Study Korean with Asya

First, the meaning is the same for both. The matter of 가 is purely a nuance:

Both ~을/ㄹ 수 있다/없다 and ~을/ㄹ 수가 있다/없다 express: ability / possibility or inability / impossibility

So grammatically, they function the same.

The difference: the particle 가 adds emphasis

1) Verb stem + 을/ㄹ 수 있다/없다

This is a neutral, simple statement of ability or possibility. Tone is plain, factual.

Examples:

갈 수 있어요. I can go.

할 수 없어요. I can’t do it.

2) Verb stem + 을/ㄹ 수가 있다/없다

The 가 here adds emotional weight, emphasis, or contrast. Tone is stronger, more expressive, and often used when:

you’re surprised

you’re frustrated

you’re emphasizing impossibility

you’re contrasting with expectations

Examples:

갈 수가 있어요. I actually can go. / I do in fact have the ability to go.

할 수가 없어요. I really can’t do it. / There’s no way I can do it.

So, the 가 in ~을/ㄹ 수가 있다/없다 is optional, and the default without 가 is perfectly natural and correct in all situations. 가 adds nuance (and that nuance can vary in meaning/purpose) and is based on the context of the situation/conversation. If this sounds or feels obscure, it's because it certainly is!

In my opinion, this grammar point is nothing to stress about -- if you're trying to figure this grammar out, that already tells you how far you've gotten on your Korean language learning journey!

Reminder: 을 for consonants, ㄹ for vowels (what the verb stem ends with)

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Verbs & Adjectives

Present 현재: ~아/어/해

Past 과거: ~았어/었어/했어

Future 미래: ~을(c)/ㄹ(v) 거야

예:

가 / 갔어 / 갈 거야

들어 / 들었어 / 들을 거야

알아 / 알았어 / 알을 거야

바빠 / 바빴어 / 바쁠 거야

좋아 / 좋았어 / 좋을 거야

추워 / 추웠어 / 출 거야

싸워어 / 싸웄어 / 싸울 거야

Nouns (with 이다 /아니다)

Present 현재: ~이야(c)/야(v)

Past 과거: ~이었어(c)/였어(v)

Future 미래: 일(c)/ㄹ(v) 거야

예:

친구야 / 친구였어 / 친구일 거야

동생이야 / 동생이었어 / 동생일 거야

Names 이름

Vowel ending: add 야

Consonant ending: add 아

예:

민진아 vs 지수야

Commands 명령/권유

Remember, commands are those ~으/세요 or ~지 마세요 phrases in polite speech.

Verbs ("Do XXX"): ~아/어/해 (요 form without 요)

예:

써 / 와 / 앉아 / 들어

Negation ("Don't do XXX"): Verb stem + ~지 마

예:

가지 마 / 말하지 마 / 듣지 마 / 울지 마

Suggestions 제안 (let's/let's not...)

*Suggestions for joint action

"Let's": verb stem + 자

예:

찍자 / 앉자 / 걷자 / 만들자

"Let's not" (negation): verb stem + 지 말자

예:

타지 말자 / 가지 말자 / 먹지 말자 / 공부하지 말자

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(1) I only have XXX and nothing more/else

(2) Besides XXX, he does nothing else

(3) I care about nothing besides XXX these days

These are random examples and not comprehensive.

Sidenote: 안 = don’t (choice) /  못 = can’t (ability / possibility) 

Other sidenote: You can use a verb with 밖에, but you must turn that verb into a noun-like form first.

예:

저는 요즘 한국 드라마밖에 안 봐요. These days, I don’t want anything besides Korean dramas.

요즘 예술밖에 관심이 없어요. These days, I have no interest in anything besides art (basically, all I care about is art right now).

약이 하나밖에 없어요. I only have one pill left (literally: I have nothing else besides this one pill.) 

어렸을 때 우리 오빠밖에 몰라요. 근데 지금 자주 안 만나요. When I was young, all I knew was my brother (I only cared about/loved/had eyes for/etc him). However, now we don’t meet often.*

*모르다 literally means you don’t know anything besides [noun], but it is often used figuratively to mean you only cared about/had eyes for this thing or person.

