Hello to you all who come to this blog to learn Korean!
This is Luke again for another short update.
In light of the poll that I've recently put up, it seems that there are still many people (up to 40% of the people who took the poll so far) who have just started learning Korean or have only gotten to know the Korean alphabet.
Therefore, it seemed appropriate that I should spend more time working on posts which would help those who have just started or are not very familiar with the Korean grammar yet.
I am, by God's grace, improving the content or quality of many of my previous posts. I may still put up new posts but I will primarily work on the posts in the past.
Although I cannot guarantee that the posts will be updated and improved everyday or very frequently, I hope to improve the whole content and quality of all the posts this year nonetheless. This is kind of my new year's resolutions but we know the failure rate, right? Nevertheless, I think it's good to have a go and plan to do it. It only gets better if we actually do them.
So far,
- Welcome
- Korean Alphabet
- Sentence Order
- Particles - 는, 가
- Particles - 도, 를, 에
- Pronouns- This, It, That
- Nouns - Present, Past
- Nouns - Nominalizing Verbs
- Nouns - Numbers and Counting
- Adjectives - Present, Past
- Adjectives - Polite [Present, Past]
- Adjectives - Descriptive
- Adjectives - Connective
- Verbs - Present, Past
- Verbs - Polite [Present, Past]
- Verbs - Future [Will]
- Verbs - Continuous
- Verbs - Connective
- Verbs - Can
- Verbs - Have
have been updated and improved.
If you have any comments, questions, feedback, or suggestions, please leave them below.
Cheers,
Luke
Hey Luke!~ My name is Baobei. I have a few question about some changes or added words at the end of a verb (verb only?) and is usually found on informal speaking (. This probably will be long but you can answer me in any way you want. I really hope you'd answer me because I'm really confused regarding this one. > the -던데
ReplyDelete내가 설거지를 하구나.
내가 설거지를 하구만.
내가 설거지를 하네.
내가 설거지를 하잖아.
내가 핸드폰을 팔던데
and i almost forgot, there are also revisions like -더니 which i can't give example, sorry~~ T.T
And also, regarding the -고 topic, i see some Korean say , -하다고, -한다고, -했다고 so when do we use -하다고, -한다고, -했다고.
I know this is asking too much, so many questions in one comment, But i hope you really answer this. I haven't seen any website discussing about this and i'm really confused. I hope you reply. Thank you Luke!!
Hi Luke, glad to see you back for this new year. I would like to thank you for all your wonderful posts, while also asking you for more intermediate and advanced grammar posts in the future. I find that you explain the advanced topics better than my textbooks, and whats more is that you give better examples! For me, the best way is to learn by input and examples, and taking note of how real people speak. Understanding nuances is important for sounding natural. Anyway thanks for all you do here and I wish you a wonderful 2011.
ReplyDeleteI really love your explanations of grammar! After maybe Google translate (-_-;), you are my other favorite source for Korean. My biggest problems are understanding the suffixes attached to the end of verbs that add a new meaning to the feel of the verb, and your explanations clear so much up for me! I am looking forward to your additions. Thanks for your lessons so far!
ReplyDeleteHey Baobei
ReplyDeleteFor now, here are the translations for each sentence. I may write more detailed explanations later in the future.
They all differ in nuances. But some only very slightly differ in nuances.
내가 설거지를 하구나. = I'm doing the dishes (after all)
Note: There is also -하는구나 which is almost exactly the same as -하구나.
내가 설거지를 하네. = (You kind of have given up or given in. In resignation. In a discontent spirit, you say, "I can't believe that) I'm doing the dishes (after all")
-하네 is kind of similar to -하구나 and -하는구나
It might help if you've watched the Korean drama and listened to the actress who say "O man, after all, it turned out that I'm doing the dishes." The context in which these expressions are used greatly helps understanding their nuances.
내가 설거지를 하구만. = I'm doing the dishes (why then are you complaining? as if I'm not doing the dishes)
내가 설거지를 하잖아. = (See! it is not someone else who's doing the dishes for me but) I'm doing the dishes.
내가 핸드폰을 팔던데:
It was probably, 걔가 핸드폰을 팔던데, which means:
(I saw that) "He was selling mobile phones."
-던데 is used when you're quite sure of some fact.
