Elementary Korean

With expressions referring to duration of time, ? means by
(that time) or for about (that length of time).

? ??? (for) about four hours

? about, approximately used at the beginning of a numerical
expression has the same meaning as ? at the end of it, as in:

32. ? ? ? ????, which is the same as ? ?? ????.
There are about ten people.

Be careful not to confuse this ?, which is always followed by
a numerical expression, with ?, the short form of ?? one,
which is always followed by a noun or a counter. Note also
that ? cannot be used with ??: * ? ?? vs. the acceptable ????
Approximately when?

? meaning about, approximately is often used in combination
with a particle of the same meaning, reinforcing the imprecise
character of the expression.

33. ??? ? ?? ?? ????. were here (came) last night.
About twenty people

34. ? ? ?? ?? ?? ????. house about two o’clock.
Please come to our

??! Caution!

Notice that ? cannot combine with the copula in an expression
like ? ?????. It is approximately two o’clock. Instead, an
expression with ?- is preferred: ? ?? ???. It is [Literally: has
become] approximately two o’clock.

11.4. The Particles ?? from and ?? to

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You have learned ways to say from (??) and to (?), and this
lesson also introduces the particles ?? from and ?? to.

?? from is usually used with time expressions:

?? ??? from five o’clock
???? from today

Particle ?? from or (happening) at, on the other hand, is used
only in place expressions: ??? from home or (happening) at
home. Particle ?? is often used to translate at in time
expressions with begin (though ? may be used in these
expressions, as well): ? ? ?? ?????. We begin at 10 o’clock.

Used with both time and place expressions, ?? means to in the
sense of as far as, up to or until. ? with time expressions, you
recall, means at or in that time, for example: ??? in the
evening, ?? at night. With place expressions it means either
(being) in, at or on that place —static location, as in ?? ??? ?
He’s at home; ??? ???? sits on the chair; ??? ???? it’s in the
park —or to that place: ??? ??? goes to school.

Here are examples of ?? and ?? in sentences.

35. ??? ???? ?????.
School starts tomorrow.

36. ?????? ?? ?? ??? ?? ?????. every morning at nine o’clock.
I start work at the embassy

37. ? ??? ? ??? ????? ????. two o’clock till four o’clock.
I slept in the office from

38. ???? ??? ???????. beginning to end!
It was rubbish from

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39. ???? ??? ??? ???. till night.
I suffer from morning

11.5. Formal Style

The Formal Style is used under conditions where formality is
called for: in business situations where the relationship
between the speakers is official and impersonal, in social
situations where the speakers are newly acquainted and the
ice is not yet broken, or in any case where reserve seems
indicated or desirable. It is also often used in greetings and
other conventional expressions (recall some of the basic
expressions of Lessons One and Two). This style gives way
gradually as the formality of the situation ebbs. That is, when
two speakers have progressed beyond the initial overtures of
getting acquainted and feel more at ease, then Formal and
Polite Styles are often mixed together.

Male speakers are advised to use formal forms occasionally,
even when speaking to people with whom one need not be
formal: overuse of polite forms in ? strikes some Koreans as
“talking like a woman.” Notice that the keynote to the style
that speakers are employing (aside from certain vocabulary
items like ? for ? (I), rests entirely in the verbs at the end of
sentences. All other nonfinal verb forms are neutral in this
respect.

Formal statements are made by attaching, to the verb at the
end of the sentence, an ending which has the shape -???
(pronounced -???) after consonants and -??? (pronounced -??
?) after vowels.

??! Caution!

303

If the base is an L-extending vowel base, the ending is added
to the unextended base (without the -?-): ?-?- → ??? live. If
the base ends in w, this w changes to ? (remember that w
counts as a consonant in our system): ?w- → ???? be hot. If
the base ends in -? (i.e., in the case of ? ~ ? verbs), this
changes (by our rules) to ?: ?- → ???? listen. Finally,
?-[irregular verbs] add the ending to the form with ?: ????
improve.

Formal questions are made by replacing the final ? of the
formal statement with ?. In other words add an ending that
has the shape -??? (pronounced -???) after consonants and the
shape -??? (pronounced -???) after vowels. Here are some
examples with typical verb bases.

Vowel Bases

MEANING BASE FORMAL PRONOUNCED
STATEMENT
???
go ?- ???
???
tie, wear a ?- ???
tie ???
???
see, look at ?- ??? ???
???
give ?- ??? ?????
-(?)???
write ?- ??? ???
????
become ?- ???

wait ???- ?????

(honorific) -(?)?- -(?)???

know ?-?- ???

not know ??- ????

Consonant Bases

304

MEANING BASE FORMAL PRONOUNCED
STATEMENT
????
wear ?- ???? ????
????
want to ?- ???? ????
????
receive ?- ???? ????
????
take off ?- ???? ????
????
seek/find ?- ???? ????
????
eat ?- ???? ????
????
polish ?- ???? ????
????
read ?- ???? ????
????
be young ?- ???? ????

wear shoes ?- ???? ????

sit down ?- ???? ????

put ?- ????

much/many ?- ????

be disliked ?- ????

exist/have ?- ????

(past) -?- -????

lack ?- ????

improve ?(?)- ????

be hot ?w- (w ~ ?: ????
??)

listen, hear ?- (?~ ?: ? ????
?)

Note the inclusion of past bases in the list above. The Formal
Style endings attach to the Past Base as they would to any
other consonant base: -????~????. Thus, ???? did it, ???? Did
you see it?, ????? heard it, etc.

305

Formal (honorific) commands are made by adding -?(?)?? to
bases that end in consonants and -(?)?? to bases ending in
vowels. -(?)?? is added to the unextended shape of ?
-extending vowel bases (that is, to the shape without the -?-,
e.g., ???? Open it!). This ending is often misspelled -(?)(?)??.

Note that the formal honorific command in -(?)??? is much
more common than the simply formal command -(?)??. This
latter ending is perceived now as belonging to the
authoritative or ?? style. It tends to be used in controlled fits
of anger by indignant individuals displeased with service, etc.
It should be used with care or else ironically. You are safe
with formal (honorific) commands in -(?) ???, and here are
examples of them:

CONSONANT VOWEL Look!
BASES BASES Go!
????? Give it (to
????? Wear it! ???? me)!
Write it!
????? Receive it! ???? Wait!
Sell it!
????? Take it off! ????
????? Call!
????? Look for it! ????
Tie it!
????? Polish it! ??????

