안녕하세요! 토미입니다.
Let’s have fun learning Korean! Yay!
Today, I will explain three expressions.
① -(으)나 마나 “to be no use doing/ even without doing”
② -는 데다가 “and also, moreover”
③ -는 셈이다 “it’s practically (more or less similar to another)”
Once you learn the grammar for today, you will be able to compliment others, like
우리 학생들은 한국어가 능통한 데다가 사교성도 최고예요.
“Our students are good at Korean and very sociable.”
As you can see, I proudly talk about you guys to my friends because you are brilliant.
I am sure you will complete the intermediate Korean.
Let’s pass TOPIK II and be a master of Korean!
그럼 시작할게요!
-(으)나 마나
Verbs(without a final consonant) + 나 마나
Verbs(with a final consonant) + 으나 마나
First of all, let’s look at the first grammar, -(으)나 마나.
This mainly follows verbs and means “to be of no use doing/ even without doing.”
Korean people use this expression to mean the result is the same whether or not you do a sure thing.
When you use -(으)나 마나, you are giving up the result, so your face is going to be a little bit disappointed, like this.
Let’s see the usage of -(으)나 마나. You use this grammar for the main verbs.
You add -나 마나 to a verb that does not have a final consonant.
For example, 가다 “to go” does not have a final consonant, so you add -나 마나 to make 가나 마나 “to be no use going)..”
You use -으나 마나 to a verb with a final consonant.
For example, 먹다 “to eat” has a final consonant, so you add -으나 마나 to make 먹으나 마나 “to be no use eating.”
Korean people also use this expression in the form of -(으)나 마나 하다 “it is the same whether or not you do” or -(으)나 마나이다 “it is no use doing.”
Now, let’s read an example sentence to understand this grammar.
Verbs: Example 1
그 사람한테 물어보나 마나 말 안 해 줄 거야.
It is no use asking that person. He will not tell you.
You can feel that this speaker is giving up on asking that person, right?
You can convey this kind of nuance from this grammar. Do you get it?
Here, 물어보다 “to ask” does not have a final consonant, so you add -나 마나 to make 물어보나 마나 “no use asking.” Let’s read the following sentence.
Verbs: Example 2
그 사람 발표는 들으나 마나 별것 없을 거야.
I can guess that a person’s presentation will be nothing special, even without listening.
Wow!! So sarcastic!! Ouch, Ouch, Ouch, Such a painful sentence, isn’t it?
I would be very sad if someone said this to me. So, I’ll do my best not to receive this kind of comment.
Anyway, Here, 듣다 has a final consonant, so you add -으나 마나 to make 들으나 마나 “even without listening.”.
Now, let’s read the following example.
Verbs: Example 3
비가 너무 세게 와서 우산을 쓰나 마나 별 차이 없었어요.
Because it was raining heavily, whether or not I used an umbrella, there was no big difference.
Wow! The rain must be very severe, right?
Here, 쓰다 does not have a final consonant, so you add -나 마나 to make 쓰나 마나 “whether or not I use.”
Quiz
Then, let’s deepen our understanding with some quizzes.
Which one is the correct answer?
1. ( ) 그 사람은 안 올 거예요.
Whether or not you wait, he will not come.
(1)기다리다 마다 (2)기다리나 마나
See, there are only negative expressions for this grammar.
It is such a sad sentence.
I don’t wanna cry. But you might hear this in Korean dramas.
Anyway, the correct answer is number two. 기다리다 “to wait” does not have a final consonant, so you add -나 마나 to make 기다리나 마나.
Number one is wrong because it does not exist.
It is very similar to 기다리나 마나, but 기다리다 마다 is a fake expression that I just made up.
It sounds like a magic spell.
기다리다 마다, 기다리다 마다. Anyway, enough for a magic spell.
Let’s read the correct sentence as if you say this to your friend!
(기다리나 마나) 그 사람은 안 올 거예요.
Please read this part at least three times! OK?
Then, let’s look at the following quiz!
2. 이런 제도는 정말 ( ).
It would be the same whether or not this kind of system exists.
(1)있나 마나예요 (2)있으나 마나예요
The correct answer is number two.
Attention, here, I will say something very important.
있다 “there is/to exist” is considered a verb. Tada-!! Don’t forget.
Therefore, 있다 has a final consonant, so you add -으나 마나 to make 있으나 마나.
Besides, you want to say it politely, so you make the phrase 있으나 마나예요.
Number one is wrong because 있나 마나 is grammatically incorrect, so please be careful.
Then, let’s read it, thinking we don’t need that kind of system!
이런 제도는 정말 ( 있으나 마나예요 ).
Please read this part at least three times if you are frustrated! OK?
-는 데다(가)
Verbs + 는 데다(가)
Adjectives(without a final consonant) + ㄴ 데다(가)
Adjectives(with a final consonant) + 은 데다(가)
Nouns + 인 데다가
Now, let’s move on to the second grammar!
-는 데다(가) means “moreover and also.”
Korean people use this expression to convey additional information about the same subject.
As you can see, -는 데다(가) has parentheses on -가, so you can omit it if you want to.