제니밖에 자지 않아요. Besides Jenny, no one else is sleeping. 

제니가 잠밖에 안 자요. Jenny does nothing but sleep. (Verb is 잠을 자다 → changes to 잠을 안 자다 becase needs ot be negative then adding ~밖에 replaces 을/를 in these cases so → 잠밖에 안 자요, where 잠 is the noun)

여기에는 물밖에 없어요. There’s nothing here except water.

라면밖에 안 먹어요. They eat nothing besides ramen.

그것밖에 몰라요. Besides that, they know nothing.

영어밖에 못 해요. I can only speak English (Literally: besides English, there's nothing I can speak.)

Sidenote: This grammar typically has a more negative connotation, i.e., you're not glad you can only do this (when you should do more) or only have this left (when you want or need more). Looking at how you can only use negative verbs here, it makes sense.

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It shows new information or surprise, NOT your own deliberate actions.

예들:

벌써 4(네)시네요.* It's already 4?!

*Noun + (이)다 + 네요 → Noun + (이)네요 >> drop the 이 if noun ends in vowel (친구네요 versus 학생이네요)

Noun + 이/가 아니다 + 네요 → Noun + 이/가 아니네요 (not sure this would ever naturally be used, it feels a bit odd, but just as a conjugation FYI)

사간이 빠르네요! Time goes by fast!

자전거가 빠르네요. The bicycle is (surprisingly) fast.

눈이 오네요. (Oh wow) It's snowing.

여쁘네요. It's pretty. (Surprisingly, like you didn't expect it for whatever reason -- all these rely on context)

정말 멀네요. It's really far. (realizing it now)

비싸네요. It's expensive (i.e., didn't expect it to be that much)

🎧 Bad Desire (With or Without You) - Enhypen

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Verb examples

좋다고 해요

맛있다고  해요

춥다고 했어요

~고 싶다고 했어요

Sentence examples

갈비탕이 짜다고 했어요. They said/I heard the galbi is salty.

머리가 아프다고 했어요. She said her head hurts.

방이 더러웠다고 했어요. They said the room was dirty.

영화가 재미있었다고 했어요. They said the movie was fun.

2. Indirect quotation present verbs                 

Verb stem  + ㄴ(V)/는(C)다고 하다 (ㄹirregular)

Used to quote what someone said when the verb is an action in a present statement.

Verb examples

간다고 해요

먹는다고 해요

듣는다고 해요

청소한다고 해요

IRREGULARS (ㄹ)

살다 à 산다고요 (remove ㄹ)

만들다 à 만든다고 해요

Sentence examples

“좀 늦어요.”

좀 늦는다고 했어요. They said they are a little late.

“시간이 있을 때 영화를 봐요.”

시간이 있을 때 영화를 본다고 했어요. They said when they have time, they watch movies.

3. Indirect quotation past verbs                        

Verb past tense stem (았/었/했) + 다고 하다

Used to quote when the action in the quoted message occurred in the past.

Verb examples:

깠다 -> 갔다고  했어요

들었다 -> 들었다고 했어요

청소했다 -> 청소했다고 했어요

Sentence examples:

토요일에 소라 씨가 뭐 했다고 했어요? What did Sora say she did on Saturday?

친구하고 영화를 봤다고 했어요. She watched a movie with a friend (she told me/said)

진수 씨가 어제 한스 씨를 만났다고 했어요. Jin Soo said she met Han Su yesterday. (Nuance note: We weren’t there, we’re quoting what was told to us or what we heard.)

마크 씨가 어제 피곤해서 속제를 못 했다고 했어요. Mark said he couldn’t finish his homework yesterday because he was tired.

4. Indirect quotation future tense adjectives/verbs  (ㄷ and ㄹ irregulars)

Verb/Adj stem + ㄹ(V)/을(C) 거라고 하다

Used to quote when the event in the quoted message is about the future. Verbs and Adj use the same form here.

