~길래 = expresses reason, especially with intentional action based on observation or judgement
비가 오길래 우산을 가져왔어요 = It was raining so I brought my umbrella. 맛있길래 더 사왔어요 = It was delicious so I bought some more. 사람이 많길래 그냥 나왔어요 = There were a lot of people so I just left. 너무 피곤하길래 그냥 집에 있었어요 = I was too tired, so I just stayed at home
비가 올 것 같길래 그냥 집에 있었어요 = It looked like it was going to rain, so I just stayed at home. 서점이 곧 문을 닫을 것 같길래 그냥 돌아왔어요 = The bookstore looked like it was going to close soon so I just came back 효진 씨가 스폰지밥을 좋아하길래, 스폰지를 사 줬어요 = I saw that Hyojin likes SpongeBob, so I bought her some sponge.
지금 어디에 있길래 이렇게 시끄러워요? = Where are you now? It’s so noisy (as a result of that)! 뭐 했길래 이렇게 지쳤어요? = What did you do to be so tired? 경화 씨가 뭐라고 말했길래 이렇게 신났어요? = What did Kyung-hwa say to make you so excited? 무슨 이야기를 들었길래 그렇게 열심히 공부해요? = What did they tell you? Why are you studying so hard? 어디에 가길래 그렇게 짐을 많이 싸요? = = Where are you going? You’re packing so much stuff! 누구를 만나길래 그렇게 화장을 열심히 해요? = Who are you meeting to be putting on so much make-up?
~느라(고) – preceding clause is the reason/cause/purpose (used with negative results)
회사 일을 하느라고 바빴다 = I was busy working on company business. 급하게 나오느라고 숙제를 놓고 왔어요 = In order to leave in a hurry, I left the assignment at home. 뭐 하느라고 잠도 못 잤니? = Why couldn’t you sleep? (Lit. “What were you doing that you could not sleep?”) 학교하고 씨름 좀 하느라고 = I was dealing with school problems.. (that’s why i am late) 김장을 하느라고 정말 힘들었어요 = I made kimchi, that is why i am so tired 옷을 많이 사느라고 돈을 다 섰어요 = Since I bought lots of clothes, I spent all my money 텔레비전을 보느라고 초인종을 못 들었어요 = Because I was watching TV, I didn’t hear the doorbell
Noun + (이)라(서) – as being, since it is, because it is
요즘은 방학이라 한가해요 – these days, since it’s summer i’m not busy (free, at leisure). 에이미는 제 친구라서 자주 놀러 와 – As Amy is my friend, she often comes to see me. 내일이 친구 생일이라서 선물을 사야 돼요 – Because tomorrow is my friend’s birthday, I have to buy a present.
~(이)라서 그래요 – it’s that way because
중국인이라서 그래요 – It’s because he is Chinese 수입품이라서 그래요 – It’s because that is an imported goods. 그 사람은 좋아하는 여자라서 그래 – It’s because that’s the girl he likes.
~이어서, 여서 (이다 + ~아/어/여서)
목요일이어서 술을 마시고 싶어요 =
It is Thursday so I want to drink alcohol.
뚱뚱한 남자여서 운동하고 싶어요 = He is a fat man so he wants to exercise.
~거든(요) – expresses reason or background information, because, since
저도 모르겠어요. 저 방금 왔거든요 = I don’t know either. I just got here.
내일은 안 바빠요. 오늘 일을 다 끝냈거든요 = I’m not busy tomorrow. (Because) I finished all the work today. 아직 말할 수 없어요. 비밀이거든요 = I can’t tell you yet. (Because) it’s a secret
Giving Context.implies that the story is continued, you will mention another related thing, so…
제가 지금 돈이 없거든요. 만원만 빌려 주세요 = I don’t have any money now. (So…) Please lend me just 10,000 won
지난 주에 제주도에 갔거든요. 그런데 계속 비가 왔어요 = I went to Jeju Island last week. But it kept raining.
제가 지금 좀 바쁘거든요 = I’m a little busy now, so…
아까 효진 씨 만났거든요. 그런데 이상한 말을 했어요 = I met Hyojin earlier. But she said something strange.
* Generally used to soften your speech or express a reason indirectly, but sometimes when you are upset, to express the reason that supports or explains your anger. *
필요 없거든요! = I don’t need it! 이미 늦었거든요! = It’s already too late!
~잖아(요) – isn’t it, you see, in fact.., you already know
correcting someone or insisting that you are correct, giving excuse or reason
come from ~지 않아요 (negation) so could mean “am/did i not?”