The meaning will be the same. For today, I am explaining without omitting it.
To apply this grammar, for verbs, you attach -는 데다가 regardless of the final consonant.
For example, 가다 “to go” becomes 가는 데다가 “to go, and moreover,” 먹다 “to eat” becomes 먹는 데다가 “to eat and moreover.”
For adjectives, you attach -(으)ㄴ 데다가.
You use -ㄴ 데다가 if an adjective does not have a final consonant.
For example, 기쁘다 “to be happy” does not have a final consonant, so you attach -ㄴ 데다가 to make 기쁜 데다가 “happy and also.”
You use -은 데다가 if an adjective has a final consonant.
For example, 좋다 “to be good” has a final consonant. So you attach -은 데다가 to make 좋은 데다가 “good and moreover.”
For nouns, you attach -인 데다가. You can apply it regardless of the final consonant.
For example, 교사 “teacher” becomes 교사인 데다가 “to be a teacher, and moreover,” and 학생 a “student” becomes 학생인 데다가 “to be a student, and moreover.”
Then, let’s read an example sentence.
Verbs: Example 1
눈이 오는 데다가 바람까지 불어서 진짜 추워요.
It is snowing, and moreover, the wind is blowing, so it’s cold.
Wow, I can feel the cold atmosphere from this sentence. Brrr
Anyway, here, 오다 “to come” is a verb, so you add -는 데다가 to make 오는 데다가 “snowing, and moreover.”
By the way, Koreans express this kind of incessant bad situation in a four-character idiom.
Do you remember that?
In English, it is “misfortunes never come alone.”
It was 설상가상 “to make matters worse.” So, you can also say
눈이 오는 데다가 설상가상으로 바람까지 불어서 진짜 추워요.
It’s snowing, and to make matters worse, the wind blows, so it’s really cold.
Can you feel the cold?
Then, let’s read the following sentence.
Adjectives: Example 2
짐이 많은 데다가 집까지 거리도 멀어요.
There is a lot of baggage, and it is also far from home.
This is also a terrible situation, right? Wwww, I don’t want that to happen.
Anyway, Here, 많다 is an adjective that has a final consonant, so you add -은 데다가 to make 많은 데다가 “there is a lot of ~, and also.”
Let’s read the following sentence.
Nouns: Example 3
내일은 일요일인 데다가 날씨도 좋아요.
Tomorrow is Sunday, and moreover, the weather is good, too.
Now, finally, we can see the positive sentence!
Here, 일요일 is a noun, so you add -인 데다가 to make 일요일인 데다가 “it is Sunday, and moreover.”
Quiz
Then, let’s deepen our understanding with some quizzes.
Which one is the correct answer?
1. 우리 오빠는 담배를 ( ) 술도 안 마셔요.
My brother doesn’t smoke, and moreover, he doesn’t drink alcohol.
(1)피운 데다가 (2)안 피우는 데다가
The correct answer is number two.
담배를 피우다 is “to smoke,” so 담배를 안 피우다 is “doesn’t smoke.”
안 피우다 is a verb, so you add -는 데다가 to make 안 피우는 데다가 “doesn’t smoke, and moreover.”
Number one is wrong because 피운 데다가 means “smoked and moreover,” which is the past tense.
Then, let’s read it as if you are introducing your brother to someone else!
우리 오빠는 담배를 (안 피우는 데다가) 술도 안 마셔요.
please, read this part at least three times! Then, let’s look at the following quiz!
2. 이 제품은 가격이 ( ) 품질도 좋아요.
This product is reasonable and also of good quality.
(1)싼 데다가 (2)저렴하는 데다가
The correct answer is number one.
Both 싸다 and 저렴하다 mean “to be cheap/reasonable.”
Also, it is an adjective that does not have a final consonant, so you add -ㄴ 데다가 to make 싼 데다가 or 저렴한 데다가.
Number two is grammatically wrong because you cannot attach 는 데다가 to an adjective 저렴하다, so please be careful.
Then, let’s read it as if you became an actor in an advertisement.
이 제품은 가격이 (싼 데다가) 품질도 좋아요.
Please read this part at least three times!
-는 셈이다
Verbs + 는 셈이다
Adjectives(without a final consonant) + ㄴ 셈이다
Adjectives(with a final consonant) + 은 셈이다
Nouns + 인 셈이다
[Past tense] Verbs + (으)ㄴ 셈이다
Now, let’s move on to the last grammar! Are you guys following me?
I hope you do.
Attaching -셈이다 to noun modifiers of verbs or adjectives means “I could say~, it’s practically “more or less similar to another.”
For verbs in the present tense, you add -는 셈이다, and it means “it’s practically the same as doing something.”
For verbs in the past tense, you add -(으)ㄴ 셈이다, and it means “it’s practically the same as having done something.”
For adjectives, you add -(으)ㄴ 셈이다, and for nouns, you add -인 셈이다.
Then, let’s read an example sentence.
Verbs: Example 1
우리가 처음 만난 게 대학 때였으니까 올해 10년째가 되는 셈이네요.