????? Read it! ????

????? Put on ?????
(shoes)!
?????
????? Sit down! ????

Put it

(there)!

Listen!

Broil it!

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The greetings from Lesson One can also be expressed in the
formal honorific style.

??? ????! and ??? ????!

Inherently honorific verbs which already include -?- in their
base add -??? to the honorific base.

BASE FORMAL COMMAND

??- ???? Stay!

???- ????? Sleep!

???- ????? Eat!

The last verb also appears without -?- (but remains honorific):
??- from which is derived ?? ?? Eat!

Formal suggestions (e.g., Let’s do it.) are made by adding the
ending -??? to consonant bases and -??? to vowel bases
(including the unextended shape of ?-, extending vowel
bases).

BASE FORMAL SUGGESTION

?- ???? Let’s wear it!

?- ??? Let’s go!

?- ???? Let’s receive it!

?- ??? Let’s see it!

?- ???? Let’s sit down!

?-?- ??? Let’s play!

?w- (w ~ ?: ??) ???? Let’s broil it!

?- (?~ ?: ??) ???? Let’s listen!

??! Caution!

307

Note that many Korean speakers consider it inappropriate,
even rude, for a person of lower status to use a suggestion
form in -(?)??? to them. When making a suggestion to
somebody with whom you might otherwise use honorifics,
you are advised to include an honorific in your suggestion: ??
??! Let’s go! or else use a different strategy entirely.

Since the endings -???, -???, -(?)??, and -??? are added to the
unextended shape of ? -extending vowel bases, the resulting
forms look as if they might be ordinary vowel bases. Thus,
from the spelling you can’t tell whether ??? means ??? (from
?-?-) lives or ?? (from ?-) buys. The context will help you tell.

EXERCISES

Exercise 1: Numerals and Counters

Count quickly in Korean from one to 14, putting the
following words after each number, in order: one table, two
years old, three minutes, and so on. Repeat, from 15 to 28;
from 29 to 42; from 43 to 56; from 57 to 70; and so on up to
98.

1. ?? ____ ??
2. -?
3. -? (minutes)
4. -?
5. -?
6. -?
7. -?
8. -?
9. ??? ____ ??

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10. (-)?
11. -?
12. -?
13. -??
14. (-)??

Exercise 2: Numerals and Counters

Say the following expressions in Korean:

1. ?? ??? ____? ??????.
7:00
8:15 exactly
7:05
6:55
about 6:30

2. ?? ____ ????.
six people
nine magazines
three dogs
eleven buildings
four cars

3. ?? ?? ____?? ???.
11:00
10:45
11:15
9:30
12:00

4. ?? ____ ????.
two dollars

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two packs of cigarettes
ten books
two dogs
fifteen pieces of paper
5. ?? ????? ____ ?????.
two hours
five days
fourteen days
eight and a half hours
ten minutes
6. ??? ____ ?????.
two days
ten days
two weeks
three months
six years
7. ?? ____? ??? ?????.
8:17
8:47
7:53
7:25
exactly 7:00

Exercise 3: Answer the Questions

Answer the following questions in Korean (Write short
answers only and be sure to write out the numbers in ??).

1. ??? ?? ????????
2. ??? ??????

310

3. ? ???????
4. ?????? ?? ?? ????
5. ??? ?????
6. ?? ?? ?? ? ?? ?? ?? ????. ?? ?? ??? ?????. ??? ? ??? ??????
7. ??? (New Year) ?? ?? ??????
8. ?? ?????? ?? ??????. ??? ? ?????
9. ?? ??? ??? ??? ????
10. ????? ? ??? ?? ??????
11. ?? ? ??? ?? ?? ???? ? ?? ???
12. ? ??????
13. ? ?????

Exercise 4: Fill in the Missing Particles and Counters

Below are Korean sentences with some of the particles and/or
counters missing. Read each sentence aloud and fill in the
blanks with appropriate particles you have learned in this
lesson.

1. ? ____ [every] ?? ____ ???? [i.e., have the day off]
2. ??? ?? ____ ????.
3. ??? ____ [every] ??? ????
4. ? ? ??? ?? ____ [only] ???.
5. ?? ?? ? ? ____ ? ? ? ____ ?? ??? ??? ?? ???.
6. ?? ? ?? ____ ?????
7. ????? ?? ? ? ____ ? ? ? ____ ?? ??.
8. ?? ____ ? ? ____ ?????
9. ?? ??? ?? ? ____ ????.
10. ???? ??? ? ____ ?? ?? ? ____ ?? ?? ?? ____ ????.

Exercise 5: Formal Style

311

Each of the following sentences is a simple statement in the
Polite Style. Change each one so that it becomes four
different expressions in the Formal Style: (l) a simple
statement; (2) a question; (3) an honorific command; and (4) a
suggestion. Watch out for trick questions!

Part One: Easier Verbs

1. ?? ???.
2. ?? ???.
3. ?? ???
4. ??? ????.
5. ???? ??? ??.
6. ?? ????.
7. ??? ??.
8. ??? ??.
9. ??? ???.
10. ??? ???.
11. ? ?? ???.

Part Two: Trickier Verbs

1. ???? ???.
2. ??? ???.
3. ????? ??? ???.
4. ??? ???.
5. ????.
6. ??? ? ???.
7. ?? ? ??? ? ???.
8. ?? ??? ?? ???.
9. ?? ? ???.

312

10. ???? ???.
Exercise 6: English to Korean Translation

Translate each of the following sentences into Korean, using
the Formal Style.

1. I brush my teeth three times a day.

2. I am very busy from today.

3. Until when will you stay?

4. Let’s go out for a walk.

5. Everybody is different [every person].

6. When do you wish to meet?

7. I’ve come to look for part-time work.

8. Every student likes that teacher.

9. I stayed in that inn until Saturday.

10. Why are you late?
Please forgive me.

11. About what time are you going?

12. This year I forgot my wife’s birthday.

13. Please give them 10,000 wŏn each.

14. Let’s start from nine o’clock.

15. About when are you leaving for Seoul?

Exercise 7: Vocabulary Drill

This is a rapid-fire drill. Call out the Korean for each group
below. Use numeral and counter, and, if appropriate, a noun.