Verb examples

치다 -> 칠 거라고 해요

가다 -> 갈 거라고 해요

있다 -> 있을 거라고 해요

오다 -> 올거라고 해요

IRREGULARS (ㄷ and ㄹ irregulars)

ㄷ --> remove ㄷ, add ㄹ (듣다 -> 들을 거라고 해요)

ㄹ --> just remove 다 from stem (만들다 -> 만들 거라고 해요; 실다 -> 살 거라고 해요)

Sentence examples:

진수 씨가 오늘 오후에 비가 올 거라고 했어요. Jin Soo said it is going to rain this afternoon.

주말에 친구하고 테니스를 칠 거라고 했어요. They/she/he said they’re going to play tennis with their friend this weekend.

10분 후에 전화할 거라고 했어요. They said they’ll call in ten minutes.

5. Indirect quotation nouns             

Noun+이라고(C)/라고(V) 하다

Used for quoting sentences that use noun + 이다 (is) or noun + 가 (V)/이(C) 아니다 (is not)

Verb examples:

한 시라고 해요

가수라고 해요

의사가 아니라고 해요 (remember, 아니다 needs 이/가)

학생이라고 해요

Sentence examples:

한스 씨가 의사라고 했어요. Han Su said he is a doctor.

앤디 씨가 호주 사람이 아니라고 했어요. Andy said he isn’t Australian.

뭐라고 했어요? What did they say?

6. Indirect quotation suggestions     

Verb stem + 자고 하다 (no irregulars)

When the quoted speech is a verb and a suggestion (i.e., ~을까요? 어때요? ~읍시다 etc.)

Verb examples:

가다 -> 가자고 하다

걷다 -> 걷자고 하다

열다 -> 열자고 하다

듣다 -> 듣자고 하다

Sentence examples:

렌핑: “같이 음악 좀 들읍시다” (듣다)

What did they say? -> 렌핑 씨가 같이 음악 좀 듣자고 했어요.

Verb stem + 지 말자고 하다 is the negative form of quoted suggestions (no irregulars)

*When the verb suggestion is negative, i.e., “don’t open the window because it’s cold,” rather than “let’s close the window” or “how about we keep the window closed.”

Sentence examples:

완: “날씨가 추우니까 문을 열지 맙시다.” (열다)

What did they say? -> 완 씨가 날씨가 추우니까 문을 열지 말자고 했어요.

7. Indirect quotations commands                                  

Verb stem + (으)라고 (C)/ 라고(V) 하다 (ㄷ & ㄹ irregulars)

Verb examples:

내다 (to submit) -> 내라고 하다

나가다 -> 나가라고 하다

빼다 (to take out/remove) → 빼라고 하다

읽다 -> 읽으라고 하다

받다 -> 받으라고 하다 (irregular doesn’t apply to this diva)

IRREGULARS (ㄷ and ㄹ)

ㄷ --> changes to ㄹ + 으라고

듣다 -> 들으라고 하다 / 걷다 à 걸으라고 하다

ㄹ --> just keep stem, remove 다  + 라고 하다

만들다 -> 만들라고 하다 / 살다 à 살라고 하다

Verb stem + 지 말라고 하다 is the negative form of quoted commands (no irregulars in negative form)

Sentence examples:

엄마가 방에 들어오지 말라고 했어요. (엄마: 방에 들어오지 마.) Mom told me not to come into the room.

친구가 그 이야기를 하지 말라고 했어요. (친구: 그 이야기 하지 마.) My friend told me not to say that.

8. Indirect quotations questions (verbs, adjectives, nouns)               

Verb stem past or present ~느냐고 (C) / 냐고 (V) 하다 (ㄹ, ㄷ irregular)

가다 -> 가냐고 하다

먹다 -> 먹느냐고 했어요

오다 -> 오냐고 했어요

모르다 -> 모르느냐고 했어요

*놀다 -> 노냐고 하다 (ㄹ drops) *듣다 -> 들으냐고 했어요 (ㄷ changes to ㄹ)

Sentence examples:

엄마가 밥 먹었느냐고 했어요. (엄마: 밥 먹었어?) Mom asked if I ate.

친구가 왜 울었느냐고 했어요. (친구: 왜 울었어?) My friend asked why I cried.