You're quite sure and you probably saw him selling mobile phones so you say to your friend that "He was selling mobile phones(and I'm quite sure about it but if I'm wrong about this, please tell me what you know.)"
-더니 = used to, or was doing something (and it was seen by the speaker)
공부 하더니 어디 갔어? = (I saw him) studying (but now) where has he gone?
예전에는 매운음식 잘 먹더니 이젠 못 먹네 = You used to eat spicy food well but now you can't eat them well.
-한다고 is used when you repeat the same sentence with added emphasis.
For example,
사랑해 = I love you.
뭐라고? 뭐라고 했어 지금? = What? What did you say just now?
사랑한다고 = (I said) I love you. (Added emphasis)
-한다고, 사랑한다고 = (I said) I love you (really!)
-했다고, 사랑했다고 = (I said) I loved you (and I meant it!)
-한다고, 집에 간다고 = (I said) I'm going home (really! I mean it)
-했다고. 집에 갔다고 = (I said) He went home (with added emphasis)
For -하다고,it's probably the adjective endings.
좋다고 = (I said) I like it / it's good.
싫다고 = (I said) I don't like it.
I hope this helped a bit. However, I see that to clarify these different nuances, I would have to think of certain situations and right contexts in which these expressions are used.
I'll answer these in greater detail later.
Anonymous> I see. I'll work on more intermediate and advanced grammar in near future as I can see there is demand!
ReplyDeleteBelinda> It seems that many people request more posts on verb endings. I understand that as most of Korean grammar has to do with the verb endings! There are so many variations, so I'll try to write more on verb endings this year, ay.
yes yes do more intermediate and advacned grammar pls :):)
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing to see you back again. It's been a year already since your last update (you really kept your word there! I checked every day haha).
ReplyDeleteSo here are some things I've been struggling with the last few weeks.
I often see 걸 which changes the sentence a bit, yet when translated the meaning doesn't change without it. For example: 너 아니면 안되는 걸. Yet this sentence; 너 아니면 안돼 means the same thing, correct? So in what situation would you use 걸?
Also, I see there are a lot of forms on how to say something. For example: 'I don't know.' I've seen:
몰라요 and 모르겠어요. What's exactly the difference?
Thank you for your help btw :)
yo luke!! your blog is great.. :) well, just want to ask what exactly 나봐 means, i mean example.. if i would i say 여전히 사랑하나봐.. what does it mean? i just cant understand it :( please need help.. and actually how come 텐데 is would.. ex: 언제나 사랑할텐데 = (always would love) i would always love you :) like that.. do u know why? :) oh im sorry if the sentences above relates to love hehe ^^ thank u ... GOODLUCK & GODBLESS !!!
ReplyDeleteAivy> Hi, Aivy.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your visits and your patience during last year!
In regards to the difference between 너 아니면 안되는 걸 and 너 아니면 안돼.
They both mean,"It cannot be without you." (or "only you!")
However, 너 아니면 안돼는 걸 is more emphatic.
I believe when we say, 안되는 걸, there is an unspoken phrase (어떡해) which means "How should I/we?" "What shall I/we?"
Therefore, 너 아니면 안되는 걸 (어떡해) implies "It cannot be without you" "What shall I do without you?" (or I need you badly.)
So it follows that 너 아니면 안되는 걸 is a bit more emphatic and a bit more desperate than 너 아니면 안돼.
Also, the difference between 몰라요 and 모르겠어요 is the degree of formality.
모르겠어요 is a bit more formal/polite than 몰라요.
I hope it helped. :)
Rinnie> Hey Rinnie!
ReplyDeleteHere is my attempt to explaining the verb endings you've mentioned.
여전히 사랑하나봐 means "It seems that (I) still love you"
For example,
집에 가나봐 = It seems that (he's) going home.
밥 먹나봐 = It seems that (she's) having a meal.
자나봐 = It seems that (they're) sleeping.
나봐 is attached to plain verbs with 다 off them.
do: 하다 → 하나봐
go: 가다 → 가나봐
come: 오다 → 오나봐
eat: 먹다 → 먹나봐
sleep: 자다 → 자나봐
비 내리나봐 = It seems like it's raining.
Next, in regards to 텐데, it means "would." 텐데 is a contracted form of 터인데.