1. One person, one building, one o’clock.
2. Two months, two years, two days.

313

3. Three honored people, three o’clock, three years old.

4. Four dollars, four dogs, four newspapers.

5. Five li, five days, five houses.

6. Six pounds, six floors, six years old.

7. Seven months, seven books, seven years.

8. Eight hours, eight cars, eight minutes.

9. Nine times, nine days, nine cats.

10. Ten cents, ten people, ten o’clock.

11. One o’clock, two o’clock, three o’clock.

12. Two years old, three years old, four years old.

13. Three years, four years, five years.

14. Four people, five people, six people.

15. Five days, six days, seven days.

16. Six sheets of paper, seven sheets of paper, eight sheets of
paper.

17. Seven magazines, eight magazines, nine magazines.

18. Eight days, nine days, ten days.

19. Nine floors, ten floors, eleven floors.

20. Ten times, eleven times, twelve times.

21. Eleven pounds, twelve pounds, thirteen pounds.

22. Twelve cats, thirteen cats, fourteen cats.

23. Thirteen days, fourteen days, fifteen days.

24. Fourteen years old, fifteen years old, sixteen years old.

25. Fifteen months, sixteen months, seventeen months.

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LESSON 12

??? ?????, ??? ??
???? ???.
I like plays, but I don’t like music much.

This lesson introduces how to make suggestions to go and do
things. It also covers how to suggest not to do things. Further
points covered are how to express likes and dislikes, how to
say one feels like doing something or not, and how to ask
someone for a date. Finally, we introduce a new way to link
two sentences with but, a new way to make sentences
negative, and the new particle (?)?.

Korean Dialogues

Dialogue 1

Chris and Eunice’s college-age daughter, Sandy, has recently
struck up a relationship with a Korean boy, ??. They are
meeting at a ??? near campus.

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1. ?? ?????
?

2. ? ???? ???. ??? ? ? ????
?

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3. ? (to ???) ???! ?? ?? ? ?? ???. (to Sandy) ??? ???? ???? ??

? ?? ? ????

4. ? ???. ???? ???? ??? ?? ?? ????
?

5. ? ????? ?? ???. ?? ??? ?????, ??? ?? ???? ???.
?

6. ? ??, ??? ?? ???. ?? ??? ????.
?

7. ? ??? ?? ?? ??? ?? ???. ?? ?? ????
?

8. ? ???. ?? ??? ? ???. ?? ???!
?

NOTES

??? anything at all. See Section 12.6.2.
?

?? ? [Literally: As for Sandy, how is it? ] ???? How is it?

? ?? What is it like? can be used to elicit opinions like this:

?? What do you think?, etc.

Dialogue 2

316

Eric is hitting the ??? scene, too. While waiting for ?? at their
favorite hangout, Eric tries his luck with one of the ???
working there.
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1. ?? ???, ??? ?? ?? ? ? ?????
2. ??? ??? ? ????.
3. ?? ??, ???? ?? ????? ?? ? ?? ?????
4. ??? ???? ????.
5. ?? ?, ???? ?????. ??????. (Eric backs off)
6. ??? ????! ??? ??? ???.

NOTES
??? I’m afraid I’m busy. The ending is treated in detail in a
?. later lesson.
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READING PASSAGE

317

??? ?? ??? ????? ????.

??? ???? ?? ?????.

?? ??? ????? ? ??? ???? ?????.

????? ?? ??? ?? ??? ????. ??? ???? ????.

?? ??? ????? ??? ????.

?? ???? ?? ??? ?? ???.

Vocabulary

New Nouns: Food and Drink
?? coffee

??? ice coffee
???? ice water
?? cold noodle dish
?? cola
?? ice
?? cooking, cuisine

???? Chinese cuisine
????? Italian cuisine
????? ice cream
?? Korean rice vodka, soju
?? whiskey; western spirits
?? sugar
??? ?- add/put in sugar
??? ???? Do you take sugar?
??? ?- add/put in sugar

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?? cream

??? fresh cream

??? nondairy creamer

?? black tea, English tea

??? draft beer

?? pizza

??? Korean soft drink like Seven-up™

?? shaved ice/ice slush, usually with fruit toppings

???? sandwich

??? hamburger

??? hotdog

Other New Nouns

?? café (more upscale than a tabang)

??? western cigarettes; non-Korean cigarettes

?? beautiful woman

?? ?????. She’s a real beauty.

?? handsome man

? starch; glue

?(?) ??- starch something [feed it starch]

? time [when]

?? ?? ???. Come any time.

? ??? at that time

?? a moment

?. ??? ????? Please wait a moment.

?? comics, cartoons (both the written and the TV
variety)

? flower(s)

?? ?- flowers bloom, blossom

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??? ? ???. All the flowers have bloomed.

?? music

??? concert

?? jazz

???? jazz music

?? play, drama

? mountain

?? countryside, the country

?? the ocean, the sea

??? the beach

?? city

?? suburb(s)

?? hallway, corridor

?? customer; guest

?? mind, heart

??(?) ??? has a good heart, is good natured

??? subway, underground, metro

?? brothers (for males); brothers and sisters

??? ? ??? How many brothers and sisters do you have?
??

?? elder brother (for females)

?? elder sister (for females)

New Verbs and Related Expressions

???- be bright, intelligent

??(?) ?- marry

??????? Are you married?

??(?) ?- get engaged

?????. I’m engaged.

??? fiancé(e)

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??(?) ?- do the laundry; wash clothes

??? laundry, laundromat, cleaners

??(?) ?- launder it, do laundry

??? laundry, laundromat, cleaners

??(?) ?- retire

?- ride in, ride on

???? ?- ride a bike

??? ?- take a taxi

??? ?- ski, go skiing

????? ?- skate, go skating

?- (?~?: ??) walk

?? ?? ? ?? ?? ? ??. Our baby can’t walk yet.

???- walk, go on foot

?????. Let’s go on foot. Let’s walk.

???- be/feel bored

???- be tired

?- put in, insert

??? ????? Do you put sugar in [your coffee]?