It was the university when we first met, so it’s practically becoming more or less the 10th year this year.
Here, 되다 “to become” is a verb, so you add -는 셈이다 to make 되는 셈이다 “it’s practically becoming more or less ~.” Let’s look at the following sentence.
Adjectives: Example 2
민수랑은 30년 넘게 거의 매일 봐왔으니까 어찌 보면 가족보다 가까운 셈이죠.
I’ve seen Minsu almost every day for over 30 years, so we’re closer than family in some ways.
가깝다 “close” is an adjective with a final consonant. The ㅂ changes to 우, and you add ㄴ 셈이다 to make 가까운 셈이다 “which means it’s close.”
Nouns: Example 3
그 선생님이 상민 씨 대학 선배인 셈이군요.
Sangmin, you could say that the teacher is practically your senior in college, right?
Here, 선배 “senior” is a noun. So you add -인 셈이다 to make 선배인 셈이다 “is practically your senior.”
Past tense: Example 4
벌써 2시네요. 아침부터 일했으니까 5시간이나 걸린 셈이군요.
It’s two o’clock already, isn’t it? As we have been working since this morning, it has taken no less than five hours.
Here, 걸리다 “to take (time)” is a verb that does not have a final consonant.
And you want to use it in the past tense, so you add -ㄴ 셈이다 to make 걸린 셈이다 “I could say it took ~.” Let’s read the following sentence.
Past tense: Example 5
그러니까 내 생각이 맞은 셈이구나.
So, I guess my thought was right.
Here, 맞다 “to fit” is a verb with a final consonant. So you add -은 셈이다 to make 맞은 셈이다 “to become correct.”
Quiz
Then, let’s deepen our understanding with some quizzes.
Which one is the correct answer?
1. 한 달에 세 번은 만나니까 거의 매주 ( ).
We meet at least three times a month, practically meeting almost every week.
(1)만나는 셈이죠 (2)노는 셈이죠
The correct answer is number one.
만나다 “to meet” does not have a final consonant.
In addition, you want to say it in the present tense, so you add -는 셈이다 to make 만나는 셈이다.
Besides, you want to say it as you confirm it with a listener, so you add -죠 to make 만나는 셈이죠.
Number two is wrong because 노는 셈이죠 means “it’s practically the same as we play.”
It’s different from the translation. Ok? Then, let’s read the correct sentence together!
한 달에 세 번은 만나니까 거의 매주 (만나는 셈이죠).
We meet at least three times a month, so we meet almost every week.
Please read this part at least three times! Then, let’s look at the following quiz!
2. 유미 씨가 혼자 다 ( ).
I didn’t realize it was practically the same as Yumi did them all by herself.
(1)하는 셈이군요 (2)한 셈이군요
The correct answer is number two.
하다 “to do” does not have a final consonant.
You want to say it in the past tense, so you add -ㄴ 셈이다 to make 한 셈이다 “practically the same as she did.”
Besides, you want to say it like, “Oh, I didn’t realize that ~,” so you add -군요 to make 한 셈이군요.
Number one is wrong because it is the present tense.
Then, let’s read it as if you told her she did a great job!
유미 씨가 혼자 다 (한 셈이군요).
Please, read this part at least three times!
Homework
Okay. As I see you learning this far, you are excellent.
Now, I am going to give you your favorite thing,
우 to the 영 to the 우, 동 to the 그 to the 라미~핫~!
Homework, come on!
Okay, I have two assignments, as usual.
First, please write three sentences using the grammatical expressions we learned today.
① Please give me advice by using the grammar -(으)나 마나 “it is no use doing that”
For example, I would make a sentence like
- 한국어를 평소에도 자주 쓰지 않으면 배우나 마나예요. 용기를 내서 한국인 친구를 만들어 보세요!
If you don’t use Korean often, it is of no use to learn. Bring yourself the opportunity to make friends with Korean people!
② Please tell me additional information about something by using -는 데다가 “and moreover” I would say,
- 그 친구는 대학교를 수석으로 졸업한 데다가 대기업에 채용되었대요.
I hear that the friend graduated from college at the top of his class and, moreover, got a job offer from a major company.
Wow, that’s such a wonderful occasion, right?
③ Please make a sentence by using -는 셈이다 “it’s practically more or less similar to another.” For example,
- 목표를 세우고 행동하는 순간 이미 그 목표에 다가간 셈이에요.
The moment you set a goal and take action is practically the same as when you have already approached the goal.
Tada~! That’s a life lesson, right?
The second homework is to memorize new words.
Please memorize the 40 words from numbers 481 to 520 on page 7 in the intermediate vocabulary list. It’s already 500 words!
That’s awesome.
My website has a vocabulary quiz of forty words, so feel free to try it.
That’s it! You did a good job. High FIVE!!!
I am so happy to study with you today.
I hope for your happiness, success, and improvement.
A bright future is always ahead of you!
그럼 오늘도 행복 가득, 웃음 가득한 하루 되세요！
한국어 화이팅, 화이팅, 화이팅！！
Vocabulary Test : 40 Questions
