Korean Grammar Patterns Overview

1과 – Names, Intentions & Alternatives

• N(이)라고 하다
• Pattern: $N + \text{(이)라고 하다}$
• Meaning: “(to say that one) is called N.” Used to introduce yourself or report someone’s name.
• Syntax rules
• Ends in consonant → $N + \text{이라고 하다}$ (e.g.
• 안녕하세요? 저는 마리코라고 합니다.)
• Ends in vowel → $N + \text{라고 하다}$
• Related grammar: direct quotations “\“…\”라고 하다,” indirect quotes, & honorific variant “라고 하십니다.”
• Pragmatics: polite, slightly formal; a humble, indirect way to present an identity.

• V-(으)려고
• Pattern: $V\text{(으)려고}$
• Meaning: speaker’s intention or purpose (“in order to,” “with the aim of”).
• Conjugation
• Stem ending in consonant → $V + \text{으려고}$
• Stem ending in vowel/ㄹ → $V + \text{려고}$
• Example: 저는 운동하려고 아침에 일찍 일어나요. (“I wake up early to exercise.”)
• Nuances & limits
• Cannot combine with commands/requests unless the subject is first-person.
• For future intention the alternative V-(으)려고 하다 (“to plan to”) is common.
• Related forms: V-(으)러 가다/오다 (physical movement for purpose).

• V-거나
• Pattern: $V + \text{거나}$ (“or,” “either … or …”).
• Links two or more verbs; only the last clause carries tense/ politeness.
• Example from transcript: 주말에는 집에서 쉬거나 친구를 만나요. (“On weekends I either rest at home or meet friends.”)
• Stylistic note: sound of hesitation/ open choice; can be chained with a second -거나 or ending -든지 for a looser “whatever.”

• N(이)나
• Pattern: $N + \text{(이)나}$
• Meaning 1: “or,” listing nouns (neutral).
• Meaning 2 (frequent in conversation): “as many/much as,” “no less than” (exaggeration).
• Example: 부산이나 제주도에 가 보고 싶어요. (“I’d like to try going to Busan or Jeju-do.”)
• Consonant ending → $N + \text{이나}$; vowel ending → $N + \text{나}$.

• V는 것 (Nominalization)
• Pattern: $V + \text{는 것}$
• Turns an action into a noun phrase (“the act of V-ing”). Comparable to English “-ing.”
• Present tense / general facts: V는 것; past: V-(으)ㄴ 것; future: V-(으)ㄹ 것.
• Example: 운동하는 것을 좋아하세요? (“Do you like exercising?”)
• Functions
• Subject/ object marker, e.g., …것이, …것을.
• Often paired with 좋아하다, 싫어하다, etc.

• V-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다 / 모르다
• Pattern: $V + \text{(으)ㄹ 줄 알다 / 모르다}$
• Meaning 1: “to know/how to do V” vs. “to not know how to.”
• Meaning 2: “expect vs. not expect” (context-dependent).
• Example: 저는 수영을 전혀 할 줄 몰라요. (“I don’t know how to swim at all.”)
• With adverbs like 잘 / 못 for proficiency nuance.

2과 – Describing Nouns, Negation & Experience

• V-(으)ㄴ N
• Pattern: $V + \text{(으)ㄴ} + N$ (relative clause in past tense).
• Adds the verb’s completed action as an adjective modifying the noun.
• Conjugation: stem + 은 (consonant) / ㄴ (vowel/ㄹ).
• Example: 어제 본 영화 어땠어요? (“How was the movie you watched yesterday?”)

• A/V-지 않다 (Long negation)
• Pattern: $A/V + \text{지 않다}$
• Meaning: explicit negation; slightly more formal than 안.
• Example: 저는 고기를 별로 좋아하지 않아요. (“I don’t particularly like meat.”)
• Style: used in writing, public speaking, or to emphasize denial.

• V-아/어 보다
• Pattern: $V + \text{아/어 보다}$
• Main uses
• “to try doing V” (experimentation).
• “to have the experience of V” (past tense).
• Vowel harmony: 아 after bright vowels (ㅏ, ㅗ); 어 otherwise; irregulars: 하다 → 해 보다.
• Example: 작년에 제주도에 가 봤어요. (“I went to Jeju last year.” / “I have been to Jeju.”)

• N 동안
• Pattern: $N + \text{동안}$ (“for the duration of N”).
• Example: 여름에 한 달 동안 유럽 여행을 했어요. (“I travelled in Europe for a month in summer.”)
• Common pair: V는 동안 (“while V is/was happening”).

3과 – Background, Contrast & Future Modifiers

• A-(으)ㄴ데 / V-는데 / N인데
• Pattern: descriptive clause + 데 (“but,” “and,” “so” nuance).
• Choice rule: adjective stem + (으)ㄴ데; verb stem + 는데; noun + 인데.
• Functions
• Background/setting before suggestion or question.
• Contrast or mild objection.
• Softening speech: leading tone that invites response.
• Examples
• 날씨가 좋은데 어디에 가면 좋을까요? (The weather is nice; where would be good to go?)
• 학교에서 음악회를 하는데 같이 보러 가요. (There’s a concert at school, so let’s go together.)
• 내일 휴일인데 뭐 할 거예요? (Tomorrow is a holiday—what will you do?)

• V-(으)ㄹ N (Future/Intention modifier)
• Pattern: $V + \text{(으)ㄹ} + N$
• Meaning: the noun that “will/plan to” receive the action; expresses future, intention or possibility.
• Example: 친구에게 줄 선물을 사러 가요. (“I’m going to buy a gift that I will give to my friend.”)
• Comparison: V-는 N (present), V-(으)ㄴ N (past).

Cross-Lecture Connections & Practical Tips

• Nominalizers (V는 것, V-(으)ㄹ N, N 동안) recur throughout elementary composition; mastering them streamlines spoken fluency.
• Alternation markers -거나 / (이)나 prepare you for later probabilistic expressions like -든지.
• Linking clauses with -는데 is foundational for polite indirectness—crucial in Korean social pragmatics.
• Intentional markers (V-(으)려고, V-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다) differentiate “planning to,” “knowing how to,” and “being able to,” a set often conflated by beginners.
• Ethical nuance: using 지 않다 instead of 안 can soften negativity, reflecting Korean preference for indirect refusal.
• Real-world application: travel conversations (제주도에 가 봤어요) or invitations (같이 보러 가요) directly mirror survival Korean scenarios.