안녕하세요. 토미입니다.
Let’s have fun studying Korean together!
Today’s grammar is 1) -(으)ㄹ 뻔했다 “almost, nearly”, 2) -(으)ㄹ 게 뻔하다 “surely” and 3) -나요? “are you? do you? is it?”
After you learn these expressions, you will be able to understand the title of that super famous best seller 하마터면 열심히 살 뻔했다. “I Was About to Live Hard.”
This was an interesting book. I highly recommend it to you.
In addition, this is our fifteenth lesson.
So I prepared a small gift, which is a test!! The test covers from 11th to 15th lessons.
I put a lot of example sentences that you guys learned from the videos.
So I am sure that you guys can enhance your grammar skills.
I put the test link in the description box. OK?
Taking these tests, I am sure you can pass TOPIK2 and be a super master of intermediate Korean!
그럼 시작할게요!
–(으)ㄹ 뻔했다
The first grammar -(으)ㄹ 뻔했다 means “almost, nearly.”
You use it when you think something bad was about to happen, but it didn’t after all.
So, in English, it is like “I almost died.” or “I almost cried.” Do you get it?
By using this grammar, you can exaggerate past events.
In many cases, Korean people use it with particular words like 하마터면 “almost, nearly”, 자칫하면 “(very) nearly, barely,” and 까딱하면 “with the slightest mistake, easily.”
The best-seller book title I gave you before 하마터면 열심히 살 뻔했다 also uses 하마터면 “almost, nearly”.
So, 하마터면 and -(으)ㄹ 뻔했다 are a good pair.
Also, Korean people use this grammar with the following phrases; 아/어서 죽을 뻔했다 “I almost died because” and 미칠 뻔했다 “I almost lost my mind.”
You can see that a speaker emphasizes some terrible situations.
Besides, -(으)ㄹ 뻔했다 is always in the past tense, just as in English “almost did smth.”
Korean people don’t use this in the present or the future tense, so please be careful about it.
About the usage of-(으)ㄹ 뻔했다, you mainly use it for verbs.
You attach -ㄹ 뻔했다 to verbs without a final consonant, and -을 뻔했다 to verbs with a final consonant.
For example, 가다 “to go” does not have a final consonant, you add -ㄹ 뻔했다 to make 갈 뻔했다 “almost went.”
Also, since 먹다 “to eat” has a final consonant, you add -을 뻔했다 to make 먹을 뻔했다 “almost ate.”
Now, let’s read a sample sentence.
아침에 늦잠을 자서 하마터면 지각할 뻔했어.
I overslept this morning, and I was almost late.
You don’t wanna be late for the class.
Here, 지각하다 “to be late” does not have a final consonant.
So, you add -ㄹ 뻔했다 to make 지각할 뻔했다 “was almost late.”
As you can see, she was almost late, but she made it to the class.
So, you can see she is emphasizing the terrible event in the past.
Anyway, don’t oversleep in the morning.
Let’s read the next sentence.
친구가 너무도 그럴듯하게 말하니까 내가 속을 뻔했잖아.
Because my friend said it as if it was true, I almost got fooled.
You don’t wanna be fooled by your friends, right?
Here, 속다 “to get fooled” has a final consonant.
So, you add -을 뻔했다 to make 속을 뻔했다 “almost got fooled.”
At last, let’s read one more sentence.
과제가 엄청 많아서 죽을 뻔했어.
Because there were too many assignments, I almost died.
Oh, I can totally hear you, and understand its pain.
Here, 죽다 “to die” has a final consonant.
So, you add -을 뻔했다 to make 죽을 뻔했다 “I almost died / I thought I was gonna die.”
Quiz
Then, let’s deepen our understanding with some quizzes.
Which one is the correct answer?
자칫하면 큰일 ( ).
It was almost going to be big trouble, wasn’t it?
(1)날 뻔하구나 (2)날 뻔했구나
The correct answer is number two.
큰일 나다 “to be in big trouble“ does not have a final consonant.
So, you add -ㄹ 뻔했다 to make 큰일 날 뻔했다.
And then, you add -구나 to make 큰일 날 뻔했구나.
Number one is wrong because 뻔하다 is the present tense and it has a different meaning.
Then let’s read it with a relieved mind.
자칫하면 큰일 (날 뻔했구나).
Please, read this part at least three times!
Then, let’s look at the next quiz!
진짜 열 받아서 ( ).
I was really mad and I thought I was gonna lose my mind.
(1)미칠 뻔했어요 (2)돌릴 뻔했어요.
The correct answer is number one.
미치다 is “to lose one’s mind” as I told you before.
It does not have a final consonant. So, you add -ㄹ 뻔했다 to make 미칠 뻔했다 “I thought I almost lost my mind.”
And then, you need to make it to 요 form, so you can say 미칠 뻔했어요.
Number two is close but wrong because it is 돌리다 meaning “to turn/spin.”