선생님이 집에 언제 가냐고 했어요. (선생님: 집에 언제 가요?) The teacher asked when I’m going home.

Adjective stem ~으냐고 (C) / 냐고 (V) 하다 (no irregular)

크다 -> 크냐고 했어요

작다 -> 작으냐고 했어요

춥다 -> 춥냐고 했어요

비싸다 -> 비싸냐고 했어요

Sentence examples:

친구가 오늘 바쁘냐고 했어요. (친구: 오늘 바빠?) My friend asked if I’m busy today.

아빠가 날씨가 춥냐고 했어요. (아빠: 오늘 춥니?) Dad asked if it’s cold today.

Noun + 이냐고 (C) / 냐고(V) 하다

학생 -> 학생이냐고 했어요

선생님 -> 선생님이냐고 했어요

Sentence examples:

친구가 이게 네 가방이냐고 했어요. (친구: 이거 네 가방이야?) My friend asked if this is my bag.

엄마가 오늘 시험 날이냐고 했어요. (엄마: 오늘 시험 날이야?) Mom asked if today is the test day.

*Note on ~하다 with indirect quotes

The tense of 하다 is technically independent from the tense inside -다고, but 했어요 is the default as it usually makes the most sense, as in, you’re quoting what was said/heard/etc.

Indirect quotation has two tense layers:

Tense of the quoted content

Tense of the reporting verb 하다

They don’t have to match.

As you can see from the below, all work and make sense, they just vary slightly in the translation. 1. Present content + present reporting

짜다고 해요. They say it’s salty.

2. Present content + past reporting

짜다고 했어요. They said it’s salty.

3. Past content + present reporting

짰다고 해요. They say it was salty.

4. Past content + past reporting

짰다고 했어요. They said it was salty.

Also, ~하다 is not the only reporting verb, but it can be seen as the easy default. Common ones to also use include:

말하다 to say

이야기하다 to tell, to talk

전하다 to convey, to pass along

알리다 to inform, notify

듣다 to hear

Eventually, I will make a separate post on things that are NOT quoting, but similar, like ~다고요? and ~ㄴ/는/라/다면서요? Eventually...

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2) 무슨 — “what kind of / which (type)”

Adjective

Must be followed by a noun

Asks about category, type, or nature

무슨 영화 좋아해요? → What kind of movies do you like? 무슨 일 있었어요? → Did something happen? (lit. What kind of thing happened?)

3) 어느 — “which (specific one)”

Adjective

Choosing among known options

Often used when the set is limited or visible

어느 버스를 타야 돼요? → Which bus should I take? 어느 가게가 더 가까워요? → Which store is closer?

4) 어떤 — “what kind of / what sort of”

Adjective

Overlaps with 무슨, but: 어떤 is broader and can ask about qualities, characteristics, or hypothetical situations / 무슨 is more about category or classification

어떤 사람이랑 일하고 싶어요? → What kind of person do you want to work with? 어떤 색이 더 잘 어울려요? → Which color suits you better?

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1. "시간이 가면"

시간(이) = time (subject)

가면 = if/when (time) passes (가다)

Grammar:

~면 = if/when

So: when time passes / if time goes by

2. "모든 게 지나간다고"

모든 게 = everything (subject)

지나간다 = passes / goes by / fades

~다고 = quoting ending for statements

Grammar:

~다고 attaches to a verb to quote a statement indirectly. So: (they say) that everything passes

3. "그건"

그 = that

건 = contraction of 것은 (“thing/topic”)

So: that (statement)

It refers back to the idea before it.

4. 한번도 고통을 겪어보지 못한 사람들이

한번도 = not even once

고통(을) = pain, suffering (object)

겪어보지 못한 = to have never experienced

사람들(이) = people (people not person because 들)

Grammar

겪다 + 보다 → 겪어보다: to try experiencing / have the experience of

겪어보지 못하다 is 겪어보다 + ~지 못하다 = cannot / did not / have not

겪어보지 못한 is the noun modifier form of the 겪어보지 못하다

The entire modifier 겪어보지 못한 attaches to 사람들

So, roughly: people who have never experienced pain even once

5. 하는 말이다

하다 = to do

말 = words / saying

하는 + 말 = the words (someone) says

이다 = is (this is the plain declarative form)

Grammar

하는 말이다 refers to the 사람들 in the previous clause and classifies the statement in the previous-previous clause as something that those specific people say.

