Korean grammar '-ㅁ/음'

Korean grammar #83 '-ㅁ/음'

1. Explanation

 : '-ㅁ/음' is an ending particle that changes verbs and adjectives into nouns. So, it allows the conjugated form to function as a noun in the sentence. Therefore it can be used as a subject or object, like a noun. It is attached after verbs, adjectives, '-이다.', '아니다.' '-ㅁ' conjugates with vowel ending nouns or final consonanat '-ㄹ' ending nouns. However '-음' conjugates with consonant ending nouns. Let's look at examples.

 

*Source : National Institute of Korean Language

2. Examples

 서로의 다름을 이해하는 시간을 가졌어요. (We had time to understand each other's differences.) 

 *다르다 different 

  1) A adjective stem is '다르-'

  2) It ends with a vowel 'ㅡ'

  3) It conjugates with '-ㅁ'

  4) 다름

 

 가을 아침의 선선함은 언제나 새로워요. (The coolness of autumn mornings never gets old.) 

 *선선하다 cool

  1) A adjective stem is '선선하-'

  2) It ends with a vowel 'ㅏ'

  3) It conjugates with '-ㅁ'

  4) 선선함

 

 할머니는 늦은 나이에 다시 배움의 길에 들어섰어요. (My grandmother got into her journey of learning again at an old age.) 

 *배우다 to learn

  1) A verb stem is '배우-'

  2) It ends with a vowel 'ㅜ'

  3) It conjugates with '-ㅁ'

  4) 배움

 

 소소한 행복이 깃든 저의 삶에 감사해요. (I'm grateful that small happiness dwells in my life.) 

 *살다 to live

  1) A verb stem is '살-'

  2) It ends with a consonant 'ㄹ'

  3) It conjugates with '-ㅁ'

  4) 삶

 

 바다가 끝없이 넓음을 다시 한번 느꼈어요. (I felt the endless wide of the sea once again.)

 *넓다 wide

  1) A adjective stem is '넓-'

  2) It ends with a consonant 'ㄼ'

  3) It conjugates with '-음'

  4) 넓음

 

 오늘 날씨 맑음. (The weather is clear today.)

 *맑다 clean

  1) A adjective stem is '맑-'

  2) It ends with a consonant 'ㄺ'

  3) It conjugates with '-음'

  4) 맑음

 

 매일 아침 책을 읽음은 큰 기쁨이에요. (Reading books every morning is great joy.)

 *읽다 to read

  1) A verb stem is '읽-'

  2) It ends with a consonant 'ㄺ'

  3) It conjugates with '-음'

  4) 읽음

 

 오후 1시에 수업이 있음을 잊어버렸어요. (I forgot that I have a class at 1p.m.)

 *있다 there is 

  1) A verb stem is '있-'

  2) It ends with a consonant 'ㅆ'

  3) It conjugates with '-음'

  4) 있음

 

 

3. Practice

  Jean Valjean asserted his innocence. 

  장발장은 자신의 ___________을 주장했어요. ( *결백하다 innocent ) 

 

  The professor emphasized the importance of the presentation assignment.

  교수님이 발표 과제가  ___________을 강조하셨어요. ( *중요하다 important )

 

  The sound of laugh didn't stop at Christmas.

  크리스마스에 ___________ 소리가 끊이질 않았어요. ( *웃다 to laugh )

 

  Lionel Messi's excellence shone in the final match.

  결승전에서 리오넬 메시의 ___________이 빛났어요. ( *탁월하다 excellent )

 

  If there is a new encounter, there will be farewells as well.

  새로운 ___________이 있으면 ___________도 있기 마련이에요. ( *만나다 to meet / 떠나다 to leave )

 

  Everyone was amazed by Usain Bolt's speed.

  우사인 볼트의 ___________에 모두가 감탄했어요. ( *빠르다 fast )

 

  Having a lot of work cannot be an excuse for mistake.

  업무가 ___________은 실수의 이유가 될 수 없어요. ( *많다 a lot )

 

  I just can't get used to waiting. 

  ___________은 도저히 익숙해지지가 않아요. ( *기다리다 to wait )

 

4. Vocabulary

 서로 each / 다름 difference / 이해하다 to understand / 시간 time / 가지다 to have / 가을 autumn / 아침 morning / 선선하다 cool / 언제나 always / 새롭다 new / 할머니 grandmother / 늦다 last / 나이 age / 다시 again / 배우다 to learn / 길 street / 들어서다 to enter, get into / 소소한 small / 행복 happiness / 깃들다 to dwell in / 저 I / 의 of / 살다 to live / 감사하다 to thank / 바다 sea / 끝없이 endless / 넓다 wide / 다시 again / 한 번 once / 느끼다 to feel / 오늘 today / 날씨 weather / 맑다 clean / 매일 everyday / 아침 morning / 책 book / 읽다 to read / 큰 great / 기쁨 joy / 오후 p.m. / 수업 lesson / 있다 have / 잊다 to forget / 자신 oneself / 결백하다 innocent / 주장하다 to assert / 교수님 professor / 발표 presentation / 과제 assignment / 중요하다 important / 강조하다 to emphasize / 크리스마스 Christmas / 웃다 to laugh / 끊다 to stop / -지 않다 not / 결승전 final match / 탁월하다 excellent / 새로운 new / 만나다 to meet / 떠나다 to leave / 도 as well / 있다 there is / -기 마련이다 will - / 빠르다 fast / 모두 everyone / 감탄하다 to be amazed / 업무 work / 많다 a lot of / 실수 mistake / 이유 excuse / 되다 be / 기다리다 to wait / 도저히 emphasize the feeling how someone don't want to do something / 익숙하다 to get used to 

 

5. Answer

 결백함 / 중요함 / 웃음 / 탁월함 / 만남, 떠남 / 빠름 / 많음 / 기다림