Example Sentences#

1. “세상이 날마다 더 좁아지고 있어.¹
   “The world is getting narrower every day.
   • 좁다 means ‘to be narrow’.
   • -아지다 is a grammar pattern used to indicate that someone or something gradually becomes the state mentioned in the preceding statement.
   • -고 is a connective ending used to link two actions or states, meaning ‘and’, or to join the main verb to auxiliary verbs.
2. 남겨진 마음은 어디로 가는 걸까?²
   Where does a heart left behind go?
   • 남기다 means ‘to leave behind’ or ‘to leave remaining’. It is the causative form of 남다 (to remain), formed by adding the causative suffix -기-.
   • -어지다 is a grammar pattern used to indicate that someone or something gradually becomes the state mentioned in the preceding statement. When attached to transitive verbs, it converts them into intransitive passive forms.
   • -ㄴ is a past tense modifier that turns the preceding statement into a phrase describing the following noun.
3. 그래서 더 현실적으로 느껴졌어.³
   So it felt more realistic.
   • 느끼다 means ‘to feel’.
   • -어지다 is a grammar pattern used to indicate that someone or something gradually becomes the state mentioned in the preceding statement.
   • 었 is the past tense marker.
   • 어 is a casual ending used in informal speech.
4. 다음이 궁금해지는 순간⁴
   A moment that makes me curious about what’s next
   • 궁금하다 means ‘to be curious’.
   • -여지다 is a grammar pattern used to indicate that someone or something gradually becomes the state mentioned in the preceding statement.
   • -는 is a present tense modifier that turns the preceding statement into a phrase describing the following noun.
5. 소음 속에서 잊혀진 날 찾아⁵
   Searching for myself, forgotten in the noise
   • 잊혀지다 is a verb formed by attaching the passive suffix -히- to the root verb 잊다 (to forget), creating the passive form 잊히다 (to be forgotten), and then adding the suffix -어지다, which indicates a gradual change or transformation and converts transitive verbs into intransitive passive forms, creating a double passive form, 잊혀지다, which is grammatically redundant but more commonly used than 잊히다.
   • -ㄴ is a past tense modifier that turns the preceding statement into a phrase describing the following noun.
6. “요즘 사람들은 무엇이든 가게에서 이미 만들어진 것을 사지.⁶
   “These days, people buy everything already made in shops.
   • 만들다 means ‘to make’.
   • -어지다 is a grammar pattern used to indicate that someone or something gradually becomes the state mentioned in the preceding statement. When attached to transitive verbs, it converts them into intransitive passive forms.
   • -ㄴ is a past tense modifier that turns the preceding statement into a phrase describing the following noun.
7. 태양의 엄청난 힘을 보면서 자신이 작게 느껴졌습니다.⁷
   Seeing the enormous power of the sun, he felt small.
   • 느끼다 means ‘to feel’.
   • -어지다 is a grammar pattern used to indicate that someone or something gradually becomes the state mentioned in the preceding statement.
   • 었 is a past tense marker.
   • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
8. 하지만 이 긴 벽들이 너무 빨리 가까워져서 이제는 마지막 방에 있고, 저기 구석에 내가 달려가는 덫이 있어.”¹
   But these long walls closed in so quickly that now I am in the last room, and over there in the corner is the trap I am running towards.”
   • 가깝다 means ‘to be close’.
   • -어지다 is a grammar pattern used to indicate that someone or something gradually becomes the state mentioned in the preceding statement.
   • -어서 is a connective ending that indicates a sequence of related events, cause and effect, or ways or means.
9. 분위기도 참 따뜻해서 계속 보고 싶어지더라.³
   The atmosphere was so heartwarming that I found myself wanting to keep watching.
   • 싶다 is an adjective meaning ‘to be desirous of’, and when used after the connective ending -고, it expresses a desire to do something or to be in a certain state.
   • -어지다 is a grammatical pattern indicating a change of state or gradual becoming.
   • -더라 is a grammar pattern used to state a fact the speaker has realized through personal experience or observation, often conveying a sense of newfound understanding. It’s composed of -더- (a retrospective suffix conveying past personal experience or observation) and -라 (an exclamatory declarative sentence-ending used to state a fact or observation).
10. 잡으려 하면 멀어지는 꿈⁴
    A dream that drifts away when I try to catch it
    • 멀다 means ‘to be far’ or ‘distant’.
    • -어지다 is a grammar pattern used to indicate that someone or something gradually becomes the state mentioned in the preceding statement.
    • -는 is a present tense modifier that turns the preceding statement into a phrase describing the following noun.
11. 부서질수록 내 맘 가벼워져⁵
    The more I break, the lighter I feel
    • 가볍다 means ‘to be light’.
    • -어지다 is a grammar pattern used to indicate that someone or something gradually becomes the state mentioned in the preceding statement.
    • 어 is a casual ending used in informal speech.
12. “네가 오후 네 시에 온다면, 나는 세 시부터 벌써 행복해지기 시작할 거야.⁶
    “If you come at four in the afternoon, then at three o’clock I shall begin to feel happy.
    • 행복하다 means ‘to be happy’.
    • -여지다 is a grammar pattern used to indicate that someone or something gradually becomes the state mentioned in the preceding statement.
    • -기 is a nominalizing suffix, turning the verb into a noun form.
13. 그러나 그의 힘은 큰, 움직이지 않는 산에 부딪히면서 약해졌습니다.⁷
    However, his power weakened as he hit a big, immovable mountain.
    • 약하다 means ‘to be weak’.
    • -여지다 is a grammar pattern used to indicate that someone or something gradually becomes the state mentioned in the preceding statement.
    • 었 is a past tense marker.
    • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
14. 네 시가 가까워질수록 나는 점점 더 기뻐질 거야.⁶
    As four o’clock draws nearer, I shall grow happier and happier.
    • 가깝다 means ‘to be close’.
    • -어지다 is a grammar pattern used to indicate that someone or something gradually becomes the state mentioned in the preceding statement. When attached to transitive verbs, it converts them into intransitive passive forms.
    • 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)’.
15. 멈춘 시계 위에서 가벼워지는 발걸음⁵
    Footsteps growing lighter upon the stopped clock
    • 가볍다 means ‘to be light’ (in weight).
    • -어지다 is a grammar pattern used to indicate that someone or something gradually becomes the state mentioned in the preceding statement.
    • -는 is a present tense modifier that turns the preceding statement into a phrase describing the following noun.
16. 네 시가 되면 나는 이미 설레고 불안해질 거야.⁶
    At four o’clock, I shall already be excited and nervous.
    • 불안하다 means ‘to be anxious’ or ‘to be uneasy’.
    • -여지다 is a grammar pattern used to indicate that someone or something gradually becomes the state mentioned in the preceding statement.
    • -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.