A bit confusing, but in other words, it labels the quoted idea (“시간이 가면 모든 게 지나간다고”) as belonging to that group of people ("한번도 고통을 겪어보지 못한 사람들").

So, roughly: is something said by... / is the kind of thing those people say"

Core meanings (context decides which one)

A. “Act like that / behave that way”

Used when referring to someone’s behavior, attitude, or state.

*This one freely uses all tenses and politeness levels.

그러지 마세요. Don’t act like that.

왜 그래? Why are you acting like that?

B. “Say that”

Used when quoting or referring to what someone said.

*This one freely uses all tenses and politeness levels.

그러길래… Since you said that…

그 사람이 그러더라고요.

That person said so.

선생님이 그러셨어요.

The teacher said that. (honorific)

그러길래 그렇게 했어요.

Since you said that, I did it that way.

C. “End up like that / become like that”

Used in cause–and–effect or warning contexts.

*Warnings in this form are spoken Korean and informal. You can use other more formal forms like ~요, but this changes the tone from a warning to a prediction or advice.

그러다 다쳐. If you keep doing that, you’ll get hurt.

그러다 늦어. If you keep that up, you’ll be late.

*As you can see, these verbs are all in the present tense. However, English doesn’t use the present tense for warnings like this, so it translates to the future tense.

D. Common connective forms of 그러다

그러면 → 그럼 (“if so / then”)

그러니까 → 그니까 (“so / therefore / because of that”)

그러다가 → 그러다(가) (“while doing that / and then suddenly…”)

그러면서 (“while saying/doing that…”)

그러길래 (“since you said/did that…”)

그러고 나서 (“after doing that…”)

These are all built from 그러 + connective endings.

More examples:

Behavior

애가 왜 그래? What’s wrong with the kid? / Why is he acting like that?

Reported speech

친구가 그러더라고요. My friend said so.

Warning / natural consequence

그러다 감기 걸려. If you keep doing that, you’ll catch a cold.

Sequence

그러고 나서 집에 갔어요. After that, I went home.

Contrast / contradiction

그러면서 왜 안 해? You say that, but why aren’t you doing it?

Change / interruption

그러다가 넘어졌어요. While doing that, I fell.

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1) 이/히/리/기 Passives

Fixed pairs. Intuitive, apparently.

닫다 → 닫히다 (닫다 = to close something; 닫히다 = something closes / is closed)

열다 → 열리다 (열다 = to open something; 열리다 = something opens / is opened)

잡다 → 잡히다 (잡다 = to catch something; 잡히다 = something/someone gets caught)

먹다 → 먹히다 (먹다 = to eat something; 먹히다 = something gets eaten)

보다 → 보이다* (보다 = to see something; 보이다 = something is seen / visible)

*"보여요" is my nemesis... she is so hard for me to say lol

듣다 → 들리다 (듣다 = to hear something; 들리다 = something is heard / audible)

끊다 → 끊기다 (끊다 = to cut/stop something; 끊기다 = something gets cut/disconnected)

안다 → 안기다 (안다 = to hug someone; 안기다 = to be hugged)

물다 → 물리다 (물다 = to bite something; 물리다 = to be bitten)

2) ~아/어지다 Passive

Used when the verb has no fixed passive pair.

FYI: this is the same conjugation rule for indicating a change (i.e., the weather became nice). Same conjugation, different use.

