Korean Intermediate Korean Grammar Syllabus

Intermediate Korean Grammar syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Intermediate Korean Grammar in Korean, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Complex Sentence Structures

   2 topics

   • Compound Sentences
   • Conditional Sentences
2. 2

   Advanced Verb Conjugation

   2 topics

   • Honorifics
   • Causative and Passive Forms
3. 3

   Pronouns and Connectors

   2 topics

   • Personal Pronouns
   • Conjunctions and Transition Words

Intermediate Korean Grammar flashcards for Korean

25 of 50 cards from the Intermediate Korean Grammar deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is a compound sentence (연결문) in Korean, and how is it formed?

   A compound sentence joins two or more clauses into one sentence using connective endings (연결어미) attached to the verb/adjective stem of the first clause, e.g. -고, -지만, -아서/어서. The connective ending links clauses that could otherwise stand alone.

2. What does the connective ending -고 express, and give an example?

   -고 lists actions/states in sequence or simultaneously ('and'). It attaches to the stem regardless of vowel harmony. Example: 밥을 먹고 학교에 갔어요 = 'I ate and (then) went to school.'

3. Compare -고 and -아서/어서 when linking two actions in sequence.

   -고 links two independent, loosely related actions ('and then'), with no required connection. -아서/어서 links actions where the first is a precondition for the second and the same subject stays in place (e.g. 앉아서 = sit down and stay seated to do the next thing). 친구를 만나고 = met a friend, then did something else; 친구를 만나서 = met a friend and (with that friend) did the next thing.

4. What is the difference between -아서/어서 and -(으)니까 when giving a reason?

   Both mean 'because/so.' -아서/어서 states an objective cause and cannot be used with imperatives or propositives. -(으)니까 gives a subjective reason/discovery and MUST be used with commands and suggestions. Correct: 비가 오니까 우산을 가져가세요 (not 비가 와서 가져가세요).

5. What does the connective -(으)면서 express?

   -(으)면서 expresses two actions happening simultaneously by the same subject ('while'). Example: 음악을 들으면서 공부해요 = 'I study while listening to music.'

6. What contrast does -지만 express, and how does it attach?

   -지만 expresses contrast/concession ('but/although'). It attaches directly to the verb or adjective stem (and to past -았/었- or future -겠-). Example: 비싸지만 맛있어요 = 'It's expensive but delicious.'

7. How do -지만 and -(으)ㄴ/는데 differ in expressing contrast?

   -지만 states a direct contrast ('but'). -(으)ㄴ/는데 gives softer background/contextual contrast that sets up the following clause and often invites a response. 는데 is used with verbs, (으)ㄴ데 with adjectives, 인데 with nouns.

8. What does the connective -(으)러 express and with which main verbs is it used?

   -(으)러 expresses purpose of movement ('in order to'). It is used only with motion verbs like 가다, 오다, 다니다. Example: 밥을 먹으러 식당에 가요 = 'I go to the restaurant to eat.'

9. Contrast -(으)러 and -(으)려고 as purpose connectives.

   -(으)러 means 'in order to' and requires a following motion verb (가다/오다). -(으)려고 means 'intending to' and can be followed by any verb, expressing intention. 사려고 돈을 모아요 = 'I save money intending to buy (something).'

10. What is a conditional sentence, and what are the two main conditional endings in Korean?

    A conditional sentence states that one clause holds if/when the condition in another clause is met. The two main endings are -(으)면 ('if/when') and -아야/어야 ('only if/must').

11. Explain the connective -(으)면 and its dual meaning.

    -(으)면 attaches to a stem to mean 'if' (hypothetical condition) or 'when/whenever' (repeated/general condition). Example: 시간이 있으면 갈게요 = 'If I have time, I'll go'; 봄이 되면 꽃이 펴요 = 'When spring comes, flowers bloom.'

12. What does -아야/어야 (하다/되다) express in conditional grammar?

    -아야/어야 expresses a necessary condition ('only if') or, with 하다/되다, obligation ('must/have to'). Example: 열심히 공부해야 합격해요 = 'Only if you study hard will you pass'; 지금 가야 돼요 = 'I have to go now.'