For example,
갈터인데 = 갈텐데 (I would go)
올터인데 = 올텐데 (would come)
By the way, I'm not clear about what you asked. What do you mean when you said, "how come 텐데 is would"?
Did you wanna know how it's used with verbs?
하다 → 할텐데
가다 → 갈텐데
오다 → 올텐데
먹다 → 먹을텐데
좋다 → 좋을텐데
자다 → 잘텐데
As you can see, ㄹ텐데 is attached to verbs without a final consonant, and 을텐데 to verbs with a final consonant.
시간이 되면 갈텐데 = If the time is right, I would go.
조금 있으면 올텐데 조금만 더 기다리자 = (They) would come soon, let's wait a bit more.
언제나 사랑할텐데 = (I) would always love (you).
Also, 텐데 is often conditional.
-(하)면 -(할)텐데
맛있으면 먹을텐데 = If it's delicious, (I/he/she/they) would eat.
Did this answer your question?
hey! good job about this guide, needs a lot of work, i guess :) by the way, can you make a pdf copy of this? because there is a similar thing in japanese and when ihad printed that it was very useful :) thank you in advance~~
ReplyDeletehmm, the same person who wanted a pdf copy again :) i should also say that in case you need help translating this to other languages, i can help you... I am Turkish and i can speak french and english fluently, also chinese in a good level
ReplyDeleteHi.
ReplyDeleteThe pdf file is found on Resources on the right column. It's below "Let's Speak Korean" section.
About the translation, I haven't thought about it. But if there's a demand for it then it'd indeed help.
hi luke, would like to check what is the difference between ~다면, ~라면,~(으)면.... hope you can help.
ReplyDeleteas well as what is the use of 라고
..because i googled ~라면 and i am told that it is due to the function of 라고.? thanks alot. hope you do an article! :D
너무 감사합니다
-다면, -라면 and -(으)면 are very similar in their usage.
ReplyDeleteThey all mean 'if' in a sentence.
However, -라면 is used for nouns. For example,
나라면 안가겠다. = If (it were) me, I wouldn't go.
앤디라면 할 수 있을꺼야. = If (it's) Andy, he will be able to do it.
-다면 and -(으)면 are very similar but they are slightly different in the nuance of their meaning, and -(으)면 can also be used to mean 'when'. For example,
네가 온다면 동물원에 갈꺼야 = If you come, we will go to a zoo. (If you don't come, we won't go to a zoo.)
네가 오면 동물원에 갈꺼야
= If you come, we will go to a zoo. (Even if you don't come, we may go to a zoo.)
=When you arrive(come), we will go to the zoo.
Please refer to "Conjunctions - If" for a further explanation of -(으)면
http://parksguide.blogspot.com/2008/08/conjunctions-if.html
As far as 라고 is concerned, it is usually used to emphasize what you're saying.
For example,
너라고 = You! (it may mean 'only you'!) It's you!
이거 뭐야? = What's this?
개미야. = It's an ant.
뭐라고? = What was that?/What did you say?
개미라고. = (I said) It's an ant!
Also,
가라고 = (I said) go! Please go!
자라고 = (I said) go to bed! Go to bed already!
그만 얘기하고 먹자고 = Stop talking and let's eat already!
And here's a further explanation that I posted in the comment above.
-한다고 is used when you repeat the same sentence with added emphasis.
For example,
사랑해 = I love you.
뭐라고? 뭐라고 했어 지금? = What? What did you say just now?
사랑한다고 = (I said) I love you. (Added emphasis)
-한다고, 사랑한다고 = (I said) I love you (really!)
-했다고, 사랑했다고 = (I said) I loved you (and I meant it!)
-한다고, 집에 간다고 = (I said) I'm going home (really! I mean it)
-했다고. 집에 갔다고 = (I said) He went home (with added emphasis)
For -하다고,it's probably the adjective endings.
좋다고 = (I said) I like it / it's good.
싫다고 = (I said) I don't like it.
I found this verb conjugation site that i thought was intersting. the guy who made it said it's not perfect but it's like in the 98% or something?
ReplyDeletei don't know ihave to read the site and try using it and see how ti is..
http://dongsa.net
this is the site.
정말 감사합니다 for this blog!! It seems like it will help me a lot.. I am trying to teach myself Korean during my free time :)
ReplyDeleteyepp you totally rock luke ^^ thanks a lot :))
ReplyDeleteHi Luke,
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to your Japanese site? Seems like it would b a good cause sine the languages r so similar...
