Conjunctions - If/Once [~거든]

거든 is a a conjunction meaning 'if / once.'

거든 and 면 both mean 'if / once' but 면 is used more often in spoken Korean.

거든 is used in the middle of sentence, for example,

• 진수가 오거든, 이 책을 줘 = If/once Jinsu comes here, please give this book (to him) 

But if 거든 is used at the end of a sentence, it means 'because.'

• Please read, Because I'm - ~거든, to learn how 거든 is used in this sense.

Take 다 off verbs / adjectives and add 거든.

• 하다 → 하거든 = If you do
• 가다 → 가거든 = If you go
• 오거든 = If you come
• 많거든 = If (there are) many
• 있거든 = If there is/are
• 없거든 = If there is/are not

Example sentences

• 마트에 사과가 있거든 사와 주세요 = If there are apples in the supermarket, please buy and bring (them).

• 경기가 시작하거든 저한테 알려 주세요 = If/once the game starts, please let me know.

• 집에 도착 하거든 연락해! = Once you arrive home, please call/contact me!

• 정원에 꽃들이 많이 자라거든 저 불러 주세요. 보고 싶거든요. = Once the flowers in the garden grow a lot, please call me. (Because) I want to see (them).

Please note 거든요 used at the end of sentence mean "because." Please refer to Because I'm - ~거든요.