안녕하세요. 토미입니다.
Let’s start our exciting Korean lesson!
Today’s grammar is first, -는가 싶다, “I wonder ~/I am not sure if ~.” second, -는 듯싶다, “It seems like ~” and lastly, -느라고, “because/ due to / since.”
Once you have learned one of these, you can express a reason for a negative consequence such as
지금은 아이를 키우느라고 정신이 하나도 없어요.
Right now, I’m busy raising my kids.
Let’s learn these expressions and climb the staircase to pass TOPIK II Level Four, and become a super intermediate master!
You can do it, for sure!
그럼 시작할게요!
– 는가 싶다
The first grammar, -는가 싶다 means, “I wonder ~/I am not sure if ~.”
You attach this to a verb, an adjective, and a noun.
You use this expression when you are not sure or doubt something.
To apply this, you can think about the noun modifier.
●Verbs：-는가 싶다
●Adjectives：-(으)ㄴ가 싶다
●Nouns：-인가 싶다
For verbs, you attach -는가 싶다.
For adjectives, you attach -(으)ㄴ가 싶다. And for nouns, you attach -인가 싶다.
I will give you an example of verbs.
가다 “to go” becomes 가는가 싶다 “(I) wonder if (sub) goes.”
먹다 “to eat” becomes 먹는가 싶다 ““(I) wonder if (sub) eats.”
Then, let’s read a sample sentence.
밖에서 소리가 들리는 걸 보니 비가 오는가 싶다.
Hearing the sound from outside, I think that it is raining.
Here, 비가 오다 is “to rain.”
Since this is a verb, you attach 는가 싶다 to make 비가 오는가 싶다 “ (I) think that it is raining.”
Let’s see the next sentence!
정말로 그렇게 멋있는가 싶어서 그 사람 페이스북을 찾아 봤다.
Wondering how cool he was, I looked up his Facebook.
Here, ”멋있다 “to be cool” is an adjective.
However, this is a special adjective with 있다 inside. Thus, you treat it as a verb.
You attach 는가 싶어서 to make 멋있는가 싶어서 “wondering how cool (he) was.”
This conjugation was a little bit tricky, wasn’t it?
In addition, this speaker is a little bit doubtful about that person’s fashion or physical figure. That’s why he is using 는가 싶다 to express his doubt.
Then let’s read the next sentence!
그 사람이 진짜 토픽 시험에 합격했는가 싶어서 친구한테 전화해서 물어봤다.
I wondered if that person really passed TOPIK, so I called my friend and asked him.
In this sentence, you use the past tense of the verb 합격했다 “passed.”
You attach -는가 싶다 to the stem to make 합격했는가 싶다 “(I) wondered if that person passed.”
In addition, you want to make it as a reason.
Thus, you add 아/어서 to make 합격했는가 싶어서 “(I) wondered if (that person) really passed (the test), so.”
Quiz
Now, let’s deepen your understanding by taking some quizzes.
Which one is the correct answer?
한국어를 그렇게 못 하다니 그 사람 정말 ( ) 싶었어요.
Seeing that he was so terrible at Korean, I wondered if he was a real Korean.
(1)한국사람인가 (2)한국사람이었던
The correct answer is number one. 한국사람 a “Korean” is a noun.
Thus you add 인가 싶다 to make 한국사람인가 싶다. In addition, since “I wondered” is in the past tense, you say, 한국사람인가 싶었어요. “I wondered if (he) was a real Korean.”
Number two 한국 사람이었던 싶었어요 is grammatically wrong.
So, don’t pick it next time!
Now, let’s read the correct sentence together.
한국어를 그렇게 못 하다니 그 사람 정말 (한국사람인가) 싶었어요.
Please, read it with a sense of disbelief. Then let’s move on to the next quiz!
영상 통화에서 두꺼운 잠바를 입고 있는 걸 보면 한국은 지금 엄청 ( )
From the video call, seeing that he is wearing a thick jacket, I think that it is very cold in Korea.
(1)추운가 싶어요 (2)춥는가 싶어요
The correct answer is number one.
춥다 “to be cold” is an adjective. Thus, you add -ㄴ가 싶어요 to the stem to make 추운가 싶어요 “I think that it is very cold.”
Number two 춥는가 싶어요 is a wrong conjugation.
So, don’t choose it next time!
Then let’s read a sentence together!
영상 통화에서 두꺼운 잠바를 입고 있는 걸 보면 한국은 지금 엄청 (추운가 싶어요).
