안녕하세요! 토미입니다!
Let’s have fun learning Korean!
Today’s grammar is 1) -(으)ㄹ까 말까 “shall I or shall I not, whether or not,”
2) -(으)ㄹ수록 “as you do smth~”
and 3) -(으)면 -(으)ㄹ수록 “the more ~, the more ~.”
After you learn today’s grammar, you will be able to express some concerns, such as
선배한테 고백할까 말까?
Shall I confess my love to my senior or not?.
Once you learn today’s grammar, you can understand these concerns of native speakers.
Wow, that’s so impressive.
By studying the grammar, I am sure you can pass TOPIK level 4, and be a super master of Korean!
그럼 시작할게요!
-(으)ㄹ까 말까
The first grammar is -(으)ㄹ까 말까 “shall I or shall I not, whether or not.”
This grammar has two meanings.
The first meaning is hesitation such as “shall I or shall I not, whether or not.”
When it has this meaning, Korean people often use this grammar with some particular verbs expressing thoughts and concerns,
such as
망설이다 “to hesitate”
고민하다 “to consider”
고민 중이다 “to be considering”
생각하다 “to think”
생각 중이다 “to be thinking”
The second meaning is to express “uncertainty about an amount or quantity if it reaches a certain line.”
When it has this meaning, Korean people use it in the form of -(으)ㄹ까 말까 하다, or in the form of nouns + (이)가 될까 말까 하다 “(it) is just enough or a bit short.”
About the usage of -(으)ㄹ까 말까, you mainly use it for verbs.
For a verb, which does not have a final consonant, you attach ㄹ까 말까 to the stem.
For example, 가다 “to go” does not have a final consonant, so you attach ㄹ까 말까 to make 갈까 말까 “shall I go or not.”
If a verb has a final consonant, you attach -을까 말까 to the stem.
For example, 먹다 “to eat” has a final consonant.
So, you attach 을까 말까 to the stem to make 먹을까 말까 “shall I eat or not.”
Then, let’s read a sample sentence for the first meaning “whether or not.”
이 옷을 살까 말까 망설이는 중이에요.
I am thinking about whether I should buy these clothes or not.
Here, 사다 “to buy” does not have a final consonant.
So, you add -ㄹ까 말까 to make 살까 말까 “whether I should buy or not.”
You can see his hesitation through this expression, 살까 말까.
Then, let’s look at a sample sentence for the second meaning, “just enough or a bit short” to express an amount.
작년에 심은 나무가 내 키를 넘을까 말까 할 정도로 자랐다.
The tree I planted last year has grown up to the height which just barely exceeds my height.
Here, 넘다 “to exceed” has a final consonant.
So, you add -을까 말까 to make 넘을까 말까 “barely exceeds.”
Then, let’s read a sample sentence in the form of a noun + 이/가 될까 말까 하다.
강의가 시작한 지 1시간이 될까 말까 해요.
It has been just one hour or less since the lecture started.
Here, 1시간 means “one hour.” 1 시간 has a final consonant, so you add 이 될까 말까 하다 to make 1시간이 될까 말까 하다 “the time just barely reaches one hour.”
Quiz
Then, let’s deepen our understanding with some quizzes.
Which one is the correct answer?
컴퓨터를 새걸로 ( ) 고민 중이에요.
I am considering whether I should replace my computer with a new one or not.
(1)바꿀까 말까 (2)바뀔까 말까
The correct answer is number one.
바꾸다 “to replace” does not have a final consonant.
So, you add -ㄹ까 말까 to the stem to make 바꿀까 말까 “whether (I should) replace or not.
Number two is wrong because 바뀌다 means “to be replaced”, not “to replace smth”, and the expression of 바뀔까 말까 sounds unnatural.
Then, let’s read it together!
컴퓨터를 새걸로 (바꿀까 말까) 고민 중이에요.
Please, read this part at least three times with a hesitant mind!
Let’s look at the next quiz.
간판이 너무 먼 데 있어서 겨우 ( ) 할 정도야.
The signboard is too far to the extent that it just barely can be seen.
(1)볼까 말까 (2)보일까 말까
The correct answer is number two. 보이다 “to be seen” does not have a final consonant.
So, you add -ㄹ까 말까 to make 보일까 말까 “just barely can be seen.”
Number one is wrong because 보다 “to see” does not match the meaning.
Then, let’s read it together!
