안녕하세요! 토미입니다.
Let’s have fun learning Korean!
Today, we will learn three grammar rules. First, -는/(으)ㄴ 법이다 “it’s bound to…” or “it’s certain that…”.
Second, -는 탓에 “because, due to”. And third, -는 모양이다 “it seems…, I guess….”
Once you can use today’s grammar such as -(으)ㄴ/는 법이다, you can proudly say,
아는 만큼 보이는 법이다 “You can see as much as you know.” Ta-dah!!
It sounds as if you have achieved enlightenment.
You can even say this kind of sophisticated expression like a wise person.
By learning these, I am sure that you can pass TOPIK 2, and be a super master of Korean!
그럼 시작할게요!
-는/(으)ㄴ 법이다
Our first grammatical rule, -는/(으)ㄴ 법이다 is like an expression that a wise person will use.
You can use this grammar to a verb or an adjective and express universal rules in the world
The translation will be “it’s bound to…, it’s certain that…, it is natural that ”
For example, you can use this grammar in this kind of sentence in English.
If you are in a hurry, you’re certain to make a mistake. Do you get it?
It sounds like a life lesson you learned.
To apply this grammar to a verb, you use 는법이다.
가다 “to go” can be 가는 법이다 “It is certain to go.”
And for adjectives, you use (으)ㄴ 법이다.
For example, 좋다 “to be good” can be “좋은 법이다 “It is certain to be good.”
Now, let’s read a sample sentence.
물은 위에서 아래로 흐르는 법이다.
It is certain that water flows from high to low.
This is a universal principle.
I will explain how to apply this grammar.
Here, 흐르다 is “to flow.”
It is a verb, so you attach -는 법이다 and say, 흐르는 법이다 “It is certain that (water) flows.”
Let’s read the next sample sentence.
나쁜 일이 있으면 좋은 일도 있는 법이야.
It is certain that there are good times and not so good times.
You can probably use this sentence when your friend had a bad time.
Here, 있다 is “to be.”
You apply the verb form, so you attach -는 법이다 to make 있는 법이다 “It is certain that there are.”
For your additional information, 있다 “to be” and 없다 “to not be” always conjugate as verbs.
So, it is going to be 있는, 없는 all the time.
Even if there are some words before 있다, 없다, you always apply this rule.
For example, 재미있다 is “to be fun,” and 재미없다 is “not to be fun.”
These are adjectives, but since there is 있다, 없다 in words, you conjugate them as verbs.
So it is going to be 재미있는, 재미없는.
Let’s read the next sample sentence.
기대가 크면 실망도 큰 법이죠.
It is natural that great expectations can lead to great disappointments.
Ouch!! But so true!! So universal law, right? This can be a catchphrase of a wise person. Can you feel this grammar now?
Anyway, here, 크다 “to be big” is an adjective and does not have a final consonant.
Therefore, you attach -ㄴ 법이다 to make 큰 법이다 “It is natural to lead great (disappointments).”
Let’s read the next sample sentence.
원래 겸손한 사람은 말수가 적은 법입니다.
It is certain that humble people are usually quiet.
Anyway, here, 말수가 적다 “to be quiet” is an adjective and has a final consonant.
Therefore, you attach -은 법이다 to make 말수가 적은 법이다 “it is certain to be quiet.”
Quiz
Now, let’s deepen our understanding by taking some simple quizzes.
Which one is the correct answer?
세월이 흐르면 사람은 ( )법이다.
It is natural that a person will grow old as time goes by.
(1)늙는 (2)늙은
The correct answer is (1).
늙다 is “to grow old.” It is treated as a verb.
Therefore, you can attach -는 법이다 and say, 늙는 법이다 “It is natural that (a person)will grow old.”
On the other hand, the number two, 늙은, is past tense and is not suitable for this grammatical rule.
Now, let’s read this sentence as if you have achieved enlightenment!
세월이 흐르면 사람은 (늙는 )법이다.
However, we can be young at heart at any age.
Okay, please read this part at least three times to feel the law of nature.
Now, let’s move on to the next quiz!
시작이 좋으면 끝도 ( ) 법이죠.
It is certain that good beginnings will lead to good endings.
(1)좋은 (2)좋는
Wow, I love this sentence so much!!
The correct answer is (1).
좋다 is “to be good” And this is an adjective that has a final consonant.
Therefore, you attach -은 법이다 to say, 좋은 법이다 “it is certain that… lead to good (endings)”.
You can use -이죠 to add a nuance of persuasion.
So, 좋은 법이죠 is the answer!
Number two, 좋는 is the wrong usage of the grammar, so don’t use it!
