10 Korean grammar patterns – Discovery and result

Following is the list of all the Korean grammar patterns that are used to describe a speaker's realisation or surprise about something in the first clause and the result or effect in the latter half of the sentence. 

These are used in everyday life and you will find sentences containing these grammar patterns in daily conversations. 

Without any further delay let's look at those grammar patterns 

A/V ~(으)ㄴ/는지

This grammar pattern translates to "whether or not" in English

It is generally used in conjunction with interrogative/questioning words like 왜 (why), 어디 (where), 언제 (when), 뭐 (what), 누구 (who), 어떻게(how).

EXAMPLE: 그 사람이 누구인지 알아요? (Do you know who is this person?)

See more : A/V ~(으)ㄴ/는지

N (이)네요, A/V 네요

This grammar pattern can be used to indicate your emotional reaction to what you have just realised.

This expression is used to indicate that the speaker is surprised by a new fact he/she learned from a past personal experience.

Often it expresses surprise typically at unexpected or counter-expected events or states. 

EXAMPLE: 저 꽃꽂이 예쁘네요. (That flower arrangement is beautiful.)

See more : N (이)네요, A/V 네요

A/V/N ~(는)군요

It is used by the speaker to express surprise, a sudden knowledge of something new. 

An expression used to indicate that the speaker notices or is surprised by a newly learned fact. This can be used for direct observation or experience. 

It can be equivalent to saying " I see / I didn't know that. "

EXAMPLE:  It's snowing in Seoul. (서울에는 눈이 내리는군요.)

See more : A/V/N ~(는)군요 

V ~았/었더니

This expression is used to indicate realisation of a new incident or situation in the second clause which is different from a past one in the first clause.

This expression can also be used to indicate the result in the second clause because of doing something in the first clause.

EXAMPLE: As I continued to walk along the road, a small temple appeared. (길을 따라 계속 걸었더니 작은 절이 나타났다.)

See more : V ~았/었더니

A/V ~다가는

It can be used as a connective ending for when an action or state is stopped and changed to another action or state.

It can also be used as a connective ending for implying the negative situation or unexpected result that will happen if a preceding action or state continues.

EXAMPLE: Namjoon suddenly left while reading a book a while ago. (남준은 조금 전까지 책을 읽다가는 갑자기 나갔다.)

See more : A/V ~다가는

A/V/N ~ (으)ㄴ/는/(으)ㄹ 셈이다

It indicates a calculated result and is a colloquial expression for saying something is more or less similar to another.

It also indicates an intention or a plan. When someone plans to or intends to do something.

EXAMPLE:  사람들이 많이 찬성했나요? 네, 10명 중 9명이 찬성했으니까 거의 다 찬성한 셈이네요.

(Did many people agree with you?- Yes, 9 out of 10 people agreed, so you could say almost everyone did.)

See more : A/V/N ~ (으)ㄴ/는/(으)ㄹ 셈이다

V ~다 보면

If one does something over a period of time and then (something) will happen/occur eventually.

If you do something for a while, then.... (something  will happen).

EXAMPLE: 그 어려운 일을 계속해서 하다 보면 나중에는 아주 쉽게 할 수 있어요.

(If you continue to do that difficult work / job, you will be able to do it very easily later.)

See more : V~다 보면

A/V/N ~고 보니까

An expression used to state that the speaker did the act mentioned in the preceding statement, then realised the fact in the following statement

It's when the speaker does something and then comes into sudden realisation looking at the past actions.

EXAMPLE: 정에 대해 고백하고 보니까 서로에 대한 믿음이 한층 더 두터워지더라고요

(When I confessed my affection, our faith in each other became stronger.

See more : A/V/N ~고 보니까

V ~다 보니까

This expression is used to express the state of the speaker performing a continuous action which is mentioned in the preceding statement and comes to a realisation in the following statement.

It is used when the action is repeatedly taking place and new information or state of affairs occurs in the following statement resulting from the preceding action.

EXAMPLE: I gained a lot of weight because I kept eating hamburgers. (햄버거를 계속 먹다 보니까 살이 많이 쪘어요.)

See more : V ~다 보니까

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.

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.