[Tip] 은/는데 vs 던데

I like to see 던데 as serving two purposes. 1) to soften what you're saying, and 2) tell the listener what you're saying is based on your recollection or experience. The two kind of go hand in hand. Lets look at a couple of examples. Example 1: Consider the two sentences 나 와인 싫은데나 와인 …

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Grammar Series -(이)나, Part 3

Part 3 of the -(이)나 grammar series will cover the usage of indicating that something or someone includes all of the choices. To return to the series index click here. An understanding of Part 1 of this series is required for this lesson. When 나 is attached to a word in this usage that word becomes …

[TIP] 아무나 vs 누구나

Learn about the difference between 아무나 and 누구나

Grammar Series -(이)나, Part 2

Part 2 of the -(이)나 grammar series will cover the usage of choosing something, though it is not ideal. To return to the series index click here. The usage definition is paraphrased from the Naver dictionary. It is confusing at first glance but makes sense once you learn what it means. Not quite ideal for …

Grammar Series -(이)나, Part 1

This lesson is part of a series on the (이)나 particle

Simplifying the 더라 sentence ending

The Naver dictionary defines 더라 as “A sentence ending used to convey in the present a fact the speaker realised anew from a personal experience”. I don't know if there is anyone else like me, but when I read the definition the words "fact", "realised anew", "experience" made it sound like some profound event and …

Difference between 이/가 and 은/는

What is 이/가 and 은/는? 이 and 가 are called subject markers and 은 and 는 are called topic markers. Both service the purpose to mark the subject of a sentence. 철수가 사과를 먹고 있어요철수는 사과를 먹고 있어요 Both sentences mean 철수 is eating an apple. From an English perspective 철수 is the subject in …

Korean vocabulary test

This is the first of two tests. You may wish to do the second test as well to improve the accuracy of your result, or you may come back to the second test later in time to reassess your level. [Link to second test]

[Tip] -기 vs -는 것 vs -음

There is a sea of explanations on these grammar points available on the internet. Some of them are a bit technical so I decided to use practical examples to illustrate their difference. -기 vs -는 것 Consider this situation: I am taking a walk with my wife, and she says "hold my hand". I reply …

Difference between 더니, 았/었더니 and other sentence conjugation patterns

After learning Korean for six years, one of the things that still not perfectly clear for me is the usage of 더니 and 았/었더니. I feel like I now know so much, yet at the same time it feels like grasping at sand and watching it flow through between my fingers. I've tried coming up …