???(?) ?- play tennis

???(?) ?- play the piano

??w- be heavy

??w- be light [in weight]

??- finish it

?(?) ??- [stomach] be full

? ???. I’m full.

?(?) ??- be hungry

? ???. I’m hungry.

???- goes back, returns there

???- comes back, returns here

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?(?) ?- dances (a dance)

???? How is it? How about it?

??? ???? How do you like Seoul?

??? ?????? [same as above, but Formal Style]

???- come in, enter; return home

?? ?? ?????. I got in late last night.

???- go in, enters

?- be good; be liked

?? ??? ???. I like Seoul.

???- like it

?? ??? ????. I like Seoul.

?- be disliked, distasteful

???- dislike it

??(?) ?- order [at a restaurant]

???- be healthy

?? health

New Adverbs

???? How? In what way?

??? suddenly

?? already

??, ?? now (finally); from now on

??? Or (sentence-initially)

NOUN A ??? NOUN B? NOUN A or NOUN B?

How to Get the Attention of Service Personnel

???! Hey there! [a bit brusque, or even rude]

??! [same as above, but even less cultured]

?? ? ??! Say there! Excuse me! [can be rude]

??! [if the server looks to be a student]

If the Server is Female:

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? older sister [usually used by young women to other
?! women, but also used, in jest, by some cheeky men ]

?? Girl! Usually used by men to (presumably) unmarried
?! women, but some women take offense now.

? older sister [usually used by young men to older women,
?! especially if it looks like they might be offended by either
???! or ????!]

??
? Ma’am [used about or to any woman who looks married]
?!

?? [same as above but more familiar]
?!

If the Server is Male:

???! Mister [used about or to any man who looks married]

Lesson Notes

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12.1. Verbs: Suspective Form - ?

Korean verbs with the suffix -? attached to them are in the
SUSPECTIVE form. L-extending vowel bases attach -? to the
extended shape: ?-?- open has the suspective form ??. The
consonant bases that end in -? (i.e., ? ~ ? bases) change this to
?, so the suspective form of ?- listens is ? ? pronounced (by
automatic change) [??]. See the examples for -? ??? in Lesson
Nine.

323

The suffix -? is a one-shape ending: it is always -?, regardless
of the kind of base it is attached to. In pronouncing the
resulting form you have to follow the usual rules of sound
change, as is the case for the -? form.

Here is a list of the -? forms for some representative verbs
you have learned with the pronunciation (when different)
shown between square brackets:

BASE GLOSS SUSPECTIVE PAST PRONUNCIATION
SUSPECTIVE

?- do ?? ?? ??

-?- be ?? ??? ???

?- sleep ?? ?? ??

?- give ?? ?? ??

??- learn ??? ??? ???

???- wait ???? ???? ????

?- come ?? ?? ??

?- look at ?? ?? ??

?- rest ?? ??? ???

?- write ?? ?? ??

?- be big ?? ?? ??

??- not ??? ??? ???
know

?-?- live ?? ??? ???

?- sit ?? [??] ??? ???

?- eat ?? [??] ??? ???

?- be ?? [??] ??? ???
good

?- many ?? [??] ??? ???

324

?- be ?? [??] ??? ???
disliked
??? ???
?- lack ?? [??] ??? ???
??? ???
?- be; stay ?? [??] ??? ???
??? ???
?- close it ?? [??] ??? ???

?- listen ?? [??]

?w- broil ?? [??]

?w- be hot ?? [??]

12.2. Uses of the Suspective -?

12.2.1: Any Base + -?? but

1. A. ??? ????? brothers and sisters?
Do you have

B. ??? ??? ??? ???.

I have an older sister, but no younger siblings.

2. A. ? ? ??? ??? ? ??? that family good students?
Are the children in

B. ?? ?????, ??? ??? ? ??.

The daughter is bright, but the son isn’t much of a

student.

?? ? ???, ???? ????

3. The day is a bit hot, but shall we play some tennis or

something?

4. A. ???? ? ???? father do?
What does your

B. ?? ??????, ??? ??????.

[He] used to be a college professor, but now he’s retired.

5. A. ??? ??? ?????
Is that person old?

325

B. ??? ???, ??? ???.
He is old in years, but his heart is young.

Phrases consisting of a verb base plus -?? mean
(such-and-such) but ... English can retain the Korean phrasing
by using though or although: Although I have an older sister
..., Though the daughter is bright ... The translation but, of
course, is much more natural and conveys the Korean more
realistically.

The special phrase ???? [Literally: It is so, but ...] is used at
the beginning of sentences in the same way English uses
however or on the other hand, on the contrary. The expression
-??, then, is a device to put together two sentences that could
be said separately, with the second introduced by ????.

12.2.2: Long Negatives in -? ???, -? ???

In addition to the short negative forms that you have learned
to make by prefixing verbs and adjectives with ? and ?, there
is a more complex type of negative made with:

{plain base plus -? ??? } or {plain base plus -? ??? }

6. A. ??? ?? ? ??? older sister up to these days?
What’s your

B. ??? ???? ?? ?? ???.
She doesn’t live with us anymore.

7. A. ?? ?? ?????? in that family bright?
Is the daughter

B. ?? ?????, ??? ???? ????.
The daughter is bright, but the son isn’t bright at all.

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8. A. ?? ?, ??? ??????? brother married?
Sandy, is your older

B. ???, ??? ?? ???? ?????.

No, he isn’t (hasn’t) married yet.

9. A. ???? ???? the piano?
Do you play

B. ???. ???? ?? ????.

No, I don’t know how.

The long negative is a phrase which consists of a plain base
plus -? followed by a negative element. The -? form names
the verb. The element following it carries the other meanings
for the phrase—negativeness and tense, as well as the
meaning carried in its ending (e.g., Polite Style).

The element ?- following the -? suspective form in long
negative phrases is, in origin, a negative form of the auxiliary
base ?-, that is, a form of ? ?- shortened to ???. It is, in effect,
a new verb with the base form ?-, which behaves in the same
way as the base ?- (there are) many.

The past tense of a long negative is made by putting ?- into
the past tense. The -? suspective form remains unchanged.

