Korean grammar final

-(으)ㄴ 덕분에

used after verb stems to express that something good happened thanks to someone or something (Ex 선생님이 잘 가르쳐 주신 덕분에 졸업할 수 있었어요 – I was able to graduate thanks to the teacher)

Verb + 덕분에

use -은 덕분에 after consonants (먹다 → 먹은 덕분에), and -ㄴ 덕분에 after vowels (가다 → 간 덕분에)

Noun + 덕분에

attach directly to nouns to show gratitude or cause of benefit (Ex 친구들 덕분에 좋은 점수를 받았어요 – I got a good score thanks to my friends)

-게 되다

used after a verb stem to show a change of state or situation, often beyond one’s control (Ex 한국에 와서 알게 됐어요 – I came to know after coming to Korea)

Usage nuance 게 되다

expresses something happened naturally, eventually, or due to external reasons (Ex 열심히 공부해서 장학금을 받게 됐어요 – I came to receive a scholarship because I studied hard)

Common examples 게 되다

먹게 되다 (to end up eating), 알게 되다 (to come to know), 살게 되다 (to end up living somewhere), 시작하게 되다 (to begin something due to circumstances)

-게

attaches to adjectives to describe how something is done or to what extent (Ex 사고가 나서 길이 많이 막혔어요 – There was an accident, so the road was heavily jammed)

Common usage 게

expresses the method, result, or style of an action (Ex 머리를 짧게 잘라 주세요 – Please cut my hair short)

Examples of -게 forms

작게 (small/short), 크게 (big/loud), 예쁘게 (prettily), 재미있게 (enjoyably)

(Ex

정말 재미있게 봤어요 – I really enjoyed watching it)

-(으)ㄴ 적이 있다/없다

used after verb stems to express having (or not having) past experience (Ex

Conjugation tip (으)ㄴ 적이 있다/없다

use -은 적 (after consonants) or -ㄴ 적 (after vowels) + 이 있다/없다 (Ex 먹다 → 먹은 적이 있다 / 가다 → 간 적이 있다)

With -아/어 보다

can be combined to express past attempt or experience (Ex 김치를 고향에서 먹어 본 적이 있어요 – I’ve tried eating kimchi in my hometown)

-기

added to a verb stem to turn the verb into a noun for evaluation or judgment (Ex 살기 편해요 – It’s comfortable to live here)

-기 + adjectives

commonly followed by adjectives like 쉽다, 어렵다, 좋다, 나쁘다, 편하다, 불편하다 (Ex 이 구두는 굽이 높아서 걷기 불편해요 – These shoes are uncomfortable to walk in)

-아/어 있다

used to show the result or state of an action that is still continuing (Ex 벽에 걸려 있어요 – It is hanging on the wall)

Usage rule 아/어 있다

used with intransitive (non-object) verbs like 앉다, 서다, 눕다, 열리다, 닫히다 (Ex 아침엔 나무 아래에 앉아 있으면 기분이 좋아요)

Not used with 착용 verbs 아/어 있다

입다, 신다, 쓰다, 끼다, 벗다 use -고 있다 instead (Ex 나나 씨는 청바지를 입고 있어요 – O)

Honorific form 아/어 있다

when showing respect, use -아/어 계시다 (Ex 김 선생님은 병원에 입원해 계십니다 – Mr. Kim is hospitalized)

밖에

used with nouns to mean “only” or “nothing but,” always followed by a negative verb (Ex 걸어서 3분밖에 안 걸려요 – It only takes 3 minutes on foot)

Usage rule 밖에

must be followed by negative expressions like 안, 못, 없다, 모르다 (Ex 저밖에 없어요 – There’s only me)

Cannot be used with positive sentences 밖에

unlike -만, 밖에 must be used in negative contexts only (Ex 냉장고에 물밖에 없어요 – There’s nothing but water in the fridge)

Common mistake

don't say 밖에 + 있어요 / 좋아요 etc. (Ex ✘ 냉장고에 물밖에 있어요 → ✘, ✓ 냉장고에 물밖에 없어요)

-기 때문에

attaches to verb or adjective stems to explain the reason or cause of something (Ex

(이)기 때문에

used after nouns to express the cause or identity behind an action (Ex 학생이기 때문에 돈이 없어요 – Because I’m a student, I don’t have money)

Negative usage rule (이)기 때문에

cannot be used in imperative or propositive sentences (Ex ✘ 바쁘기 때문에 많이 드세요 – ✘)

Common structure

[reason] + 기 때문에 + [result] (Ex 이 집은 전망이 좋기 때문에 월세가 비쌉니다 – The rent is expensive because the view is good)