간판이 너무 먼 데 있어서 겨우 (보일까 말까) 할 정도야.
Please, read this part with your imagination to see a signboard!
-(으)ㄹ수록
Let’s move on to the second grammar!
-ㄹ수록 means “as you do smth~.”
You use this when you notice that one situation changes to some degree, then another situation also changes.
To apply this grammar for verbs and adjectives, you attach -ㄹ수록 to the stem.
If a verb or an adjective does not have a final consonant, you attach ㄹ수록.
For example, 가다 “to go” does not have a final consonant. So, you attach -ㄹ수록 to make 갈수록 “as (I) go.”
If a verb or an adjective has a final consonant, you attach 을수록.
For example, 먹다 “to eat” has a final consonant.
So, you attach -을수록 to make 먹을수록 “as (I) eat.”
For nouns, you attach -일수록 regardless of a final consonant.
Besides, if you attach -(으)ㄹ수록 to 가다 “to go” to make 갈수록, you can sometimes translate it to “as you go”, but Korean people often use it as the meaning of “gradually.”
There is an idiom, 갈수록 태산이다, and this means “Gradually, you will see bigger mountains.”
In other words, it means “Something is getting worse and worse.”
Then, are you ready to see the changes in a situation? Let’s nail this grammar.
그때 일은 생각할수록 분해.
The more I think about it, the more I get angry.
OH, don’t get upset!! You have to calm yourself down, right?
Here, 생각하다 “to think” is a verb which does not have a final consonant.
So, you add -ㄹ수록 to make 생각할수록 “the more (I) think.”
Let’s look at the next sentence.
날씨가 더울수록 건강에 각별히 주의하세요.
As the weather gets hotter, please take good care of your condition.
Here, 덥다 “to be hot” is an adjective which has a final consonant.
So, you add -을수록. However, you apply ㅂ irregular rule for 덥다.
So, 으 changes to 우, and it becomes 더울수록 “as (it) gets hotter.”
Then let’s look at the next sentence.
친하고 가까운 사이일수록 서로 예의를 잘 지켜야 돼.
As a relationship is more intimate and closer, you should be more courteous to each other.
That’s so true, right?
Here, 사이 “relationship” is a noun. So, you add -일수록 to make 사이일수록 “as a relationship is more ~.”
Then, let’s read a sample sentence of 갈수록 which you translate it as “gradually.”
회원 수가 처음에는 열 명뿐이었는데 갈수록 늘어나고 있어요.
The number of members was only ten at first, but it gradually went up.
Here, if you translate 갈수록 into “as you go” the meaning of the sentence becomes “the number of members went up as you go”, and it sounds weird.
In these cases, 갈수록 means “gradually” or “more and more.”
Quiz
Then, let’s deepen our understanding with some quizzes.
Which one is the correct answer?
이 책은 ( ) 새로운 지식을 얻을 수 있어요.
About this book, as you read it, you can get more new knowledge.
(1)읽을수록 (2)읽힐수록
The correct answer is number one. 읽다 “to read” has a final consonant.
So, you add -을수록 to the stem to make 읽을수록 “as you read.”
Number two is wrong because 읽히다 means “to be read” and does not match the meaning.
Then, let’s read it together as you are introducing a book to your friends!
이 책은 (읽을수록) 새로운 발견이 있어요.
Please, read this part at least three times.
Then, let’s look at the next quiz!
( ) 영양 섭취에 신경을 써 줘야 한다.
For younger children, you should think about their nutrition more carefully.
(1)어린아이일수록 (2)어른일수록
The correct answer is number one. 어린아이 a “younger child” is a noun.
So, you add -일수록 to make 어린아이일수록.
Number two is wrong because 어른 means “adult.” then, let’s read it together!
(어린아이일수록) 영양 섭취에 신경을 써 줘야 한다.
Please, read this part at least three times.
-(으)면 -(으)ㄹ수록
Let’s move on to the last grammar! -(으)면 -(으)ㄹ수록 is similar to (으)ㄹ수록 that we just learned, but when you use the same verb or adjective repeatedly, you can express a gradual change such as “the more ~, the more ~.”
Please just remember they are a good team.
To apply this grammar for verbs and adjectives, you attach -(으)면 -(으)ㄹ수록 to the stem.
If a verb or an adjective does not have a final consonant, you attach -면 -ㄹ수록.
For example, 가다 “to go” does not have a final consonant.