?? ????? didn’t go
?? ????? didn’t listen
?? ????? didn’t sit down

The long negative differs from the short negative (the one you
have been using up until now) only in that it is a phrase rather
than a single word; the meaning of each corresponding form
is the same. Here is a group of representative examples. Every

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verb has both forms except for the copula, which has only the
form ????.

Present Tense

BASE ENGLISH SHORT LONG
NEGATIVE NEGATIVE
?? ???
?- sit ? ??? ?? ???
?? ???
?- sleep ? ?? ?? ???

?- be good ? ??? ?? ???

?- read ? ??? ?? ???
?? ???
?- be much/ ? ??? ?? ???
many ?? ???
?? ???
?- eat ? ??? ?? ???
?? ????
?- come ? ?? ?? ????
?? ????
?- write ? ?? ?? ????

?-?- live ? ??? ?? ????

?- listen ? ??? ?? ????
?? ????
?w- broil ? ??? ?? ????
?? ????
?- sit ? ???? ?? ????
?? ????
?- sleep ? ???

?- be good ? ????

?- read ? ????

?- be much/ ? ????
many

?- eat ? ????

?- come ? ???

?-?- live ? ????

?- write ? ???

?- listen ? ????

?w- broil ? ????

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Long negatives with the STRONG NEGATIVE ? cannot,
emphatically not rather than ? not are made in the same way.

SHORT LONG
STRONG
BASE STRONG NEGATIVE MEANING
?? ???
NEGATIVE ?? ???? can’t sit
couldn’t sit
?- sit ? ??? ?? ???
is no good
? ???? ?? ????
?? ??? was no good
?- be [impossible] ?? ???? can’t eat
good ?? ??? couldn’t eat
can’t write
[impossible] ?? ???? couldn’t
write
?- eat ? ??? ?? ??? can’t hear
?? ???? couldn’t hear
? ???? ?? ??? can’t broil
?? ???? couldn’t broil
?- write ? ??

? ???

?- hear ? ???
? ????

?w- broil ? ???
? ????

Notice that with descriptive verbs, long strong negatives have
the added nuance of dissatisfaction on the part of the speaker
or a sense that the situation was not up to expectation.

??! Caution!

The short negative with ? occurs for processive verbs (? ??
doesn’t go), less commonly for descriptive verbs (? ??? is not
small), and in a slightly different form for the copula (?[?] ???
? it is not a book). The short negative with ? occurs only for
processive verbs (? ?? can’t go; definitely doesn’t go). There

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is no corresponding form for descriptive verbs or the copula,
so that you will never hear *? ??? or *?? ????.

There are long negatives with ? for both processive verbs (??
??? can’t go; definitely doesn’t go) and descriptive verbs (?? ?
?? definitely isn’t small), though not for the copula. There are
no long negatives for the copula at all.

In the examples above the long negatives have Polite Style
endings. Other endings are also possible, when you want to
put the negative into some larger sentence, for example, you
can put a negative sentence into the construction with -?? but
discussed above.

?? ??? [same as ? ???] doesn’t sit but

?? ???? [same as ? ????] didn’t sit but

?? ???? is no good but

Finally, note also that the long negatives are more appropriate
for longer verbs (i.e., bases with three or more syllables) and
complex verb expressions (e.g., -? ???) that sound awkward
or marginal (hence the?) preceding ?:

BASE ENGLISH SHORT NEGATIVE LONG NEGATIVE
???- feel bored ?? ????
?? ?- want to eat ?? ?? ??? ???? ???

?? ?? ???

12.2.3. Negative Commands and Suggestions in - ? ? - ?-

You have noticed that the polite forms in ? can be used as a
statement (?? I’m going), a question (???? Are you going?), a

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command (???! Please go!), and occasionally even a
suggestion (? ?! Let’s go!).

The negative forms of these can be used as statements (? ?? or
?? ??? I’m not going. ? ?? or ?? ??? I can’t go.) and as
questions (? ???? or ?? ????? Aren’t you going? ? ? ??? or ??
????? Can’t you go?), but not as commands or suggestions.

*?? ???! for Don’t sit!
*?? ???! for Don’t look!

Negative Commands

Instead, you make negative commands (prohibitions) and
negative suggestions (dissuasions) with another auxiliary verb
?-?- avoid (an L-extending base) added to the suspective -?.

10. Base ?- listen ?? ???!

?? ???! Don’t listen!

?? ????!

11. Base ?- sit ?? ???!

?? ???! Don’t sit down!

?? ????!

12. Base ?- see; look ?? ???!

?? ???! Don’t look!

?? ????!

Negative Suggestions

You have learned the ending for suggestions in the Formal
Style, with the shape -(?)??? as in ?? ???! Let’s begin! To
make negative suggestions, add this ending to the unextended

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base of ?-?- and produce the form ??? to use after the
suspective -?.

13. ?? ?? ???! at our books!
Let’s not look

14. ??? ???? ???! ??? ???. there’s no time.
Let’s not go on foot today;

15. A. ? ????? ??? ???? Shall we have some whiskey?
What shall we drink?

B. ??? ?? ?? ???.

Let’s not do any drinking today.

12.2.4. Negative Honorifics

In speaking about an esteemed person, you can add the
honorific element to the long negative in any of several ways.

You can make the verb honorific (?? → ???) and then build

a. the negative on this: ??? ???. This is the most common

method.

b. You can make the verb negative (?? → ?? ???), then build
the honorific on that: ?? ????. This is also common.

You can make the verb honorific (?? → ???), build a

c. negative on this (??? → ??? ???), and build a further
honorific on that: ??? ????. Usually such double honorifics

are overdoing things so you would do well to avoid them.

The ? negative behaves in the same way: ??? ???, ?? ????, and
??? ???? are all somebody (esteemed) can’t/won’t go.

12.3. The Particle ?: Noun Agreement

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Observe the following sentences:

A. ?? ?, ?? ? ???? ?? ???? ? ???

16. Sandy, aren’t you going to the beach with the kids in

the other class?

B. ? ??. ?? ??? ????.

I can’t go; I have neither the time nor the money.