고치다 → 고쳐지다 (고치다 = to fix something; 고쳐지다 = something gets fixed)

정하다 → 정해지다 (정하다 = to set/decide something; 정해지다 = something becomes set / is determined)

바꾸다 → 바뀌어지다 (바꾸다 = to change something; 바뀌다 = something changes / is changed)

만들다 → 만들어지다 (만들다 = to make something; 만들어지다 = something is made / created)

쓰다 → 쓰여지다 (쓰다 = to write something; 쓰여지다 = something is written)

지우다 → 지워지다 (지우다 = to erase something; 지워지다 = something is erased)

3) 하다 → 되다 Passive

For ~하다 verbs FYI: ~되다 / ~돼요 / ~됐어요 / ~될 거예요

시작하다 → 시작되다 (시작하다 = to start something; 시작되다 = something starts / begins)

결정하다 → 결정되다 (결정하다 = to decide something; 결정되다 = something is decided)

선택하다 → 선택되다 (선택하다 = to choose something; 선택되다 = something is chosen / selected)

준비하다 → 준비되다 (준비하다 = to prepare something; 준비되다 = something is prepared / ready)

발표하다 → 발표되다 (발표하다 = to announce something; 발표되다 = something is announced)

구성하다 → 구성되다 (구성하다 = to form/compose something; 구성되다 = something is formed / made up of)

변화하다 → 변화되다 (변화하다 = to change something; 변화되다 = something is changed)

등록하다 → 등록되다 (등록하다 = to register something; 등록되다 = something is registered)

예약하다 → 예약되다 (예약하다 = to reserve something; 예약되다 = something is reserved)

승인하다 → 승인되다 (승인하다 = to approve something; 승인되다 = something is approved)

Copy and paste into a document to save/annotate your own copy. Also, feel free to practice in the comments (or point out any inaccuracies)! We’re all learning here.

Examples~

10분 후에 갈 수 있어요. We can leave in 10 minutes.

5분만 기다려 주세요. Please wait just 5 minutes.

30분 동안 공부했어요. I studied for 30 minutes.

2. Hours

Native number + 시간

Again: 한, 두, 세, 네, 다섯, 여섯, 일곱, 여덟, 아홉, 열

Examples

두 시간 동안 걸었어요. I walked for two hours.

한 시간 후에 시작해요. It starts in one hour.

세 시간 기다렸어요. I waited for three hours.

3. Days

There are specific words used up to 10. In order 1-10, they are:

하루, 이틀, 사흘, 나흘, 닷새, 엿새, 이레, 여드레, 아흐레, 열흘

Examples

하루 걸렸어요. It took one day.

이틀 동안 여행했어요. I traveled for two days.

사흘 전에 왔어요. I came three days ago.

After that:

Sino numbers + 일

So:

11 days → 11일 ("십일일")

12 days → 12일 ("십이일")

15 days → 15일 ("십오일")

etc.

Examples

11일 동안 쉬었어요. I rested for 11 days.

20일 전에 왔어요. I came 20 days ago.

14일 후에 다시 만나요. Let’s meet again in 14 days.* *Lol, who would say this? "Let's meet in 14 days as the clock strikes 12 and the moon is full." ㅋㅋ

4. Months

Native Korean + 달

Examples

네 달 전에 왔어요. I came here four months ago.

두 달 동안 한국어를 배웠어요. I studied Korean for two months.

세 달 후에 다시 만나요. Let’s meet again in three months.

5. Years

Sino number + 년

Examples

5년 동안 공부했어요. I have studied for 5 years.

10년 전에 결혼했어요. I got married 10 years ago.

3년 후에 졸업할 거예요. I'll graduate in 3 years.

FYI: Some good-to-know vocab

전에 = ago

네 달 전에 왔어요. I came four months ago.

후에 / 뒤에 = after or in (a duration)

10분 후에 출발해요. We leave in 10 minutes.

세 달 뒤에 이사해요. I’m moving in three months.

에 = at, on, to

3시에 만나요. Let’s meet at 3.

에서 = at, in, from

집에서 공부했어요. I studied at home.

부터 = from (start)

세 시간 전부터 기다렸어요. I’ve been waiting since three hours ago.

까지 = until (end)

5시까지 일해요. I work until 5.

동안 = for (duration)

두 시간 동안 기다렸어요. I waited for two hours.

동안 = for (duration)

두 시간 동안 기다렸어요. I waited for two hours.

마다 = every 주말마다 운동해요. I exercise every weekend.

밖에 = only (with negative)

한 시간밖에 못 잤어요. I only slept (for) one hour.

