‘words’.
8. “나를 길들여 줘…” 여우가 말했다.⁸
   “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.
9. 아기의 엄마가 말했습니다.⁹
   The baby’s mother said,
   • 말하다 means ‘to say’ or ‘to speak’.
   • 였 is a past tense marker.
   • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
10. “방향만 바꾸면 돼,” 고양이가 말했고, 쥐를 잡아먹었다.¹
    “You only need to change your direction,” said the cat, and ate it up.
    • 말하다 means ‘to say’ or ‘to speak’.
    • 였 is a past tense marker.
    • -고 is a connective ending used to link two actions or states, meaning ‘and’, or to join the main verb to auxiliary verbs.
11. 앨리스: “어디든 상관없어요—” 앨리스가 말했다.²
    Alice: “I don’t care where—” said Alice.
    • 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.
12. 마을 사람들은 그에게 큰 불행이라고 말했습니다.³
    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.
13. 포도를 다 먹고 난 후, 맹인은 포도 줄기를 손에 쥐고 고개를 흔들며 말했다.⁶
    After finishing the grapes, the blind man held the grape stem in his hand, shook his head, and said:
    • 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.
14. 그는 말없이 따라갔고, 한 시간 동안 아무 말도 하지 않았다.⁷
    He followed silently, and did not say a word for an hour.
    • 말 means ‘word’.
    • 도 is a particle meaning ‘even’, used here to emphasize the negation, conveying ‘not even one’ or ‘none at all’.
15. “사람은 자기가 길들인 것만 알 수 있어.” 여우가 말했다.⁸
    “One only knows the things one has tamed,” 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.
16. 조금 뒤에 엄마가 다시 말했습니다.⁹
    A little later, the mother spoke again:
    • 말하다 means ‘to say’ or ‘to speak’.
    • 였 is a past tense marker.
    • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
17. 체셔 고양이: “그럼 어느 쪽으로 가든 상관없어,” 고양이가 말했다.²
    Cheshire Cat: “Then it doesn’t matter which way you 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.
18. 몇 달 후 그 말이 돌아왔고, 몇 마리의 다른 말도 데리고 왔습니다.³
    A few months later, the horse returned, bringing a few other horses.
    • 말 means ‘horse’.
    • 이 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
19. 라사로는 당황하며 말했다.⁶
    Lazaro said, embarrassed:
    • 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.