17. ??? ????, ???? ?? ? ???. either bars or tabangs.
My brother doesn’t frequent

As you know, the particle ? often occurs twice in a sentence,
showing a kind of tandem agreement between noun phrases
(both A and B do; neither A nor B does). In affirmative
sentences, the ? mean both ... and. When the verb is negative,
they mean neither ... nor. The literal wordings both ... and and
neither ... nor are actually somewhat formal in English. In
conversational style some other phraseology is more usual.

Notice that the phrases with ? must agree with each other; that
is, you are saying the same thing about both of them. To say
different things about two noun expressions, you do not use ?.

18. ?? ????? ??? ???? ? ???. the son isn’t bright at all.
The daughter is bright, but

12.4. Suggestions and Tentative Questions with - (?)??(?)?

Observe the following sentences:

19. A. ??? ? ? ???? beer? [Literally: Shall we do a beer?]
How about a

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B. ?, ????.

Sure, let’s do it.

20. A. ?? ???? walking (there)?
How about

B. ???, ??? ???.

No, let’s take a taxi.

21. A. ???? ???? playing tennis?
How about

B. ?, ?? ????

Sure. When would you like to play?

22. ??? ????? ???? in or not?
Shall I put sugar

The ending -(?)??? is a two-shape verb ending, the third you
have seen (the others were honorific polite -(?)?? and
purposive -(?)?). The -(?)? preceding the ? is the prospective
modifier, about which you will learn more in Lesson
Twenty-three of Continuing Korean, the second book in this
series. The little word ? is a post-modifier—a noun that
always has a modifier in front of it—with the meaning [it’s a]
question [of] (it is related to the ? of Formal Style questions in
???).

Let us review how verb bases attach to two-shape endings.
Vowel-final bases attach to the vowel-less ending of
two-shape endings.

?- ???? Shall we go?
?- ???? Shall we look at it?

With L-extending verbs, the ending attaches to the
unextended base, but note that this is somewhat camouflaged.

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?-?- ???? Shall we live?

That is, this form is ?- + -???, and not ?-?- + ??. Contrast this
with ? ~ ? verbs.

23. A. ???? ????? to some music or something?
Shall we listen

B. ?, ?? ??? ?????
Sure. What kind of music do you like?

Consonant-final bases attach to the shape with initial -?-.

?- ????? Shall I look for it?

?- ????? Shall I receive it?

?- ????? Shall I put it on?

?- ????? Shall I listen to it?

?w- ????? Shall I broil it?

The only tricky point to remember here concerns w- ? verbs,
for which you learned the following rule (repeated from
Section 8.2.2.):

In other words, the final w of a w ~? verb base plus the initial
-? of a two-shape verb ending combine to yield the vowel ?.
Another example:

?w- + -???? → ????? suppose it will be hot?
Do you

The ???? pattern makes future or tentative questions and has
two distinct usages.

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In the examples above, the questions are usually directed

to the first person I/we. Shall we do thus-and-so? Shall I

do such-and-such? or How about doing thus-and-so?

a. These mean about the same thing as suggesting Let’s do

thus-and-so. Sometimes these questions are rhetorical

(not expecting an answer). You can only use processive

bases with this meaning.

The second usage refers to third-persons (he, she, it,

b. they), and translates as Do you suppose? or I wonder:
does/is? For this, you can use either a processive or a

descriptive base.

24. ??? ?? ?????? the box is too heavy?
Do you suppose

25. ? ???? ?? ??? ????? Pak is in the classroom now?
Do you suppose Dr.

In this second usage, the pattern can also be used on the past
base, as follows.

26. A. ?? ????? he’s already come?
Do you suppose

B. ?. ?? ???? ???.

Yes. I saw him just a moment ago in the corridor.

This second usage anticipates a response using the Probable
Future pattern in -(?)? ??? which you will learn in the next
lesson.

Finally, here are some more examples of how w ~? verbs
attach to this two-shape ending.

27. ?? ?? ?????? (??w-) is too difficult?
Do you suppose that

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28. ?? ????? (?w-) tomorrow will be hot?
Do you suppose

29. ???: ???? ? ? ????? (?w-)
Shall I broil some more pulgogi?

???: ???. ? ???.

It’s OK. I’m full.

12.5. Thinking of Doing ... with - (?)?? ? -

Another construction involving ? is -(?)?? ?- which means is
thinking of [do]ing thus-and-so, as follows.

30. A. ?? ? ???? doing tomorrow?
What are you

B. ???? ?? ???.

I’m thinking of playing tennis.

31. A. ????? ??? ??? to the concert?
How are you getting

B. ???? ?? ??.

I’m thinking of going by subway.

32. A. ?? ????? lately?
Are you tired

B. ?. ??? ? ?? ?? ??.

Yes. I’m thinking of going to the countryside for a rest.

We see that the verb ??, besides meaning does and sometimes
(as an auxiliary) is, also means thinks. This construction can
be regarded as the equivalent of I’m thinking, shall I VERB?
Here are some more examples.

33. A. ??? ?? ???? eating lunch?
When are you

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B. ? ??? ??? ??.

I’m thinking of eating at around two o’clock.

34. A. ?? ??? ?????? OK?
Is the kids’ school

B. ???? ???, ?? ??? ??? ???.

It’s not bad, but I’m thinking of sending them to another

school.

12.6. The Adverb ?, Particle ?, and Pseudo-particle (?)?

12.6.1. Adverb ? Versus Particle ?

The adverb ? has the same general type of meaning as the
particle ? and, again, too. However, since ? is an adverb it is
independent and does not have to be attached to a noun
expression, unlike the particle ?. The adverb ? at the
beginning of a sentence means and also or and further(more).
You have also had ??? in this meaning, and you can start a
sentence with both of them: ??? ? And moreover. Notice the
similarity between ?, the particle, and ?, the adverb, in such
sentences as the following.

35. ??? ??? ????. paper here, too.
There’s some

??? ??(?) ? ????.

There’s still some more paper over there.

An occasional accident of sound change may even make ?
and ? sound the same in some environments (?? [??] and ? ?
here).

36. ??? ?? ????. There are books here, too.

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?? ? (pause) ? ???.
There are some/yet more books over there.

12.6.2. The Particle (?)?

The particle (?)?, like the copula, has two shapes. After nouns
ending in a consonant, it has the shape ??. After nouns ending
in a vowel it loses the ? and has the shape ?. The particle (?)?
has several meanings, grouped into three headings.

