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 + 기는 하지만”, along with some example sentences.

A/V + 기는 하지만

A/V + 기는 하지만 is used by speakers to express differing views or contrast regarding something.

It is equivalent to saying “but” in English.

Note: The speaker acknowledges the content of the first clause but wants to express a different opinion in the second clause.

It can be used with both adjectives and verbs.

There are three ways to use this grammar pattern depending on the tense:

  1. ~기는 했지만 - past tense
  2. ~기는 하지만 - present tense
  3. ~기는 하겠지만 - future tense

Rule to conjugate :

1) When ~기는 했지만 is used in past tense.

Remove 다 from the root verb and add ~기는 했지만 / 았 / 었지만 after the stem verb irrespective of whether the verb stem ends with a consonant or verb. 

Eg : 크다 - 크기는 했지만

먹다 - 먹기는 했지만

2) When ~기는 하지만 is used in present tense.

Remove 다 from the root verb and add ~기는 하지만 / 지만 after the stem verb irrespective of whether the verb stem ends with a consonant or verb. 

Eg : 작다 - 작기는 하지만

자다 - 자기는 하지만

3) When ~기는 하겠지만 is used in future tense.

Remove 다 from the root verb and add ~기는 하겠지만 / 겠지만 after the stem verb irrespective of whether the verb stem ends with a consonant or verb. 

Eg : 이쁘다 - 이쁘기는 하겠지만

사다 - 사기는 하겠지만

Keeping in mind the above rule. Let's see some examples to understand it properly. 

1) 다들 조금씩 먹기는 했지만 다시 먹으려 하지 않아, 접시에 많이 남았습니다.

Everyone ate a little, but didn’t want to eat more, so a lot was left on the plate.

2) 우리집은 조금 작기는 하지만 그런대로 살 만한 집이다.

Our house is a little small, but it's a house worth living in.


3) 많은 남자들이 더할 나위 없이 좋기는 하지만 우리가 그들에게 경제적으로나 감정적으로 의존할 필요는 없다.

Many men are perfectly nice, but we don’t need to depend on them financially or emotionally.


4) 전기자동차가 좋기는 하지만 일반 엔진 작동 자동차보다 나은 것은 아니다.

Electric cars are nice, but they are not better than regular engine cars.


5) 올리브 오일이 건강에 좋기는 하지만, 너무 많이 먹지는 마세요.

Although olive oil is healthy, don’t eat too much.


6) 부모님들 만나기는 했지만 오래 이야기하지 않았어요.

I met my parents, but I did not talk very long.


7) 인도음식을 먹기는 하겠지만 많이 먹지 않을 거예요. 날씨 더우니까 음식도 많이 매워서 많이 안 먹을래요. 

I’ll eat Indian food, but not much. Since the weather is hot and the food is very spicy, I won’t eat a lot.


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.
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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.

Smriti


Smriti Ekka graduated in Commerce and Library science, and currently she is working as a content writer at TOPIK Guide website. She is a Korean language and culture enthusiast and has been working across multiple disciplines which broadly addresses narratives of similarities between Korean and Indian culture. Apart from being a content writer at TOPIK Guide she manages Annyeong India website and has had her pieces published in Learn Korean in India website as well. In her other life, she is a singer, rising entrepreneur, life enthusiast and a learner.

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