돌아 버리다 means “to lose one’s mind”, and this is the synonym of “미치다.”
So you can use 돌아버릴 뻔했어요 as the same meaning as 미칠 뻔했어요. OK?
Then, let’s read it just as you are going to lose your mind.
진짜 열 받아서 (미칠 뻔했어요).
You can feel the anger, right? You can read this part several times!
–(으)ㄹ 게 뻔하다
The second grammar -(으)ㄹ 게 뻔하다 means “surely / it is obvious that….”
You use this grammar when you predict an unfavorable future based on your experiences.
As I said UNFAVORABLE, this grammar is pretty negative like “It is obvious he is going to be late again.”
In addition, -(으)ㄹ 게 is an abbreviation of -(으)ㄹ 것이.
However, it is strange enough, but we don’t say -(으)ㄹ 것이 뻔하다, so it is always -(으)ㄹ 게 뻔하다 because you mainly use this grammar in conversation.
Also, Korean people pronounce 게 in -(으)ㄹ 게 뻔하다 for a tense sound like 께.
Now, let’s look at the usage in the case of verbs, adjectives, and nouns.
For verbs and adjectives, you use -(으)ㄹ 게 뻔하다.
If a stem does not have a final consonant, you attach -ㄹ 게 뻔하다.
And if a stem has a final consonant, you attach -을 게 뻔하다.
For example, 가다 “to go” does not have a final consonant.
So you add -ㄹ 게 뻔하다 to make 갈 게 뻔하다 “surely will go.” 먹다 “to eat” has a final consonant.
So, you add -을 게 뻔하다 to make 먹을 게 뻔하다 “surely will eat.”
For nouns, you use -일 게 뻔하다 regardless of a final consonant.
For example, 교사 a “teacher” becomes 교사일 게 뻔하다 “it is obvious (he) is a teacher.”
And 학생 a “student” becomes 학생일 게 뻔하다 “it is obvious (he) is a student.”
Now, are you ready to predict the unwanted future? Let’s check a sample sentence.
우리 부장님은 이 제안을 싫어할 게 뻔하잖아요.
Our manager will surely hate this suggestion.
In this case, it’s better not to give him this suggestion, right?
Here, 싫어하다 “to hate” is a verb which does not have a final consonant.
So, you add -ㄹ 게 뻔하다 to make 싫어할 게 뻔하다 “surely will hate.”
As you can see, even though this speaker did not propose the suggestion to the manager yet, he can imagine that the manager is not going to like this idea.
So, he is using 싫어할 게 뻔하잖아요. Do you get it?
Let’s look at the next pessimistic sentence.
가도 재미없을 게 뻔한데 뭐 하러 가?
Even if we go, it is obvious it will be no fun, then what do you go for?
Aha!! YES, Pretty unenthusiastic. Can you feel this sentence?
When we look at it, 재미없다 “to be no fun” is an adjective that has a final consonant.
So, you add -을 게 뻔하다 to make 재미없을 게 뻔하다 “it is obvious that it will be no fun.”
Besides, 뻔하다 itself is an adjective, so you add -ㄴ데 “and then” to make 재미없을 게 뻔한데 “it is obvious it will be no fun, then.”
Let’s look at the next sentence.
민영이는 저번에도 거짓말을 했으니까 또 거짓말일 게 뻔해.
Minyoung told a lie last time, so it is obviously a lie again.
Here, 거짓말 a “lie” is a noun, so you add -일 게 뻔하다 to make 거짓말일 게 뻔하다 “it is obviously a lie.”
Quiz
Then, let’s deepen our understanding with some quizzes.
Which one is the correct answer?
상대가 너무 강해서 우리가 ( ).
That side is too strong, so we will lose for sure.
(1) 질 게 뻔해요 (2)질 것이 뻔해요
If you say this before the game, you bring down everyone’s morale.
Anyway, the correct answer is number one.
지다 “to lose” is a verb which does not have a final consonant.
So, you add -ㄹ 게 뻔하다 to make 질 게 뻔하다.
And then, you need to make it into 요 form, so you say 질 게 뻔해요 “it is obvious to lose.”
Number two is wrong because Korean people never say 질 것이 뻔해요.
-(으)ㄹ 게 뻔하다 is a colloquial expression, so you use (으)ㄹ 게 all the time, not (으)ㄹ 것이.
Then, let’s read it as if you don’t have confidence.
상대가 너무 강해서 우리가 (질 게 뻔해요).
Please, read this part with your anxious emotions! Let’s move on to the next quiz!
내일도 (_ ) 그냥 집에 있자.
It will surely be cold tomorrow as well, then why not just stay at home?
(1)추울 게 뻔한데 (2)추울 게 뻔했는데
This one is not that dismissive, right?
The correct answer is number one. 춥다 “to be cold” is an adjective which has a final consonant.
So, you add -을 게 뻔하다.