1. about/approximately
2. generalizer
3. or

1. - (?)?: about/approximately

Korean is often less precise about numbers than English is.
Thus, such words as (?)? (usually written ? after vowels) are
often used with numerical expressions (especially in
questions) to make them sound more vague and hence less
abrupt.

37. A. ? ???? ????? hours does it take?
About how many

B. ? ? ?? ? ????.

It takes about three and a half hours.

38. A. ? ?? ???? many should we buy?
About how

B. ?? ?? ???.

Let’s buy about twenty.

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Note in (38 A) above that (?)? replaces the object particle;
i.e., one cannot say *? ???? or *? ???. In this respect, (?)?
behaves like ?.

2. Question word + (?)?: Generalizer any/every

When used after certain question words, (?)? removes the
interrogative meaning and generalizes the scope of the word.

?? Who? ??? anyone; everyone

?? What? ???? anything; everything

?? When? ??? any time; all the time; always

?? Where? ??? anywhere; everywhere

??? Where? ???? [happening] anywhere; everywhere

?? ? Which ...? ?? ??? anything; either [thing]

39. A. ??? ????? we invite?
Whom shall

B. ??? ???.
Anybody is fine.

40. A. ??? ??? ???? go (this) weekend?
Where shall we

B. ??? ???.
Anywhere is fine.

41. ?? ??? ??? ???? ??? ???. singing wherever he goes.
My older brother is always

42. A. ?? ?? ???? shall we buy?
Which one

B. ?? ??? ???.
Either one is fine.

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A similar meaning can be obtained with the word ??, which
by itself means anyone, anybody, but in front of another noun
means any, any old.

??? anyone, anybody

????? anything

?? ?? any time

?? ?? any place

?? ??? [happening at] any place; from any place

?? ??? any book [at all]

43. ??? ??? ? ??. can go over there.
Not just anybody

44. A. ? ????? I get for you?
What can

B. ???? ???.
Give me any old thing (anything at all).

A. ?? ?? ????
45. When shall we come over? (When would you like us to

come [to play]?)

B. ?? ?? ??? ?? ??? ???.
Come any time. I’m not particularly busy.

46. ?? ??? ?? ??? ???! you please!
Don’t just smoke anywhere

47. A. ?? ?? ???? of flowers should we buy?
What kind

B. ?? ??? ???! ?? ???!
Any old flowers are OK! Hurry up and buy some!

The only way to make a negative version of this type of
expression is with the ?? pattern followed by ? instead of (?)?.
Note that the verb must be in the negative.

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??? nobody; nobody at all

???? nothing; nothing at all

?? ?? nowhere; not any place

?? ?? nowhere, not from anywhere; not [happening at] any
? place

48. A. ???? ?? ?? ???? come to the party?
Did a lot of people

B. ??? ? ???.
Nobody came.

49. A. ???? ? ???? do over the weekend?
What did you

B. ???? ? ???.
Nothing at all.

50. ?? ???, ???? ?? ?? ? ???. can’t go anywhere on weekends.
Because of the baby, we

51. ? ?? ?? ???? ? ???. book anywhere.
They don’t sell that

3. (?)? meaning or: Two Related Patterns
Sub-pattern 1: Noun1(?)? Noun2 meaning Noun1 or Noun2

The particles ? and (?)? are alike in some ways. You have just
seen (?)? in its meaning about, approximately and as a
generalizer of questions words (??? anybody at all). Like ?,
(?)? can be used twice in a sentence to show tandem
agreement, but (?)? shows freedom or indifference of choice.

52. ???, ??? ? ??. nor pencils will do.
Neither notebooks

53. ???, ???? ? ??. or pencils will do.
Either notebooks

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Whereas ? is definite, (?)? is vague or unspecific.

54. ??? ??? ? ????. that one are OK.
Both this one and

55. ???? ???? ? ????. that one is OK.
Either this one or

The particle (?)?, then, when it is used after each of two (or
more) comparable noun expressions, means (either) ... or (...
or yet something else).

Sub-pattern 2: NOUN (?)? meaning NOUN or something,
NOUN or the like

When (?)? follows just a single noun, it still retains the sense
of indifference to choice (even slightly denigrating the
choice), but is best translated in English as or something.

56. A. ??? ???? see a movie or something?
Shall we

B. ?, ????.

Yes, let’s do that.

A. ??? ?????

57. Shall we have something [alcoholic] to drink [or

something]?

B. ???, ??????? ????.

No, let’s eat some ice-cream or something.

12.7. More Ways to Say or

The phrase ?? means or (else) between plain noun
expressions.

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58. ?? ?? ?? (else) black tea
coffee or

Another way to do the same thing is to link two words with
the word ??? or.

59. ?? ??? ?? (else) black tea
coffee or

At the beginning of a sentence, the phrase ?? also has this
contrastive idea, as in the following sentence.

?? ????? ?? ????.
60. Nor (on the other hand) have I been to any concerts either

[and I do like concerts].
[Background: I haven’t been to a single movie this fall,
hating them as I do.]

The word ??? can also begin a sentence, but has the meaning
of Or else.

61. ???? ???? ???, ??? ???? Or (else) shall we take a taxi?
Shall we take the subway?

??, (?)?, and ??? thus all translate as or. (?)? and ??? accept
either choice indifferently whereas ?? excludes one of the
choices by contrasting it with the accepted choice.

12.8. The ‘wanna’ Form in - (?)??(?)

Observe the following exchange:

62. A. ? ????? you feel like drinking?
What do

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B. ?? ??? ????.
I think I’d like a coffee.

A plain processive base followed by -(?)??? means something
like I feel like VERBing, I wanna VERB, I’ve a mind to
VERB, I’d prefer to VERB (if I had a choice), I’d like to
VERB. L-extending bases attach the full ending -??? onto the
unextended form, so that we get ? ???, I’d rather not know
(about it) [base ?- plus -???]. The pattern expresses a weak
intention, inclination, and/or desire. It is used only in first
person statements and second person questions, as in the
exchange above. This is a highly colloquial form, though not
quite as informal as English wanna (we have glossed the
pattern this

way because, like English wanna, the Korean form is a
contraction in origin.)

