A/V/N ~을/ㄹ지 모르겠다 [ Korean Grammar ]

Learning grammar is one of the most difficult things for Korean language learners. On this blog, we will try to help you learn Korean grammar in the quickest and easiest way possible. This blog will be helpful for those who are studying the Korean language and want to improve their grammar skills.

Today, we’ll look at how to form sentences using the Korean grammar pattern “A/V/N ~을/ㄹ지 모르겠다”, along with some example sentences.

A/V/N ~을/ㄹ지 모르겠다 is used when the speaker is unsure about something or cannot decide about an action.

It is equivalent to saying “I don’t know whether/if …” in English.

It can be used with adjectives, verbs, and nouns.

• ~을/ㄹ지 모르겠다 - used with adjectives and verbs

• ~일지 모르겠다 - used with nouns

There are three ways to use this grammar pattern:

1. 을/ㄹ지 모르겠다 - for present or future tense verbs and adjectives

2. 었을지/았을지/였을지 모르겠다 - for past tense verbs and adjectives

3. 일지 모르겠다 - when used with nouns

Rule to conjugate.

1. ~을/ㄹ지 모르겠다 when used in present tense.

After removing 다 from the root adj/verb add ~을지 모르겠다 of verb stem ends with a consonant or add ~ㄹ지 모르겠다 if the verb stem ends with a vowel or ㄹ

Eg :

• 선물 주었는데 좋을지 모르겠다

I gave the gift, but I don’t know if they will like it.

• 친구들 같이 갈지 모르겠어요.

I don’t know if I’ll go with my friends.

• 같이 식사하기로 했는데, 내가 먹을지 모르겠다.

We planned to eat together, but I don’t know if I’ll eat.

2. ~었을지/았을지/였을지 모르겠다 when used in the past tense.

After removing 다 from the root adj/verb add ~았을지 모르겠다 if adj/verb stem ends with 오 or 아 , add ~었을지 모르겠다 if the adj/verb stem ends with vowel other than 오 or 아 and ~였을지 when the stem ends with 하다. 

Eg :

• 야근 하고 출발했는데 버스나 택시 탔을지 모르겠다

I left after working overtime, but I don’t know whether I took a bus or a taxi.

• 선물 좋아 하셨을지 모르겠다

I don’t know if you liked the gift.

• 일찍 나갔는데 식사 먹었을지 모르겠다

He went out early, but I don’t know whether he ate.

3. ~일지 모르겠다 when used with Nouns

Add ~일지 모르겠다 after the noun irrespective of whether the noun ends with a vowel or a consonant. 

Eg :

• 어쩌면 우리가 지구에 바이러스 같은 존재일지 모르겠다.

Maybe we are like viruses on Earth.

• 이게 맞는 대답일지 모르겠다

I don't know if this is the right answer

• 열정도 무관심도 결과를 만드는 방법일지 모르겠다. 

Related Korean grammar posts :

(으)ㄴ/는/인 데다가

Verb + 기 전에 and Noun + 전에

Verb + (으)면서

Verb + 았/었으면 좋겠다

Verb + (으)면

To understand TOPIK Test structure, application process, Levels and Passing scores etc. check these pages:

1. TOPIK – The Complete Guide & 2. TOPIK Levels and Passing Marks. You can also Practice Online with TOPIK GUIDE Mock Tests.

If you are going to take the TOPIK Test for the first time, or if you want to give your score a boost so that you can pass a higher level, we would strongly advise you to get the Complete Guide to TOPIK – Self-Study Package. It is a digital study package that has everything you need to get a great score in the TOPIK test – all the past TOPIK papers with answer sheets, grammar and vocabulary study material, video tutorials explaining the test structure, strategies to solve them and much more. You can check out more details about this study package HERE.

Learning Korean can be tricky, especially when the goal of your learning is conversation. If you’ve ever attempted to speak Korean but were unable to, then hopefully you’ll find this post helpful.

Thank you for reading. If you have any questions or suggestions. Comment down below.