Please, read it to speculate about Korean weather.
–는 듯싶다
The second grammar, -는 듯싶다 means, “It seems like ~/ I suppose ~.”
This expression is similar to -는가 싶다 that we have just learned.
But -는 듯싶다 does not have the nuance of doubt.
This simply means a guess.
You can attach -는/(으)ㄴ/(으)ㄹ 듯싶다 to verbs, adjectives, and nouns.
You can use this grammar for the past, the present, and the future, and use the appropriate noun modifier.
Since you already know how to make a noun modifier, I will explain them briefly.
For verbs, the past tense is -(으)ㄴ or -던, the present tense is -는 and the future tense is -(으)ㄹ. For adjectives, the past tense is -았/었던, the present tense is -(으)ㄴ, and the future tense is -(으)ㄹ.
For nouns, the present tense is 인, the past tense is 이었던/였던 and the future tense is 일. OK?
Now, let’s read the sample sentence.
그 사람 안색이 창백해진 걸 보니 안 좋은 일이 있는 듯싶어요.
Seeing that his complexion has turned pale, I feel like something bad has happened.
In this sentence, 안 좋은 일이 있다 means “something bad happened.”
You attach -는 듯싶다 to the stem to make 안 좋은 일이 있는 듯싶다 “something bad has happened.”
Let’s look at the next sentence!
오빠가 왜 이렇게 전화를 안 받지? 아무래도 지금 자는 듯싶어요.
I wonder why my brother does not pick up the call. It seems that he is sleeping now.
Here, 자다 is “to sleep.”
Since you want to use the present tense, you attach 는 듯 싶어요 to the stem to make 자는 듯 싶어요 “It seems that (he) is sleeping.”
Let’s move on to the next sentence.
이 사진에 찍힌 거 뭐예요? 유령인 듯싶은데…
What is this in the picture? It looks like a ghost…
Oh, no! A ghost!!!
That’s pretty scary, isn’t it? Have you had this kind of experience?
Anyway, here, 유령 is a “ghost.”
You attach 인 듯 싶어요 to make 유령인 듯 싶어요 “It looks like a ghost.”
Quiz
Then, let’s deepen your understanding by taking simple quizzes.
Which one is the correct answer?
먼저 부장님한테 상의하는 것이 ( ) 듯싶다.
It seems to be the ( ) to consult with the manager first.
(1)우선일 (2) 우선이었던
The correct answer is number one.
우선 “priority” is a noun.
Thus, you add 일 듯싶다 to make 우선일 듯싶다 “It seems to be the priority.”
Number two is wrong because 우선이었던 means the past.
The speaker wants to talk about the future.
Now, let’s read it together!
먼저 부장님한테 상의하는 것이 (우선일) 듯싶다.
Please, read it to think about your priority.
Let’s move on to the next quiz!
회사에 급한 일이 생겨서 지금 바로 ( ) 듯싶다.
There is some emergency at my company and I will probably have to go immediately.
(1)가야할 (2) 가야 하던
The correct answer is number one.
가야 하다 means “(I) have to go.”
Since you want to say about the future, you attach ㄹ 듯 싶다 to the stem to make 가야 할 듯싶다 “I will probably have to go.”
Number two 가야 하던 is incorrect because it is the past tense.
Now, let’s read it together.
회사에 급한 일이 생겨서 지금 바로 (가야할) 듯싶다.
Please read it with a sense of urgency.
– 느라고
The last grammar is -느라고, “because, due to ~, since.”
You use this to explain the reason for a negative consequence.
This “negative consequence” is a significant part.
Because you have learned 아/어서, (으)니까, 더니, 길래, etc, which all mean “because.”
You are amazed that there are so many “because” expressions in Korean!!
All of these have subtle differences.
Today’s grammar, 느라고 also means “because,” but it is different from others, especially, the part you talk about a reason or cause of an unwanted result.
For example,
친구를 만나느라고 약속시간에 늦었어요.
Because I met my friend, I was late for my appointment.
Being late for an appointment is a pretty negative consequence, isn’t it?
That’s why he is using 만나느라고, “because (I) met.”
In addition, let’s focus on the subject in clauses.
Subjects for both the first and the second clauses are the same “I” even though it is not written in Korean.
Like this sentence, you make sure that the subject will be the same in the first and the second clause for this grammar. OK?
To apply this, you attach 느라고 to the verb stem.
Oh, this conjugation is simple!!
I like it!
For example, 가다 “to go” will be 가느라고, “because (I) go .