63. A. ??? ???? ??? ???? soju or whiskey?
Would you prefer

B. ?? ????.

I think I’d prefer beer.

64. A. ?? ???? like to dance?
Would you

B. ???, ?? ?? ???.

No, I can’t dance.

In general, the form in -(?)??? has the force of a gentle
suggestion and implies a choice. You should use this form
rather than -? ??? in questions, since the latter forces the other
person into a yes or no answer.

12.9. Meanings for ? - and Related Words

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The descriptive verb ?- means (l) is good or fine or all right
and, (2) is liked. In the first meaning, only one noun phrase is
involved, but in the second meaning, it often has two subjects,
or else a topic and a subject.

65. ??? ???.
This is good.

66. ?? ??? ???. As for me, this is liked.]
I like this. [Literally:

The processive verb phrase ???? means finds it good or likes
it and takes direct objects.

67. ?? ??? ????.
I like this.

This phrase also has the emotional connotation [someone] is
happy (glad), which is commonly used in speaking of
someone else, but sometimes for special emphasis to mean I
am happy/glad. Notice the negative forms of each of these.

68. ?? ??? [something] isn’t good or isn’t liked

69. ???? ??? doesn’t like [something]
[someone]

The opposites are comparable expressions.

??? is liked ??? is disliked [base ?-]

???? likes it ???? dislikes it

70. ?? ????? ???. cuisine.
I don’t like Chinese

[Literally: As for me Chinese cuisine is disliked, hence
the thing disliked is the subject]

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71. ?? ??? ??? ????. shaved ice.
My husband dislikes

[The thing disliked is the direct object]

72. ?? ??? ????. York.
I don’t like New

73. ?? ??? ???. New York.
I don’t like

Notice that in English the meanings of the negative phrase ???
? ??? doesn’t like and the affirmative phrase ???? dislikes
usually fall together as the phrase do(es)n’t like. The Korean
???? ? ?? implies simple absence of fondness, without actual
aversion. ????, on the other hand, implies an active or positive
dislike. You can, of course, make a negative out of the dislike
phrases too: ?? ? ?? I don’t dislike it, ???? ??? he doesn’t
dislike it.

EXERCISES

Exercise 1: Manipulating - ??

Here is a series of sentence pairs. The first sentence ends in -?
? and the second begins with ????. Put the sentences together
into one so that the first clause ends with -?? but ... Then
translate the new sentence. For example, the first will be ??? ?
??? ?? ? ???. I called a taxi, but it hasn’t come yet.

1. ??? ????. ???? ?? ? ???.
2. ??? ??. ???? ???? ? ????.
3. ???? ?? ???. ???? ??? ??.
4. ? ??? ?? ????. ???? ?? ? ? ?? ???.
5. ????? ?? ??? ????. ???? ??? ??? ????.

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6. ??? ???. ???? ??? ???.
7. ?? ??? ?? ?? ???. ???? ??? ?? ???.
8. ??? ???. ????, ??? ??.
9. ?? ??? ?????. ???? ??? ??? ???.
10. ???? ??? ???. ???? ??? ???.
11. ?? ???. ???? ?? ?? ???.
12. ?? ????? ?? ??. ???? ??? ? ?? ???.
13. ?? ?? ?? ???. ???? ??? ???.
14. ? ??? ??? ???. ???? ?? ?? ???.
15. ??? ?? ???. ???? ??? ?? ???.
16. ??? ???? ????? ?? ???. ???? ??? ?? ? ???.
17. ?? ??? ??????. ???? ??? ?????.
18. ? ???? ??? ?? ???. ???? ?? ?? ???? ???.
19. ???? ??? ???. ???? ?? ??? ? ?? ???.
20. ?? ?? ?? ???. ???? ???.
21. ???? ??? ??. ????, ???? ????.
22. ???? ???. ???? ??? ???.

Exercise 2: Suggestions and Tentative Questions

Here are a series of sentences that end in -??. Change each
sentence to the pattern in -(?)??? and then translate the
resulting sentence. Some will translate as Shall we? and
others as Do you suppose? E.g., the first will be ?? ??????
Shall we go home?

1. ?? ?????
2. ? ?? ????
3. ?? ???
4. ??? ??? ???.
5. ????.

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6. ???? ?? ???
7. ??? ???? ??? ???? ????
8. ??? ? ??? ????.
9. ? ???? ?? ? ? ????
10. ???? ????? ?? ?? ???
11. ? ???? ?? ???? ?? ????
12. ?? ?? ????
13. ?? ??? ???.
14. ??? ????
15. ??? ???? ??? ???? ????

Exercise 3: The ‘wanna’ Form

Here is a series of sentences that end in -??. Change each
sentence to the question form with -(?) ???? and then translate
the resulting sentence. For example, the first will be ? ?????
Do you feel like drinking?

1. ?? ???.
2. ???? ??.
3. ?? ??? ??.
4. ?? ??? ???.
5. ?? ?? ??.
6. ?? ??? ???.
7. ???? ?? ???.
8. ?? ??? ???? ???? ????
9. ?? ???? ?? ????.
10. ???? ?? ??? ???.
11. ?? ?? ???. ? ????.
12. ?? ???? ??? ?? ????

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Exercise 4: Long Negatives

Each of the following Korean sentences means (someone)
does something. Change the verb expression so that the
meaning is (someone) doesn’t do something, using the longer
way of saying does not do. Then translate the sentence. For
example, the first will be ? ??? ??? ???? ??? ?? ??? ?. Her
sister did not study at school.

1. ? ??? ??? ???? ??? ???.
2. ? ??? ????? ?? ?????
3. ?? ??? ??????
4. ?? ??? ???.
5. ?? ?? ??????
6. ??? ??? ???.
7. ?? ???? ???? ????.
8. ? ???? ?? ???? ???.
9. ??? ?? ???.
10. ???? ??? ??? ??.
11. ? ??? ? ??? ???? ????.
12. ?? ?? ??? ?? ???? ???.
13. ???? ?? ??? ???.
14. ??? ???? ??? ???

Exercise 5: Negative Commands

Here are a series of honorific polite commands in -(?)??.
Convert them to negative commands and translate the
resulting sentences.

1. ?? ???.

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