안녕하세요～! 토미입니다!
Let’s stay focused and learn Korean!
Today’s grammar is
① 아/어 봤자 “even if (I) do this, (it is no use / won’t be that much),”
② 는 거 있지(요) “you know,”
③ 기만 하다 “keep~ing / only / just.”
If you learn today’s grammar, you can say something like
우리 엄마 진짜 게임 잘하는 거 있지.
My mother is really good at games, you know.
As you can see from this, you can emphasize what you know to your friends.
And mothers who can play games are cool.
By the way, I am not good at playing games.
Anyway, let’s learn expressions like 는 거 있지(요) “you know,” pass TOPIK II level 4 and become a super intermediate master! You can do it!
그럼 시작할게요!
-아/어 봤자
Verbs • Adjectives + 아/어 봤자
The first grammar is 아/어 봤자 “even if (I) do this, (it is no use / won’t be that much).”
This grammar appeared in the 51st and 55th intermediate lessons, but I didn’t explain it so much.
So I’ll concentrate on it this time.
This grammar has two meanings.
❶ You can use it to describe something useless, no matter what you try.
Therefore, the words that follow 아/어 봤자 can be super duper negative, such as “it’s no use” or “’it cannot be helped.” For example,
이제 와서 내가 후회해 봤자 아무 소용없다.
Even if you regret it now, it is no use.
Like this, it is very pessimistic.
❷ You use it when a thing or event is not noteworthy or great.
Let me show you a conversation between two people for clarity.
가: 이번에 새로 나온 “몬스터 2”도 인기가 대단하대!
가: I heard the new Monster 2 is also very popular!
나: 인기가 많아 봤자 전편보다 되겠니.
나: However popular, it will not be as good as the first one.
You use 아/어 봤자 like this. In this case, the second clause becomes an assumption.
Thus, the grammar 겠 is often used together.
To conjugate, you make the 요 form and remove 요 from it. adios 요, and attach 봤자.
For example, 가다 is “to go.” The 요 form is 가요.
You remove 요 from here and attach 봤자 to make 가 봤자 “even if (I) go.”
먹다 is “to eat.” The 요 form is 먹어요.
You remove 요 from here and attach 봤자 to make 먹어 봤자 “even if (I) eat.”
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The Conjugation
Verbs / Adjectives + 아/어 봤자
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Now, are you ready for a hopeless sentence?
Let’s check it out!
Noun: Example 1
그녀가 열심히 저축해 봤자 그의 낭비벽 앞에서는 아무 소용이 없었다.
Even if she tried hard to save money, it was useless for his wasteful habits.
Here, 저축하다 is “to save money.”
The 요 form is 3, 2, 1!! 저축해요!! Yes!! Bravo!!
Then you remove 요 from here and attach 봤자 to make 저축해 봤자 “Even if (he) tried hard to save money.”
You connect the fact that even if she tried to save money, eventually 아무 소용이 없다 “it is no use” by using the expression 저축해 봤자.
Next, I prepared an example for the second meaning, “something is not noteworthy or great.” Let’s see it!
Noun: Example 2
그 행사를 위해 아무리 당신이 애써 봤자 잘 되지 않을 걸.
No matter how hard you try for that event, it won’t go well.
Such a painful sentence.
If someone says this while working so hard on the event, you’ll be like “Oh, please!! Why do you say that.” You know.
Anyway, let’s see the grammar. 애쓰다 is “to try hard/to struggle.” The 요 form is 애써요.
You remove 요 from here and add 봤자 to make 애써 봤자 “No matter how hard you try.”
As you can see, you use 아/어 봤자 to express a very pessimistic opinion that things will not go well even if you try to do something.
Adjective: Example 3
가습기가 비싸 봤자 얼마나 비싸겠어요.
Even if a humidifier is expensive, how expensive can it be?
Here, 비싸다 is “to be expensive.” The 요 form is ????
비싸요!! Yes!!
Then you remove 요 from here, and add 봤자 to make 비싸 봤자 “Even if (the humidifier) is expensive.”
In this sentence, the speaker wants to tell the listener that even if a humidifier is expensive, its price is about the market price.
Pay attention to the phrase in addition, 비싸겠어요. You can see 겠 inside.
This is an assumption saying “How expensive could it be?”
That’s why it is using 겠.
Quiz
Then, let’s deepen our understanding with some quizzes.
Which one is the correct answer?
1. 당신이 아무리 많이 생각해 봤자 쓸 만한 아이디어는 ( ).
Even if you think about a lot of ideas, ( ) useful ideas.
(1) 하나도 안 떠오를 거야 (you will not come up with)
(2) 몇 가지 떠오를 거야 (you will come up with some)
The correct answer is number one. 봤자 is an expression meaning that the action is useless.
So number one is appropriate.
Number two is wrong because it is a positive comment.
Now let’s read it together!
당신이 아무리 많이 생각해 봤자 쓸 만한 아이디어는 (하나도 안 떠오를 거야).
Please read it with a skeptical feeling. Now let’s look at the following quiz!
2. 이제 와서 내 의견을 ( ) 부장님은 받아들이지 않을 거예요.
