Korean grammar '-기'

Korean grammar #84 '-기'

1. Explanation

 : '-기' 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.' And it can conjugate with every form of words. Let's look at examples.

 

2. Examples

 매일 아침 운동하기는 힘들어요. (It's hard to exercise every morning.) 

 *운동하다 to exercise 

  1) A verb stem is '운동하-'

  2) It conjugates with '-기'

  3) 운동하기 

 

 집이 멀어서 할머니를 자주 만나기는 어려워요. (It's difficult to meet my grandmother often because her house is far away.) 

 *만나다 to meet

  1) A verb stem is '만나-'

  2) It conjugates with '-기'

  3) 만나기

 

 이렇게 헤어지기가 아쉬워요. (It's a shame to part like this.) 

 *헤어지다 to part

  1) A verb stem is '헤어지-'

  2) It conjugates with '-기'

  3) 헤어지기

 

 제 취미는 책 읽기예요. (I'm reading a book in my free time.) 

 *읽다 to read

  1) A verb stem is '읽-'

  2) It conjugates with '-기'

  3) 읽기

 

 잊기는 쉽지만 기억하기는 쉽지 않아요. (It's easy to forget, but it's not easy to remember.)

 *잊다 to forget / 기억하다 to remember

  1) A verb stem is '잊-' / '기억하-'

  2) It conjugates with '-기'

  3) 잊기 / 기억하기

 

 포기하기에는 너무 일러요. (It's too early to give up.)

 *포기하다 to give up

  1) A verb stem is '포기하-'

  2) It conjugates with '-기'

  3) 포기하기

 

 누워서 떡 먹기. (It's a breeze.)

 *먹다 to eat

  1) A verb stem is '먹-'

  2) It conjugates with '-기'

  3) 먹기

 

 주변이 시끄러워서 통화하기가 어렵네요. (It's hard to call because it's noisy around me.)

 *통화하다 to call

  1) A verb stem is '통화하-'

  2) It conjugates with '-기'

  3) 통화하기

 

3. Practice

  You can conjugates particle '-기' any kind of adjectives or verbs. So, how about make your own sentence by using this particle? If you make it, feel free to send me you sentences.

 

4. Vocabulary

 매일 everyday / 아침 morning / 운동하다 to exercise / 힘들다 difficult / 집 house / 멀다 far away / 할머니 grandmother / 자주 often / 만나다 to meet / 어렵다 difficult, hard / 이렇게 like / 헤어지다 to part / 아쉽다 it's a shame / 제 my / 취미 do sth in free time / 책 book / 읽다 to read / 잊다 to forget / 쉽다 easy / 기억하다 to remember / -지 않다 not / 포기하다 to give up / 너무 too / 이르다 early / 눕다 to lie / 떡 rice cake / 먹다 to eat / 누워서 떡 먹기(proverb) it's a breeze / 주변 around / 시끄럽다 noisy / 통화하다 to call 

 

5. Answer