Now, let’s read this sentence as if you have achieved enlightenment!
시작이 좋으면 끝도 (좋은) 법이죠.
Please read this part at least three times, imagining that you learned a lesson.
-는 탓에
Next, let’s learn -는 탓에 “because, due to.”
탓 conveys a nuance of placing blame on something.
You can use this to explain a reason for negative consequences.
So, you don’t really feel good when someone says 탓.
To apply this grammar to a verb, you use -는 탓에.
When you want to use the past tense of a verb, you can use -(으)ㄴ 탓에.
In the case of adjectives, you use -(으)ㄴ 탓에.
In the case of nouns, you will use -인 탓에.
Now, let’s read a sample sentence together.
그는 자기를 너무도 모르는 탓에 자신감을 가지지 못했다.
He could not be confident in himself because he does not know about himself.
Here, we treat 모르다 “to not know” as a verb.
Therefore, you will attach -는 탓에 to say 모르는 탓에 “because he does not know”
Let’s read the next sample sentence.
어제 술을 너무 많이 먹은 탓에 머리가 아파.
I have a headache because I drank too much yesterday.
Here, 먹다 “to drink” is a verb that has a final consonant and you want to say something you did in the past.
Therefore, you will attach -은 탓에, the past tense, and say, 먹은 탓에 (because I drank).
Tammy, 먹다 means “to eat,” doesn’t it?
Yes!! You are correct!! You are focusing on your study very well!
Acutally, you can use 먹다 “to eat” to say 물 먹다 “to drink water” or 술 먹다 “to drink alcohol. ”
Of course, you can use 마시다 “to drink.”
But if you use 먹다, people will think you drink it in one gulp like (gesture).
Do you get it?
Now, let’s read the next sample sentence.
작년에는 내가 회사 일로 바쁜 탓에 엄마 생일도 잊어 버렸어요.
I forgot my mother’s birthday last year because I was too busy with my work.
Here, since 바쁘다 “to be busy” is an adjective that does not have a final consonant, you will attach -ㄴ 탓에 and say, 바쁜 탓에 “because I was too busy.”
Quiz
Now, let’s deepen our understanding by taking simple quizzes.
Which one is the correct answer?
내가 ( ) 그 후배는 사업에 실패해 버렸어요.
My junior associate failed in business because I could not warn him.
(1)주의하지 못한 탓에 (2)주의하지 못한 덕분에
The correct answer is (1).
Here, 주의하지 못하다 means “could not warn.”
Since you want to say, “because I could not warn,” which is in the past tense, you will attach -ㄴ 탓에 and say, 주의하지 못한 탓에.
Number two is wrong because 덕분에 means “thanks to,” which has a positive connotation.
This is the opposite of 탓에 “because of.”
Now, let’s read this sentence with regretful emotions!
내가 (주의하지 못한 탓에) 그 후배는 사업에 실패해 버렸어요.
Please practice several times until you can say it naturally.
Now, let’s move on to the next quiz!
그는 ( ) 시험에 합격하지 못했다.
He could not pass the exam because he was lazy.
(1)심심한 탓에 (2) 게으른 탓에
The correct answer is (2).
게으르다 is “to be lazy,” which is an adjective that does not have a final consonant.
Therefore, you will attach -ㄴ 탓에 to say, 게으른 탓에 “because he was lazy.”
Number one is wrong because 심심하다 means “to be bored.”
It is the opposite of what you want to say.
Now, let’s read the sentence together!
그는 (게으른 탓에) 시험에 합격하지 못했다.
Please read this part at least three times until you can say it smoothly.
-는 모양이다
Let’s learn our last grammar. -(으)ㄴ/는 모양이다 means “it looks like …, it appears to be like…” Here, 모양 means “appearance” or “shape.”
If you say -(으)ㄴ/는 모양이다, then you can refer to a situation based on your observation.
This grammar’s nuance is very similar to ~(으)ㄴ/는 걸 보니까 that we learned in our previous lesson number 7.
I’ll explain the usage of a verb, an adjective, and a noun.
First, for the present tense of a verb, you use -는 모양이다.
For the past tense of a verb, you use -(으)ㄴ 모양이다.
And for the future tense, you use -(으)ㄹ 모양이다.
Second, for an adjective, you use -(으)ㄴ 모양이다.
In the case of a noun, you use -인 모양이다.
Now, let’s read the sample sentences.
사람들이 우산을 쓰는 걸 보니까 비가 오는 모양이에요.
Seeing that people are using umbrellas, it appears to be raining.