If you see the top panel along side where the 'Home' button is, you'll see this sign, 日本語。
ReplyDeleteHere's the address anyway.
http://wakariyasuikankokugo.blogspot.com/
Ah, I just meant I was wondering if you had any plans to build on it in the future as I have always studied Korean in Japanese.
ReplyDeleteHey Sarah,
ReplyDeleteWell, I do have plans to write the lessons in Japanese but I'm not sure when.
Since I'm working on this English version, it may take a while before I begin working on that.
Probably by the end of this year? Possibly?
Thanks for your interest by the way. :)
Hi, just wanted to say that I'm really glad you're updating the blog again. It's one of the few resources that goes beyond the basics of Korean grammar. Thanks a lot for all your hard work.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, it's Lunar New Year tomorrow. 새해 복 많이 받으세요!
-Dave
Thank you,and I appreciate your acknowledgment! It's been my hope that this blog has been of help to many, and will continue to be so!
ReplyDelete새해 복 많이 받으세요! :)
Hello Luke!! Can you please explain also the endings of
ReplyDelete-군요
-인가요
-거든요
and what is the difference between -으니깐 & -으니까 ... Which is also how to say "because".
Thank you so much Luke!! xo
And also the significance of -라 because i'm having a hard time about this one. Thanks so much again Luke!!
ReplyDeleteIn your comment above, does that mean when we use -라고 it is for verbs and -한다고 is for adjectives?
ReplyDeleteHey Lala,
ReplyDeleteHere are my brief explanations.
-군요
여기군요 = It's here, isn't it? / It's here, right? (the place we talked about)
-인가요
여기인가요? = Is it here? (the place we talked about or know from hearing about it)
-거든요
여기거든요 = It's here. (I know that the place we/I talked about is here so you should trust me about this.)
-으니깐/으니까
좋으니깐 = Because I like it
좋으니까 = Because I like it
By the way, 으니깐 is a contracted form of 으니까는.
I see no difference between them in usage though.
Here's something I found on the web for additional explanation.
http://bonewso.net/koreangrammar/tiki-print_article.php?articleId=73
In regards to -라, I'm not quite sure what kind of phrase you're talking about. My guess is the command form?
가라! = Go, (body)!
빨리 와라! = Come quickly, (body/mate/boy)!
Also, it's used as an exclamation.
좋아라! = I feel so good! / It's so good!
I hope this helped!
If you have more questions, feel free to ask, but please be patient cos I'm on a quite busy schedule right now. So I may reply quite late. Have a good week! ;)
Hey Orley,
ReplyDelete-라고 and -ㄴ다고 (or 한다고) are very similar in usage but the subject is different.
가라고 = (I said) go! (Therefore, you go.)
간다고 = (I said) I'm going! (Therefore, I go.)
먹으라고 = (I said) eat! (Therefore, you eat.)
먹는다고 = (I said) I eat! (Therefore, I'm eating)
As you can see, in the case of -라고, I'm commanding someone to do something whereas in the case of -ㄴ다고, it is I who's doing the action.
Also, in the case of nouns, only -라고 is used.
사과라고 = (I said) it's an apple.
(사과다고 = X, this is wrong grammatically.)
For adjectives, only -다고. is used. For example:
좋다고 = (I said) it's good
춥다고 = (I said) it's cold (temp.)
덥다고 = (I said) it's hot.(temp.)
라고 is awkward in meaning when used with adjectives.
추우라고 = (I said) you be cold! (? commanding you to be cold. It makes no sense.)
However, you could say -지라고 using the verb, 지다 (which means 'become')
빨라지라고 = (I said) you become faster
강해지라고 = (I said) you become stronger
In summary,
Verbs
-ㄴ다고 = (I said) I do!
-라고 = (I said) You do!
Nouns
-라고 = (I said) it's (noun)!
Adjectives
-다고 = (I said) it's (adjective)!
Or
-지라고 = (I said) you become (adjective)!
So, there's a bit to sort out and learn. It took me a bit of time to think through it myself. I don't think about the grammar when I'm using the language until I'm asked to explain, ay.