정도 / 쯤 = about / around

세 시간 정도 걸려요. It takes about three hours.

Copy and paste into a document to save/annotate your own copy. Also, feel free to practice in the comments (or point out any inaccuracies)! We’re all learning here.

으려면 attaches to consonants, 려면 to vowels

Random examples of verb conjugations:

앉으려면 (to sit)

보려면 (to see)

가려면 (to go)

사려면 (to buy)

빌리려면 (to lend)

IRREGULARS (the usual suspects)

ㄷ changes to ㄹ (듣다 --> 들드려면)

ㅅ drops (잇다 --> 이으려면) *잇다: to connect

ㅂ drops + 우려면 (돕다 --> 도우려면) *돕다: to help

This grammar is often followed by/used with:

아야/어야/여야/해야 돼요/해요 (Should/must [verb])

(으)면 돼요 (to be enough)

(으)면 안 돼요 (Should not [verb])

(으)세요 (commands)

필요하다 (to need to verb)

This isn't a comprehensive list~

And 드디어 sentence examples:

이해하려면 자세히 읽어야 해요. (If you want to understand (this), you need to read it carefully.)

행복하려면 먼저 건강해야 해요. (If you want to be happy, you need to be healthy first.)

한국어를 배우려면 먼저 공부를 시작해야 해요. (If you want to learn Korean, you need to start studying first.)

2. Adj/Verb stem ~기도 하고 … ~기도 해요

This expresses multiple truths at the same time — “it’s X, and it’s also Y.” It’s less contrasty and more “both are true.”

좋은 연습이기도 하고, 그냥 행복하기도 해. (연습이다) “It’s good practice, and it also just makes me happy.”

재미있기도 하고, 배우는 것도 많아. “It’s fun, and I learn a lot too.”

3. Adj/Verb stem ~기는 해요, 그런데…

A conversational version of the above, but slightly different in emphasis.

It feels like: “Yeah, it is X, but the real point is Y.”

좋은 연습이기는 해요, 그런데 그냥 행복해져요. “It is good practice, but honestly/more than that/more importantly, it just makes me happy.”

4. ~지만 (simple contrast)

The basic XXX but XXX.

좋은 연습이지만, 그냥 행복해져요. “It’s good practice, but it just makes me happy.”

This is the simplest, but also the least nuanced.

5. Adj/verb stem ~을(c)/ㄹ(v) 뽄만 아니라 OR Noun ~ 뽄만 아니라

The structure highlights two equally true qualities of the same subject:

Not only … but also …

(A little more formal and advanced structure, more common in writing.)

저는 한국어뿐만 아니라 영어도 해요. I speak not only Korean, but also English.

쌀뿐만 아니라 맛있어요. (싸다)

It’s (not only) cheap, but/and it is also delicious.

그 영화는 길 뿐만 아니라 지루해요.

That movie is not only long, but also boring.

이 수업은 재미있을 뿐만 아니라 유익해요. This class is not only fun, but also useful.

Copy and paste into a document to save/annotate your own copy. Also, feel free to practice in the comments (or point out any inaccuracies)! We’re all learning here.

예:

재미있다 → 재미있 어지다 → “to become fun”

춥다 → 추 워지다 → “to become cold”

편하다 → 편해지다 → “to become comfortable”

Various tense/form examples (not comprehensive):

Present (change in progress or a change happening now)

따뜻하다 → 따뜻해져요 = becomes warm

조용하다 → 조용해져요 = becomes quiet

*In English, we wouldn’t say "it becomes quiet" in this sense. We would say something like "it is becoming quiet" or "it has become quiet (just now)." Really, the present tense direct English translation is a bit off. When in doubt, it is usually the past tense that makes the most sense if you are trying to talk about a change.

Past (Change is completed)

밝다 → 밝아졌어요 = became bright

많다 --> 많아졌어요 = increased

Future

예쁘다 --> 예뻐질 거예요 = will become pretty

부드럽다 → 부드러워질 거예요 = will become soft

Progressive

강하다 → 강해지고 있어요 = is becoming strong

많아지고 있어요 = is increasing

Intention / plan

예뻐지려고 해요 = trying to become prettier

빠르다 → 빨라지려고 해요 = trying to become fast

Probable / guess / "I think..."