Even if I tell my opinion now, I don’t think my boss would accept it.
(1) 말해 봤자 (2) 말해 보자
The correct answer is number one. 말하다 is “to say/ to tell.” The 요 form is 말해요.
You remove 요 from here and attach 봤자 to make 말해 봤자 “Even if I tell.”
In this case, the expression 아/어 봤자 means “even if ~ (it’s no use).”
Number two, 말해 보자 is grammatically incorrect.
So, don’t use it!! 쓰지 마세요~~!
Now let’s read it together!
이제 와서 내 의견을 (말해 봤자) 부장님은 받아들이지 않을 거예요.
Please read it as if you are telling your opinion to your colleague.
-는 거 있지(요)
Verbs + 는 거 있지(요)
Adjectives(without a final consonant) + ㄴ 거 있지(요)
Adjectives(with a final consonant) + 은 거 있지(요)
The next grammar is 는 거 있지(요) “you know.”
You use this to share a surprising fact or get someone to agree.
To conjugate, you change a verb or adjective to the present tense of a noun modifier and connect 거 있지(요) to it.
For verbs, you connect 는 to the stem to make -는 거 있죠.
For example, 가다 “to go” will be 가는 거 있죠 “(someone) goes, you know. 먹다 “to eat” will be 먹는 거 있죠 “(someone) eats, you know.”
For adjectives, you connect (으)ㄴ to the stems.
Then let’s look at some examples.
Verb: Example 1
아이가 뽀얗고 동그란 얼굴로 귀엽게 웃는 거 있죠.
The child smiles with a cute, round face, you know.
웃다 “smile” is a verb, so you add 는 거 있죠 to make 웃는 거 있죠 “smile, you know.”
*죠 is an abbreviated form of 지요.
Adjective: Example 2
우리 아버지는 주사가 심한 거 있죠.
My father has a terrible drinking habit, you know.
Here, 심하다 is “to be terrible.” This is an adjective.
Thus, you add ㄴ 거 있지요 to make 심한 거 있지요 “terrible ~, you know.”
The speaker is telling the other person that his/her father’s drinking habit is terrible, and he/she wants them to understand.
In addition, 주사가 심하다 means “to have a bad drinking habit.”
It is pronounced the same as 주사 an “injection,” so you might think, “What? An injection is terrible?”
But it does not mean an injection, it is a drinking habit.
The next example is a sentence that you might use often in conversation with your friends.
Let’s check it out!
Adjective: Example 3
내 여자 친구가 너무 예쁜 거 있지.
My girlfriend is so pretty, you know.
Here, 예쁘다 is “to be pretty.” This is also an adjective.
So, you add ㄴ 거 있지 to the stem to make 예쁜 거 있지 “pretty, you know.”
It is an expression that the speaker is seeking agreement from the other person, so he might be showing off her picture after saying this.
Next, I prepared an example that you might use when introducing a good restaurant to someone.
Let’s have a look!
Adjective: Example 4
여기 국수 엄청 맛있는 거 있죠.
The noodles here are very tasty, you know.
Here, 맛있다 is “to be tasty.” This is an adjective.
But, But, But,,,,
맛있다 has 있다 inside. So, you know what is coming next?
You treat this kind of adjective as a VERB.
Yes, Yes, Yes!! 맞아요!! 맞습니다!
Thus, you add 는 거 있죠 to the stem to make 맛있는 거 있죠 “tasty, you know.”
It conveys the nuance that you are reminding the other person how delicious the noodles here are.
Quiz
Then, let’s deepen our understanding with some quizzes. Which one is the correct answer?
1. 거기 바닷가에서는 노을이 아름답게 ( ) 거 있지.
The sunset is beautiful on the beach there, you know.
(1) 보이는 (2) 보인
The correct answer is number one.
Since only you can use the present tense of a noun modifier, the correct answer is number one 보이는, not number two 보인.
Now let’s read it together!
거기 바닷가에서는 노을이 아름답게 (보이는) 거 있지.
Please read it as if you’re introducing the beautiful sunset to your friends.
Now let’s look at the following quiz!
2. 제가 의외로 키가 ( ) 거 있지요.
I’m surprisingly short, you know.
(1) 작은 (2) 작는
The correct answer is number one, 작은.
As with quiz number one, choose the present tense of a noun modifier.
In this sentence, 작다 “to be short(height)” has a final consonant, so you add 은 to make 작은 거 있지요 “short, you know.”
Number two is wrong because 작다 “to be short” is an adjective.
Thus, 는 cannot be the correct grammar. So, be careful! 조심하세요!
Now let’s read it together!
제가 의외로 키가 (작은) 거 있지요.
Please read it as if you are talking to someone.
-기만 하다
Verbs • Adjectives + 기만 하다
The last grammar is 기만 하다 “keep~ing / only / just.” You use this expression to state firmly that someone is doing the same action.
When you use 기만 하다 for verbs, it means “keep ~ing, nothing but ~ing.”
When you use 기만 하다 for adjectives, it means “just / only.”
To conjugate, you connect 기만 하다 to a stem.
It’s pretty simple.
