Korean grammar '-면/으면'

1. Explanation

 : '-면/으면' is used in two ways. However you can translate it as 'If or When'. First, '-면/으면' used to indicating that the preceding clause is the condition for the following clause happening. But, it's not an assurance but an assumption. These forms are conjugated with the verb or adjective. When the verb stem or the adjective stem ends with vowel or 'ㄹ' consonant, it conjutes with '-면'. Whie when the verb stem or the adjective stem ends with a consonant, it conjugates with '-으면'. Let's look at examples together.

 

2. Examples

 한국에 가면 비빔밥을 먹으세요.

 (If you go to Korea, you should eat bibimbap.)

 *가다 to go

  1) A verb stem is '가-'

  2) It ends with a vowel 'ㅏ'

  3) It conjugates with '-면'

  4) 가면

 

 비가 오면 기분이 좋아요.

 (If it rains, I feel good.)

 *오다 to come 

  1) A verb stem is '오-'

  2) It ends with a vowel 'ㅗ'

  3) It conjugates with '-면'

  4) 오면

 

 푹 자면 괜찮아질 거예요.

 (If you sleep well, you'll be better.)

 *자다 to sleep 

  1) A verb stem is '자-'

  2) It ends with a vowel 'ㅏ'

  3) It conjugates with '-면'

  4) 자면

 

 수업 끝나면 운동장으로 와요.

 (When the class is over, come to the playground.)

 *끝나다 to end

  1) A verb stem is '끝나-'

  2) It ends with a vowel 'ㅏ' 

  3) It conjugates with '-면'

  4) 끝나면

 

 목이 아프면 따뜻한 물을 마셔요.

 (If your throat hurts, drink warm water.)

 *아프다 to hurt

  1) An adjective stem is '아프-'

  2) It ends with a vowel 'ㅡ'

  3) It conjugates with '-면'

  4) 아프면

 

 책을 다 읽으면 이야기하세요.

 (When you finish reading the book, talk to me.)

 *읽다 to read 

  1) A verb stem is '읽-'

  2) It ends with consonant 'ㄺ'

  3) It conjugates with '-으면'

  4) 읽으면

 

 문제 있으면 전화 주세요. 

 (If you have a problem, please call.)

 *있다 there is 

  1) A verb stem is '있-'

  2) It ends with a consonant 'ㅆ'

  3) It conjugates with '-으면'

  4) 있으면

 

 두꺼운 옷을 입으면 더울 거예요.

 (If you wear thick clothes, it'll be hot.)

 *입다 to wear 

  1) A verb stem is '입-'

  2) It ends with a consonant 'ㅂ'

  3) It conjugates with '-으면'

  4) 입으면

 

 웃으면 행복해요.

 (If you smile, you'll be happy.)

 *웃다 to smile

  1) A verb stem is '웃-'

  2) It ends with a consonant 'ㅅ'

  3) It conjugates with '-으면'

  4) 웃으면

 

 옷이 너무 작으면 다른 옷을 입어보세요.

 (If the clothes are too small, try wearing another one.)

 *작다 small 

  1) A adjective stem is '작-'

  2) It ends with a consonant 'ㄱ'

  3) It conjugates with '-으면'

  4) 작으면

 

3. Practice

  If you eat tteokbokki, you'll sweat because it's spicy.

  떡볶이를 먹(면/으면) 매워서 땀이 나요. ( *먹다 to eat )

 

  If I make money, I will travel to Korea.

  돈을 벌(면/으면) 한국으로 여행 갈 거예요. ( *돈을 벌다 to make money ) 

 

  If the hat is big, you can exchange it.

  모자가 크(면/으면) 바꿀 수 있어요. ( *크다 big )

 

  If I buy new clothes, I'll throw away old one.

  새 옷을 사(면/으면) 헌 옷을 버릴 거예요. ( *사다 to buy )

 

  When I feel sad, I listen to noisy songs.

  슬프(면/으면) 시끄러운 노래를 들어요. ( *슬프다 sad )

 

  If the weather is good tomorrow, will you go to Hangang River together?

  내일 날씨가 좋(면/으면) 함께 한강에 갈래요? ( *좋다 good )

 

  If you have any questions, please raise your hand.

  질문 있(면/으면) 손을 들어주세요. ( *있다 there is )

 

  If there are no questions, I will finish today's lesson.

  질문 없(면/으면) 오늘 수업은 마칠게요. ( *없다 there is no )

 

4. Vocabulary

 한국 Korea / 가다 to go / 비빔밥 bibimbap / 먹다 to eat / 비 rain / 오다 to come / (비가) 오다 to rain / 기분 feeling / 좋다 good, like / 푹 자다 to sleep well / 괜찮아지다 will be better / 수업 class, lesson / 끝나다 to end / 운동장 playground / 목 throat / 아프다 hurt / 따뜻한 warm / 물 water / 마시다 to drink / 책 book / 다 all / 읽다 to read / 이야기하다 to talk / 문제 problem / 전화하다 to call / 두꺼운 thick / 옷 clothes / 입다 to wear / 덥다 hot / 웃다 to smile / 행복하다 happy / 떡볶이 tteokbokki / 먹다 to eat / 맵다 spicy / 땀이 나다 sweat / 돈 money / (돈을) 벌다 to earn, to make(money) / 여행 가다 to travel / 모자 hat / 크다 big / 바꾸다 to exchange / 새 new / 사다 to buy / 헌 old / 버리다 to throw away / 슬프다 sad / 시끄럽다 noisy / 노래 song / 듣다 to listen / 내일 tomorrow / 날씨 weather / 함께 together / 질문 question / 있다 there is / 없다 there is no / 손 hands / 들다 to raise / 오늘 today / 마치다 to finish

 

5. Answer

 먹으면 / 벌면 / 크면 / 사면 / 슬프면 / 좋으면 / 있으면 / 없으면