I hope this helped. ;)
Hello Luke, if you have time, can you discuss further about --라?? It seems that has so many uses. Not just as a command, in repeating what has been said also. It's so confusing. If you have time. (: Thanks for answering by the way but some of my questions are yet to come~~ I hope you answer my questions. It will be after this comment. (It's a long once, brace yourself kekeke)
ReplyDeleteI have a question about -나 & -니 ~~ When do you use them in Spoken korean?
ReplyDeleteEx. -있나
-있니
I also have a few questions regarding words having the same meaning, but i don't know what is the right word for the right situation to use.
1) 아느
어떤
2) 무슨,
뭐,
뭘(뭐를)
무엇이
3) 이거,
이게,
이것,
이건,
이걸,
이렇게,
(just) 이
4) 그거,
그게,
그것,
그건,
그걸,
그렇게 ,
(just) 그
5) 참,
정말,
진짜,
엄청
6) 원해 & -고 싶어
7) 보다(is the verb of this 봐?)
보았다(is a contracted form of 봤다?)
보이다 (보여)
---There is also a sentence pattern that i am confused. adding -려 & -여 after verbs. And there is also -며 which i cannot give an example to. Sorry =(
Ex.
어디 가려고?
이것을 보내려고 하는데?
아빠의 마음도 계몽하여 주세요
----Is this what we will put if there are two verbs involved in a sentence? Because if not, how to deal with sentences having two verbs?
Ex.
I wish you can be happy.
I hope you will receive many blessings.
Etc.
I'm not in a hurry Luke and i know you are busy so you can reply when you are free. I know this comment needs more time to be explained. Thanks so much Luke!!
P.S. You should publish a book about this, i'm sure lots of people will buy this. You're the only person who I know that explains Korean Grammar so detailed. Best of luck! (: 화이팅!!
Hi Lala,
ReplyDeleteIt seems you've studied Korean for quite some time, and I can see from your question that you're beginning to tease out some subtle differences in many different Korean expressions which differ in their nuances.
I'm sorry that I can only give you short answers to your questions right now but I'll come back and write a post about things you've brought up in more detail in the future.
First of all, about -라, I think you're talking about "뭐라고 했더라?"
뭐라고 했더라? = What did he/she/they say?
뭐라고 했더라 is used when you're talking to yourself, trying to remember what he/she/they said.
For example,
If you were talking to your friend, and you were trying to tell her the story that someone else told you about and somehow you forgot what the other person said, you can say, "뭐라고 했더라?"
민지가 뭐라고 했더라? = What did Minji say? ummm (you're talking to yourself, trying to remember the things she said to you.)
어디 간다고 했더라? = Where did they say they were going? ummm(You're talking to yourself, trying to remember where they told you they were going.)
In regards to -있나 and -있니, here are some examples.
민지 집에 있나? = Is Minji home? (Again, it's kind of self talking. It is a bit like saying "I wonder if Minji is home.")
민지 집에 있니? = Is Minji home? (You're calling for Minji as you enter her house. However, 있니 is probably used by people who are much older than Minji (for example, when Mum is calling for Minji or when a Minji's teacher calls for Minji)
갔니? = (Is he/she or are they) gone?
왔니? = (Has he/she or Have they) come back?
점심 먹었니? = Have you had lunch?
And for the rest of the expressions, I'll come back to it later and try to answer then.
That's a very long list!
You've given me a lot of homework to do. lol.
Please be patient, and for the mean time, I recommend that you pay a visit to this website. It's called, "Talk To Me In Korean."
They've got a lot of very practical and useful resources available free online.
You may find answers to some of your questions in their resource pages, and you may also be able to ask them questions about any grammar points that you're unsure about while you're waiting for my answers(I'm sorry it may take a while for me to tease out and expound the subtle differences in the expressions you've given me.), and I'm sure they're also very willing to answer your questions.
Below is their web address.
http://www.talktomeinkorean.com/
Yes i have since 2006~~ kekeke ok thanks a lot luke!! fighting!!
ReplyDeleteHello Luke,
ReplyDeleteI've just read your answers to questions and I want to sincerely thank you.Because you take your time and response the questions in a detailed way, you really help a great deal.I have no question I just wanted to say I highly appreciate your effort.Thanks for preparing such a beautiful and useful blog
Wish you the best :)
Hello from Iran.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for the invaluable site.