For example, 가다 “to go” will be 가기만 하다 “keep going.” 먹다 “to eat” will be 먹기만 하다 “keep eating.”
Now let’s look at an example to see what kind of things he/she is doing all the time.
Verb: Example 1
우리 형은 요즘 자기만 한다.
My older brother has been doing nothing but sleeping lately.
Here, 자다 is “to sleep.” You add 기만 하다 to the stem to make 자기만 하다 “doing nothing but sleeping.”
The speaker expresses the nuance that his older brother sleeps all the time.
It conveys the speaker’s feelings of disappointment towards his older brother.
The following example is attached to an adjective, 기만 하다, which means “just, only.”
Let’s take a look!
Verb: Example 2
우리 딸은 친구랑 놀기만 하고 공부를 안 해서 걱정입니다.
I am worried about my daughter because she keeps playing with her friends and does not study.
This is a sentence like a mother discussing her problems with a teacher.
Here, 놀다 is “to play.” You add 기만 하다 to the stem to make 놀기만 하다 “keeps playing.”
Verb: Example 3
대학교 강의에 출석하기만 하면 학점을 받을 수 있대요.
You can get credit just by attending university lectures.
Here, 출석하다 “to attend” is a verb, so you add 기만 하면 to make 출석하기만 하면 “If you attend.” As long as you meet the attendance requirement, you will receive credits!
By the way, 학점 “credit” is used to express ‘college credits.’
Let’s look at some example sentences with adjectives.
Adjective: Example 4
노력한 보람도 없어서 섭섭하기만 하네.
I’m so disappointed that my efforts have been in vain.
Here, 섭섭하다 is “to be disappointed.” This is an adjective.
You add 기만 하다 to the stem to make 섭섭하기만 하다 “I’m only disappointed.”
In other words, “I’m so disappointed.”
The speaker emphasizes that the only emotion in the speaker’s mind is the feeling of “disappointment.”
The next is something a mother might say when she is worried about her daughter.
Quiz
Then, let’s deepen our understanding with some quizzes.
Which one is the correct answer?
1. 오랜만에 엄마를 만나서 ( ).
I was so happy to see my mom after such a long time.
(1) 기쁘고만 있다 (2) 기쁘기만 했다
The correct answer is number two. 기쁘다 is “to be happy.”
It is an adjective, so it is appropriate to use 기만 하다.
Number one is close but wrong. -고만 있다 has the meaning of “just, only.”
So, this has a very similar meaning to -기만 하다.
But, you can only use -고만 있다 for verbs, not for adjectives.
So, be careful! 주의하세요!
Now let’s read it together!
오랜만에 엄마를 만나서 (기쁘기만 했다).
Please read it with excitement. Now let’s look at the following quiz!
2. 여름방학 때는 드라마를 ( ) 했다.
During the summer vacation, I kept watching dramas.
(1) 보기만 (2) 봤기만
The correct answer is number one, 보기만.
You can’t use 봤기만 as in number two to express the past tense.
You express it by using the past tense of 하다 in the back.
Thus, you can say 보기만 했다 to express the past.
Now let’s read it together!
여름방학 때는 드라마를 (보기만) 했다.
Please read it as if you were telling what you did during your summer vacation.
Homework
Before I announce the homework, I will share today’s saying.
Please, spot today’s grammar!!
근면한 자에게는
모든 것이 쉽고
나태한 자에게는
모든 것이 어렵기만 하다.
For the diligent,
Everything is easy,
But for the lazy,
Everything is just difficult.
That quote really strikes a chord with me.
I should be a diligent person!! So, I can feel everything easily!!
Anyway, did you find today’s grammar? I hope you did!
So here’s your homework for today!
There are two homework assignments.
First, compose three sentences using today’s grammar.
① Firstly, let’s use 아/어 봤자 “even if (I) do this, (it is no use / won’t be that much).”
For example,
- 공부에서 도망가 봤자 언젠가는 하는 날이 올 거야.
Even if you try to run away from your studies, one day you will have to do it.
That was an enlightened example. You all should not run away from your studies, and do your best.
② Secondly, let’s use 는 거 있지(요) “you know,” to share a surprising or interesting facts.
For example,
- 내 동생 주말마다 갑자기 어디로 가는 거 있지.
My brother suddenly goes out every weekend, you know.
Oh, I wonder where he goes!
Please write a sentence to share a funny thing with your friends!
③ Lastly, let’s use 기만 하다 “keep~ing / only / just.”
For example,
- 갑자기 너를 못 보게 되었다니 슬프기만 하다.
It is just sad that suddenly I won’t be able to see you.
If you want to convey your sadness, please try to use this sentence.
The second homework is to memorize new words.
Please memorize the forty words from number 2521 to number 2560 on page 32 in the intermediate vocabulary list.
My website has a forty-word vocabulary quiz, so feel free to try it. The link is in the description box.
That’s all! Thank you for your hard work today!
I will continue to support you and your Korean language learning!
그럼 오늘도 행복 가득, 웃음 가득한 하루 되세요！ 한국어 화이팅, 화이팅, 화이팅！！