춥잖아요 – you see? it’s cold 하잖아요 – you see that i’m doing it now/ i’m doing it now (give me a break)
어제 말했잖어요 – i told you yesterday (didn’t i say yesterday?) 귀엽잖아요! – because it’s cute! (isn’t it cute?) 어차피 내일 시간 있잖아요 – we have time tomorrow too anyway right? (give me a break) 오늘 일요일이잖아요 – because today is sunday 알잖아 – you know / come on, you know what i’m saying
~더니 = When you have observed two things, connected by time and sometimes emphasising contrast. (then, when, since, and, but, whereupon)
(combination of A/V + 더 and A/V + (으)니)
수잔이 한국에 가더니 소식이 없네 = Since Susan went to Korea, there has been no news. 인류학을 공부하더니 지금은 사회학을 공부한다 = She was studying anthropology, and now he has changed to sociology. 지난 겨울에는 눈이 별로 안 오더니 이번에는 많이 오네요 = It hardly snowed at all last winter, but this year it’s snowed a lot.
어제는 비가 오더니 오늘은 눈이 오네요.= It rained yesterday, but it’s snowing today. 경화 씨가 어제는 요가를 하더니, 오늘은 테니스를 하네요.= Kyung-hwa did yoga yesterday, and today she’s playing tennis. 제 컴퓨터가 느려지더니, 이제 안 켜져요.= My computer slowed down, and now it won’t even switch on. 석진 씨가 밖에 나가더니 갑자기 고양이를 데리고 왔어요.= Seokjin went outside, and then suddenly, he brought back a cat
~았/었더니 = Two observations are connected by cause and effect, sometimes when you realise that the second is a sign of the first happening
전화를 했더니 친구는 벌써 나가고 없었다 = I called, but my friend was already out. 밥을 많이 먹었더니 배가 아프다 = I ate too much and have a stomachache. 우리가 공부를 열심히 했더니 시험을 잘 봤어요 = Because we studied hard, we did well on the test. 오랜만에 고향에 갔더니 많은 것이 변해 있었어 = When I visited my hometown, a lot had changed.
경화 씨가 매일 글을 쓰더니 지난 달에 소설을 출간했어요.= Kyung-hwa wrote every day, and she published a novel last month.
~고 해서 – one of the reasons, because of this (amongst other things) A/V~기도 하고 해서 N도 V~고 해서 N도 A/V~고 N도 A/V~고 해서 A/V~기도 하고 A/V~기도 해서
States primary reason whilst indicating there are also other reason.
시간이 없고 해서 못 가요 – don’t have time (amongst other reasons), so I can’t go. 한국 남자친구가 있고 해서 한국어를 배워요 – Amongst other reasons, I have a Korean boyfriend, so I’m learning Korean. 몸에 안 좋고 해서 담배를 끊었어요 – For one thing, it’s bad for the body, so I quit smoking
내일 우리 만날 수 있는지 알고 싶어요 – i want to know whether we can meet tomorrow 너무 맛있었어요! 어떻게 만들었는지 가르쳐 주세요 – It was delicious! Please tell me how you made it. 여자 친구가 있는지 없는지 궁금해요 – I wonder whether he has a girlfriend.| 문제가 있는지 물어보세요 – ask them whether there’s a problem 이거 괜찮은지 봐 주세요 – see if this is okay
whether… or.. (은/는지… 은/는지…)
사기꾼인지 강돈지 – whether he might be a swindler or a burglar
perhaps because
바람에 흔들리는지 -perhaps because they were being shaken by the wind 그래서 그런지 – maybe that’s why 그것도 자기 팔자소간인지 – it may be that this was his fate 만족하는 때문인지 – perhaps it was because of my satisfaction
uncertainty about what/why/when/where
뭐 사고 싶은지 말해 주세요 – tell me what you want to buy 어떻게나 쫓아다니는지 – and how she’s following me around
V. ~(으)니까, (으)니 – since, because
Similar to ~아/어서. Often used in an interrogative or ‘let’s’ sentence. Often used as an excuse for why something can’t be done.
지금 바쁘니까 나중에 전화해 주세요 = I am busy now so call me later 지금 피곤하니까 우리 영화 내일 봐요 = I am tired now so let’s watch the movie tomorrow 더우니까 에어컨 켤까요? = It’s hot, so shall we turn on the air conditioner? 냉장고에 불고기 있으니까 먹어. = There is some bulgogi in the refrigerator so eat it 내일 일요일이니까 내일 하세요. = Tomorrow is Sunday so do it tomorrow.