13. How is a counterfactual/regret condition ('if only...had') expressed in Korean?

    Use past tense + -(으)면 + past tense with 좋았을 텐데 or -았/었을 것이다: 공부했으면 합격했을 텐데 = 'If I had studied, I would have passed (but I didn't).' The 텐데 signals a counterfactual regret.

14. What conditional nuance does -거든 add in speech?

    -거든 as a connective means 'if/when (it turns out that)' and sets up a condition for a following command/plan, common in spoken Korean: 도착하거든 전화하세요 = 'When you arrive, call me.' (Sentence-final -거든(요) instead gives an explanatory reason.)

15. What does the concessive conditional -아도/어도 mean?

    -아도/어도 means 'even if/even though' — the result holds despite the condition. Example: 비가 와도 갈 거예요 = 'Even if it rains, I'll go.' With 되다/좋다 it grants permission: 가도 돼요 = 'You may go.'

16. Define Korean honorifics (높임법) and its two broad targets.

    Honorifics (높임법) is the grammatical system for showing respect. It targets (1) the subject/referent being spoken about (subject honorification, 주체 높임) and (2) the listener (addressee honorification, 상대 높임, via speech levels).

17. How is subject honorification marked on a verb, and give an example?

    Subject honorification inserts the honorific infix -(으)시- before the ending to elevate the sentence's subject. Example: 선생님이 오세요 (오- + -시- + -어요) = 'The teacher comes (honored).' Past: 오셨어요.

18. What is the honorific subject particle and honorific dative particle?

    The honorific subject particle is 께서 (replacing 이/가): 할머니께서 오셨어요. The honorific dative ('to') particle is 께 (replacing 에게/한테): 선생님께 선물을 드렸어요.

19. List key suppletive honorific verbs for 먹다/마시다, 자다, 있다, 말하다, and 죽다.

    먹다/마시다 → 드시다/잡수시다 (eat/drink); 자다 → 주무시다 (sleep); 있다 → 계시다 (exist/stay, for the person); 말하다 → 말씀하시다 (speak); 죽다 → 돌아가시다 (pass away).

20. Distinguish 계시다 from 있으시다 in honorific usage.

    계시다 honors the person themselves being somewhere (선생님이 교실에 계세요 = the teacher is in the room). 있으시다 honors a possession/attribute belonging to the person (선생님이 질문이 있으세요 = the teacher has a question). Use 있으시다 for what they possess, 계시다 for the person's own existence/presence.

21. What is humble (겸양) speech, and give the humble forms of 주다, 말하다, 묻다, 보다, 만나다?

    Humble speech lowers the speaker to elevate the listener/object. 주다 → 드리다 (give to a superior); 말하다 → 말씀드리다; 묻다 → 여쭈다/여쭙다 (ask); 보다 → 뵈다/뵙다 (see/meet a superior); 만나다 → 뵙다.

22. Name the Korean speech levels (상대 높임) from most to least formal.

    1) 하십시오체 (formal polite, -(스)ㅂ니다), 2) 해요체 (informal polite, -아요/어요), 3) 하오체 (older formal, rare), 4) 하게체 (semi-formal, elder-to-younger adult), 5) 해체/반말 (casual, -아/어), 6) 해라체 (plain, written/commanding, -는다/다).

23. Contrast the 하십시오체 and 해요체 speech levels.

    하십시오체 (deferential/formal polite) uses -습니다/-ㅂ니다 and -습니까? — used in business, presentations, news. 해요체 (informal polite) uses -아요/어요 — polite but softer, used in everyday conversation. Both are polite; 하십시오체 is more formal.

24. Define the causative form (사동) in Korean grammar.

    The causative (사동) expresses that a subject makes/lets someone or something perform an action or enter a state ('cause to do'). It is formed morphologically with causative suffixes or syntactically with -게 하다.

25. List the seven morphological causative suffixes in Korean.

    The causative suffixes are -이-, -히-, -리-, -기-, -우-, -구-, -추-. They are inserted into a verb/adjective stem, e.g. 먹다 → 먹이다 (feed), 앉다 → 앉히다 (seat), 울다 → 울리다 (make cry), 웃다 → 웃기다 (make laugh), 자다 → 재우다 (put to sleep), 높다 → 높이다 (raise).

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