Here, 비가 오다 “to rain” is a verb. Since you want to say “it appears to be raining,” you will attach the present tense for verbs -는 모양이다 and say, 비가 오는 모양이다 “it appears to be raining.”
Let’s read the next sample sentence.
친구가 여기 없는 걸 보니까 먼저 출발한 모양이구나.
Seeing that our friends are not here, it appears that they left before us.
Here, 출발하다 “to leave, to depart” is a verb without a final consonant.
Since you want to mention a circumstance that happened in the past, you will attach -ㄴ 모양이다 and say, 출발한 모양이다 “it appears as if they had left.”
Let’s read the next sample sentence.
그 사람은 오기 싫은 모양이야.
It appears that he does not want to come.
Here, 오기 싫다 “not want to come” is an adjective with a final consonant.
You attach -은 모양이다 and say, 오기 싫은 모양이다 “it appears that he does not want to come.”
Let’s read the next sample sentence.
무슨 일이 일어날 모양이군요.
It appears that something is going to happen.
Here, 일어나다 “to happen” is a verb without a final consonant.
And you want to say that “something will happen in the future.”
Therefore, you will attach -ㄹ 모양이다 and say, 일어날 모양이다 “it is going to happen.” Let’s read the next sample sentence.
그 사람 생일이 오늘인 모양이지?
It appears that today is that person’s birthday.
Here, since 오늘 “today” is a noun, you will attach -인 모양이다 and say, 오늘인 모양이다 “appears to be today.”
Quiz
Now, let’s deepen our understanding by taking simple quizzes.
Which one is the correct answer?
우리 오빠가 아직도 회사에 ( ) 모양이에요.
It appears that my brother is still in the office.
(1)있은 (2)있는
The correct answer is (2).
있다 “to be, to stay” is a verb. So, you will attach -는 모양이다 and say, 있는 모양이다.
“It appears that (he) is still (in the office).”
number (1) is incorrect because 있은 is grammatically incorrect.
Now, let’s read the sentence together!
우리 오빠가 아직도 회사에 (있는) 모양이에요.
Please read this part several times until you can say it smoothly.
Now, let’s try the next quiz!
땀이 나는 걸 보니까 ( ) 모양이지?
Seeing that you are sweating, it appears to be hot, isn’t it?
(1)더운 (2)더은
The correct answer is (1).
덥다 is “to be hot.” This is an adjective that has ㅂ final consonant.
You can attach -은 모양이다.
But don’t forget that ㅂ irregular applies to 덥다, so the correct grammar will be 더운 모양이다.
Also, since the phrase is used as a question like “ to be hot, isn’t it?,” so you use -지? at the end to make 더운 모양이지?.
The number two is wrong because 더은 is wrong grammar.
Please be careful. Now, let’s read the sentence together!
땀이 나는 걸 보니까 더운 모양이지?
You can read this part several times to feel the sense of guessing.
Homework
Okay, nice job!
Now, I will give you the wonderful gift of homework.
웃으면 행복이 오는 법이에요.
If you laugh you will be happy. Yay, homework!
There are two parts for the homework as usual.
The first part is to make three sentences using the grammatical rules you learned today.
For the first sentence,
please use -는/(으)ㄴ 법이다 “it is natural that, it is certain that” and tell me a lesson you learned in your life.
For example,
노력한 만큼 잘 살 수 있는 법이다.
It is certain that you can live as happily as the hard work you put in.
Do you agree with this? I hope you do.
For the second sentence,
please use 는 탓에 “because/due to” and place blame on something.
For example,
저는 공부하는 방법을 모른 탓에 티비만 보고 살았어요.
I have been watching TV my entire life because I did not know how to study.
I’m sure you are studying Korean every day, aren’t you?
Please don’t watch TV all the time like me! You ruin your life.
For the third sentence,
please tell me what a circumstance appears to be by using 는 모양이다 “it appears to be.”
For example,
우리 언니는 그 사람을 좋아하는 모양인데.
It appears that my sister likes that person.
Your comments encourage me to keep going! Please leave your comments below.
The second part of the homework is to memorize words.
Please memorize the 40 words from numbers 321 to 360 on page 5 of the Intermediate Vocabulary list.
Please try a word quiz that I have made available on my website. The link is in the description below.
That’s it! Great job, everyone.
It takes courage to learn a language, but in the end, those who keep up confidently will prevail for sure.
So, let’s speak, write, and use Korean with confidence!
I am certain that you will make progress.
Don’t forget I am always supporting your Korean-learning journey!
그럼 오늘도 행복 가득, 웃음 가득한 하루 되세요！
한국어 화이팅, 화이팅, 화이팅！！