시간이 없으니까 빨리 가자 – Since we don’t have much time, let’s go quickly. 그 동안 열심히 공부했으니까 잘 할 거예요 – Since you have studied hard, you will do well. 택시는 비싸니까 지하철을 탈까요? – Since taxi fare is expensive, should we take the subway? 버스가 복잡하니까 택시를 타자! = Let’s take a taxi because the bus is so crowded! 너무 더우니까 시원한 것을 먹을래요? = Let’s eat something cool because it is so hot 밥이 없으니까 라면 먹자! = Let’s eat Ramen because there is no rice
약을 먹으니까 머리 아픈 게 없어졌다 – Because I took the medicine, I don’t have a headache. 학교에 가 야 되니까 지금 못 만나요 = I need to go to school, so I won’t be able to meet 그 셔츠를 사고 싶은데 돈이 없으니까 살 수 없어요 = Although I want to buy that, I have no money, so I cannot 어제 너무 바빴으니까 못 갔어요 = I couldn’t go yesterday because I was so busy 너를 좋아하지 않았으니까 헤어졌어 = I broke up with you because I didn’t like you
at the end of sentence when answering a question. sounds informal, like talking back to someone 지금 만날 수 있어요? – Can you meet now? 아니요~ 못 만나요. 학교에 가 야 되니까요 – No, I can’t meet. because I have to go to school 그 것을 살 거 야? – Are you going to buy that? 아니요~ 못 사요. 돈이 없으니까요 – No, I can’t buy it. because I have no money 나랑 왜 헤어졌어? = Why did you break up with me? Person 2: 너를 좋아하지 않았으니까 = (I broke up with you)… because I didn’t like you
~(으)니 – because, giving background info
Similar to ~는데.
제가 고기를 안 좋아하니 안 먹을 거에요 = Because I don’t like meat, I’m not going to eat it 벌써 5시(이)니 우리가 빨리 가 야 돼요 = it is already 5, so we have to go quickly 밥이 다 됐으니 많이 드세요! = the rice is ready, so eat a lot! 빨래를 다 했으니 지금 자도 돼요 = I have finished the laundry, so I can go to bed now 제가 숙제를 다 했으니 이제 영화를 볼 수 있어요 = Now that I am finished my homework, I can see a movie 나는 요즘에 맨날 한식만 먹었는데, 친구를 만났으니 이탈리안 음식 먹자! = These days, I only eat Korean food every day, so now that I have met you, let’s eat Italian food! 처음에는 30살이 되면 나이가 많은 거라고 생각했는데 제가 30살이 되었으니 그렇게 생각하지 않아요 = At first I thought 30 years old was old, but since I am now 30, I don’t think that way
갔기 때문에 – Because I went 덥기 때문에 – Because it’s hot 예뻤기 때문에 – Because it was pretty
저는 배고파서 밥을 먹고 싶어요 – I’m hungry, therefore, I want to eat 저는 배고프기 때문에 밥을 먹고 싶어요 – I want to eat because I am hungry 저는 행복하기 때문에 죽고 싶지 않아요 – I don’t want to die because I am happy 지금 공부를 하고 있기 때문에 너랑 통화하고 싶지 않아 – I don’t want to talk with you on the phone because I’m studying now 내가 밥을 벌써 먹었기 때문에 지금 먹고 싶지 않아 – Because I already ate, I don’t want to eat now 저는 시험을 못 봤기 때문에 대학교에 못 가요 – Because I did bad on the test, I won’t be able to go to university 핸드폰이 없었기 때문에 연락하지 못했어요 – Because I didn’t have my phone, I couldn’t contact you
future tense = ~는 것 + 이다 (noun) 남자 + 이다 + ~기 때문에 내가 남자이기 때문에 그런 영화를 좋아해 – I like those kinds of movies because I am a man (noun) 것 + 이다 + ~기 때문에 내가 나중에 먹을것이 기때문에지금 먹고 싶지 않아 – Because I am going to eat later, I don’t want to eat now 나는 내년에 대학교에 갈 것이기 때문에 지금 열심히 공부하고 있어 – Because I will be going to university next year, I am studying hard now
Because of noun
일 때문에 나는 너를 못 만날 것 같아 – Because of work, I probably won’t be able to meet you 남자 친구 때문에 새로운 남자를 못 만나 – Because of my boyfriend, I can’t meet another(/new) man
Sutdy-Korean 