” 먹다 “to eat” will be 먹느라고 “because (I) eat.”
As you can see, you always attach the present tense to this grammar.
You cannot make the past tense like 봤느라고 or 먹었느라고. OK?
Then, let’s read a sample sentence.
미안해요. 일하느라고 늦었어요.
I am sorry. I ran late because I had work.
Oh, this is a good phrase that you might use as an excuse in the future.
Here, 일하다 means “to work.”
You attach 느라고 to say 일하느라고 “because I had work.”
Let’s read the next sentence.
요새 매일 한국어 학원에 다니느라고 저녁에 시간이 없어요.
Recently, since I’ve been going to Korean classes every day, I don’t have time in the evening.
Here, 다니다 is “to go.”
So, what do you have to add?
3, 2, 1, 느라고!~!
Yes!! You add 느라고 to make 다니느라고 “since (I) have been going.”
Going to Korean class is such a positive thing, right?
But, if you don’t have time in the evening, that could be a negative consequence.
Therefore, you use 느라고. OK?
Now, let’s read the next sentence!
10년 전에는 아이를 키우느라고 너무 바빴지만 지금은 괜찮아요.
Ten years ago, I was raising my child. So, I was very busy. But now, I am ok.
In this sentence, 아이를 키우다 means “to raise a child.”
You add 느라고 to make 키우느라고 “I was raising my child.
So,” Being busy is an unwelcoming situation that no one wants.
That’s why you use 느라고. Do you get it?
Quiz
Then, let’s deepen your understanding by taking simple quizzes.
Which one is the correct answer?
음악을 ( ) 전화 온 줄도 몰랐어요.
Since I was listening to music, I did not notice that there was a phone call.
(1)들느라고 (2)듣느라고
Here, 음악을 듣다 means “to listen to music.”
You attach -느라고 to make 음악을 듣느라고 “since (I) was listening to music.”
Number two “들느라고” is the wrong grammar.
So, be careful!
Now let’s read it together!
음악을 (듣느라고) 전화 온 줄도 몰랐어요.
Please practice several times to feel 느라고!
Let’s see the next quiz!
한국 드라마를 ( ) 어젯밤 한 시간 밖에 못 잤다.
Since I was watching a Korean drama, I slept for only one hour last night.
(1)보느라고 (2) 봤느라고
The correct answer is number one.
보다 is “to watch.”
You attach 느라고 to the stem to make 보느라고 “since (I) was watching.”
Number two 봤느라고 is incorrect because this 느라고 cannot be the past tense.
It is always the present tense.
So, remember it!
Then let’s read the correct sentence!
한국 드라마를 (보느라고) 어젯밤 한 시간 밖에 못 잤다.
Oh, no!!
Be cautious of becoming addicted to Korean dramas!
Homework
Now, since you finished learning today’s grammar, I will give you a wise saying.
사람이 사는 시간은 한정되어 있다.
남의 인생 사느라고 시간 낭비하지 말자.
The time a person lives is limited.
Let’s not waste time living other people’s lives.
That’s so true!! Please, live your own life, OK?
By the way, did you spot today’s grammar?
I hope you did!
Now, I will announce today’s homework!
There are two parts to this homework.
First, please make three sentences using today’s grammar.
For the first sentence, please use -는가 싶다 “I wonder ~/I am not sure if ~.”
For example,
그 사람 정말 축구선수인가 싶다.
I wonder if that person is a real soccer player.
If you doubt something recently, you can write about it and tell me.
For the second sentence, please use-는 듯싶다 “it seems like ~, I suppose ~.”
For example,
언니부터 특별히 연락이 없으니까 잘 도착한 듯싶어요.
Since I have not heard anything from my sister, I think that she arrived safely.
For the third sentence, please use – 느라고 “because, due to ~, since.”
For example,
늦잠을 자느라고 학교에 못 갔다.
Since I overslept, I could not go to school.
Don’t forget to talk about an unwanted result for the second clause. OK?
The second homework is to memorize new words.
Please memorize the forty words from number 1521 to number 1560 on page 20 of the intermediate vocabulary list.
There is a vocabulary quiz of the forty words on my website, so just feel free to try it.
The link is in the description box.
That’s all! Great job, everyone.
I am truly looking forward to meeting you in person someday!
그럼 오늘도 행복 가득, 웃음 가득한 하루 되세요！
한국어 화이팅, 화이팅, 화이팅！！
Vocabulary Test : 40 Questions