So, you attach -면 -ㄹ수록 to the stem to make 가면 갈수록 “the more (I) go, the more~.”
If a verb or an adjective has a final consonant, you attach -으면 -을수록.
For example, 먹다 “to eat” has a final consonant.
So, you attach -으면 -을수록 to the stem to make 먹으면 먹을수록 “the more (I) eat, the more~.”
For nouns, you attach (이)면 일수록.
Then, let’s read a sample sentence.
이 영화는 보면 볼수록 빠져들어요.
About this movie, the more you watch it, the more you will be into it.
보다 “to watch” does not have a final consonant.
So, you add -면 -ㄹ수록 to make 보면 볼수록 “the more you watch it, the more ~.”
By the way, 빠져들다 “to be into smth” is a useful word, so please remember it.
Then let’s look at the next sentence.
이 꽃은 기온이 높으면 높을수록 빨리 자란대.
They say this flower grows faster as the temperature is higher.
Here, 높다 “to be high” has a final consonant.
So, you add -으면 -을수록 to make 높으면 높을수록 “the higher ~, the more ~.”
Quiz
Then, let’s deepen our understanding with some quizzes.
Which one is the correct answer?
그 사람 이야기는 ( ) 흥미가 생겨.
About that person’s story, the more you listen to it, the more interested you will be.
(1)듣으면 듣을수록 (2) 들으면 들을수록
The correct answer is number two.
Here, 듣다 “to listen” has a final consonant.
So, you add -으면 -을수록. However, you have to apply ㄷ irregular rule to 듣다.
You didn’t forget about it, did you?
So, you change ㄷ into ㄹ to make 들으면 들을수록 “the more (you) listen, the more~.”
Number one is wrong because there is no expression like that, so please be careful.
Then, let’s read it together!
그 사람 이야기는 (들으면 들을수록) 흥미가 생겨.
Please, read this part at least three times.
Then, let’s look at the next quiz!
사람은 ( ) 계획을 면밀히 잘 짜야 돼요.
The busier you are, the more detailed plan you should make.
(1)바빠면 바빨수록 (2)바쁘면 바쁠수록
The correct answer is number two. 바쁘다 means “to be busy” and it does not have a final consonant.
So, you add -면 -ㄹ수록 to make 바쁘면 바쁠수록 “the busier (you) are, the more~.”
Is there anyone who thought number one was correct?
바쁘다 changes to 바빠서 when it combines with grammar like 아/어서.
But when it combines with 으 as in 으면 을수록, it changes to 바쁘면 바쁠수록.
Then, let’s read it together.
사람이 (바쁘면 바쁠수록) 계획을 면밀히 잘 짜야 돼요.
I totally agree with this sentence. Please, read this part as you are giving advice.
Homework
Alright! Now it’s time for your favorite homework!
But before I announce the homework, I will sing a short song to cheer you up.
누가 뭐래도 우리 학생은 꽃보다 아름다워!
No matter what anyone says, our students are more beautiful than flowers!
Yes, this is so true, right?
This is a famous song called “People are more beautiful than flowers” by Ahn Chi-hwan.
I changed the lyrics a little bit. I wanted to introduce this song because you guys are more beautiful than flowers.
Anyway, 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)ㄹ까 말까 “whether or not” and tell me something you are hesitating to do.
For example,
지금 스텝퍼를 살까 말까 고민중이에요.
Now I am thinking about whether I should buy a stair stepper or not.
For the second sentence, please use -(으)ㄹ수록 “as you do smth~.”
For example,
한국어는 많이 말할수록 느는 것 같아요.
I feel that as I speak more Korean, my Korean improves more.
That’s so true, right!! Keep practicing in Korean.
For the third sentence, please use -(으)면 -(으)ㄹ수록 “the more ~, the more ~” and tell me something which changes gradually.
For example,
한국어를 가르치면 가르칠수록 새로운 발견이 있어요.
The more Korean I teach, the more new things I discover.
Yes!! That’s why I am teaching Korean.
I am looking forward to your imaginative sentences!
The second homework is to memorize new words.
Please memorize the forty words from number 721 to number 760 on page 10 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.
That’s it for today! You guys did a great job. High Five!
You guys are very diligent students.
I hope you are enjoying studying Korean!
그럼 오늘도 행복 가득, 웃음 가득한 하루 되세요！
한국어 화이팅, 화이팅, 화이팅！！