예뻐질 것 같아요 = It seems like she’ll become prettier

많아질 것 같아요 = It seems like it will increase

Desire

예뻐지고 싶어요 = I want to become pretty

편해지고 싶어요 = I want to become comfortable (FYI 많다 is a bit odd in this form, that is why this is a different verb)

Formal Conjugation

Present: 예뻐집니다 / 많아집니다 Past: 예뻐졌습니다 / 많아졌습니다 Future: 예뻐질 것입니다 / 많아질 것입니다

Sentences~

방이 조용해져요. The room is becoming quiet.

길이 막혀서 도로가 복잡해졌어요. Because of traffic, the road became crowded.

하늘이 어두워지고 있어요. The sky is getting dark.

요즘 한국어가 조금 쉬워졌어요. These days, Korean has become a little easier.

친구들이 더 친절해졌어요. My friends became kinder.

*Sometimes ~지다 is added to active verbs to make them passive, but that is a different grammar point. 😭

*Tense is applied to 가다/오다, not to ~러. ~러 never changes. Conjugate 가다/오다.

Conjugation

Use 러 for Vowels

가다 → 가러

오다 → 오러

보다 → 보러

마시다 → 마시러

Use 으러 for Consonants

먹다 → 먹으러

읽다 → 읽으러

찾다 → 찾으러

찍다 → 찍으러

IRREGULAR:  ㄹ (drop ㄹ)

놀다 → 놀러

만들다 → 만들러

Examples with the same verb (보다) in different tenses:

영화를 보러 가요.  — I’m going to watch a movie.

새로 태어난 조카를 보러 갔어요. — I went to see my newborn niece/nephew.

벚꽃을 보러 갈 거예요.  — I’m going to go see the cherry blossoms.

집을 보러 왔어요.  — I came to look at the house.

강아지를 보러 오고 있어요.  — They’re on their way to see the puppy.

More Examples:

Present:

밥 먹으러 가요. — I’m going to eat. (먹다)

친구 만나러 가요. — I’m going to meet a friend. (만나다)

사진 찍으러 와요. — They’re coming to take photos. (찍다)

Past:

책 빌리러 갔어요. — I went to borrow a book. (빌리다)

운동하러 왔어요. — I came to exercise. (운동하다)

Future:

수영하러 갈 거예요. — I’m going to go swimming. (수영하다)

도와주러 갈 거예요. — I’m going to go help. (도와주다)

Casual:

밥 먹으러 가자. — Let’s go eat. (먹다)

놀러 와. — Come hang out. (놀다)

Negative:

담배 피우러 안 가요. — I’m not going to smoke. (피우다)

술 마시러 안 가. — I’m not going to drink. (마시다)

1️⃣ Verb Stem + ~(으)려고 하다 (C: 으려고... / V: 려고...)

Meaning: “I plan to / I’m going to / I intend to”

This is the most common, natural way to express a personal plan or intention.

Examples

매일 30분 공부하려고 해요. (I plan to study 30 minutes every day.)

운동을 시작하려고 해요. (I plan to start exercising.)

일찍 자려고 해요. (I plan to go to bed early.)

담배를 끊으려고 해요. (I’m trying to quit smoking.)

2️⃣ Verb Stem + ~(으)ㄹ 계획이다 (C: 으... / V: ㄹ...)

Meaning: “I have a plan to…” (more formal, structured, scheduled)

This is used when the plan is more official, organized, or long‑term. Sounds more formal than –려고 하다.

Examples

매일 30분 공부할 계획입니다. (I have a plan to study 30 minutes every day.)

한국에 갈 계획이에요. (I’m planning to go to Korea.)

3️⃣ Verb stem + ~기로 하다

Meaning: “I decided to…” (a firm decision, often a commitment; not just a plan. Past tense because this is a commitment you've made)

Examples

매일 30분 공부하기로 했어요. (I decided to study 30 minutes every day.)

운동하기로 했어요. (I decided to exercise.)