However, you didn’t forget ㅂ irregular rule, right? It applies to 춥다, so you change 으 to 우 to make 추울 게 뻔하다. Do you get it?
Here, you want to say “and then” to continue the conversation, so you add -ㄴ데 to make 추울 게 뻔한데.
Number two is wrong because if you make it in the past tense like 뻔했는데, the meaning becomes “almost did”, which is the first grammar I taught you today.
Also, you cannot use the grammar 뻔했다 for adjectives like 춥다 “to be cold” in the first place, so please remember that.
Then, let’s read it, hoping he will stay at home with you!
내일도 (추울 게 뻔한데) 그냥 집에 있자.
Please, read this part as you suggest something!
-나요?
The last grammar -나요? is similar to -는가요?, which I introduced in the previous lesson.
It is a question marker to ask questions more politely and gently.
Therefore, it means “are you? do you? Is it?”
Besides, -나(요)? only follows verbs and adjectives.
Therefore, for nouns, you can use -인가(요)? which I told you about in the previous lesson.
For the usage, you can add -나요? regardless of a final consonant.
You can apply this rule to both verbs and adjectives.
So, it is as simple as ABC.
For example, 가다 “to go” becomes 가나요? “do you go?” and 먹다 “to eat” becomes 먹나요? “Do you eat?”
Now, let’s read a sample sentence.
최근에 무슨 드라마를 보시나요?
What kind of drama do you watch these days?
Here, 보시다 is “to watch.” you add -나요? to the stem to make 보시나요? “do you watch?”
It sounds very soft and polite. So, people are going to like it.
Then, let’s read the next sentence.
무슨 사고라도 생겼나?
Was there any accident?
Here, 생겼다 means “occurred.”
And you add -나? to the stem to make 생겼나? “did smth occur?”
In other words, “was there any accident” in English. Do you get it?
Quiz
Then, let’s deepen our understanding with some quizzes.
Which one is the correct answer?
부장님도 술을 잘 ( )?
Do you often drink alcohol, too, Manager?
(1)먹으시나요 (2)드시나요
The correct answer is number two.
드시다 “to eat” is the honorific form of 먹다.
Then, you add -나요? to the stem to make 드시나요?
Number one is wrong because there is no expression like 먹으시다, so please be careful.
Then, let’s politely ask a question!
부장님도 술을 잘 (드시나요)?
Now, you can politely talk to your boss! How great!! And don’t forget to read this part more than three times!
Then let’s move on to the next quiz!
시간이 벌써 이렇게 ( )?
Is it late already?
(1)됐나 (2)됬나
The correct answer is number one.
되다 “to become” is 됐다 in the past tense.
It is a daily conversation, so you can use 됐다.
And then, you add -나? to make 됐나? “Does it become?” In other words, “Is it late” in English.
Number two is wrong because 됬나 is the wrong spelling.
Then, let’s read it by expressing the alarming feeling!
시간이 벌써 이렇게 (됐나)?
Please, read this part at least three times!
Homework
Okay, then it is time to give your favorite thing, homework!
Before the homework, let me sing a song for you.
아시나요 얼마나 사랑했는지 그댈 보면 자꾸 눈물이 나서
This is a song named 아시나요 and it was a big hit in 2000.
Did you notice the grammar we learned today -나요? 아시나요 sounds very polite and soft like this song.
Then, come on, homework!
There are two assignments.
The first one is to make three sentences using the grammar we learned today.
For the first sentence, please use -(으)ㄹ 뻔했다 “almost, nearly” and tell me something which made you think “It almost happened! But, it didn’t!”
For example,
하마터면 비싼 가전제품을 주문할 뻔했어요.
I almost ordered expensive home appliances.
Nowadays, you could easily click the order button on your smartphone by accident.
So, we have to be careful, OK?
For the second sentence, please use -(으)ㄹ 게 뻔하다 “surely / it is obvious that” and assume something!
For example,
저 드라마 내용은 안 봐도 뻔해.
The content of that drama is obvious even without watching.
For the third sentence, please use -나요? “Do you?” and ask me a question softly.
For example,
여러분은 한국요리 뭘 좋아하시나요?
What kind of Korean cuisine do you like?
I am looking forward to seeing your Homework sentences!
The second homework is to memorize new words.
Please memorize the forty words from number 561 to number 600 on page 8 in the intermediate vocabulary list.
There is a vocabulary quiz of forty words on my website, so just feel free to try it.
The link is in the description box.
Besides, because this is our 15th lesson, there is a check test!
The test covers the 11th to 15th lessons.
I used lots of sample sentences I showed you in the previous videos to improve your reading skills, so please come to try it!
I put the link in the description box.
Also, please share your results in the comment sections! I am looking forward to your challenges!
That’s it for today. You did a good job!
I am looking forward to talking with you in Korean one day!
그럼 오늘도 행복 가득, 웃음 가득한 하루 되세요！
한국어 화이팅, 화이팅, 화이팅！！
