Language/Korean/Grammar/Conditional-Sentences

Korean Grammar → Conjunctions and Connectors → Conditional Sentences

Conditional sentences are used to express hypothetical situations or events that may happen in the future, depending on certain conditions. In Korean, conditional sentences are formed using conjunctions and connectors, and they are an important part of everyday conversations. In this lesson, you will learn how to form and use conditional sentences in Korean.

Conjunctions

Conjunctions are used to join two independent clauses or sentences together. In conditional sentences, conjunctions are used to introduce the condition that needs to be met before the outcome can occur. There are two types of conjunctions used in Korean: "만일" (man-il) and "만약" (man-yak). Both have the same meaning and are used interchangeably.

Here are some examples:

Korean	Pronunciation	English
만일 내일 비가 오면	man-il naeil biga omyeon	If it rains tomorrow
나 집에 가면	na jibe gamyeon	If I go home
만약에 시간 있다면	man-yake sigan itdamyeon	If there is time

As you can see, the conditional clause is introduced by the conjunction "만일" or "만약", followed by the condition that needs to be met.

Connectors

Connectors are used to link two clauses or sentences that have a cause-effect relationship. In conditional sentences, connectors are used to link the condition to the expected outcome. There are different connectors used in Korean, depending on the type of conditional sentence being formed.

For real conditional sentences, meaning situations that are likely to happen, the connector used is "-(으)면" ((eu)myeon). Here are some examples:

Korean	Pronunciation	English
배가 고프면	baega gopumyeon	If I'm hungry
밥을 먹으면	bapeul meogeumyeon	If I eat rice
차가 없으면	chaga eopseumyeon	If there is no car

In these examples, the conditional clause is followed by the connector "-(으)면" and the expected outcome.

For unreal conditional sentences, meaning hypothetical or unlikely situations, the connector used is "-(으)면서" ((eu)myeonseo). Here are some examples:

Korean	Pronunciation	English
이 문제를 푸면서	i munjeleul pumyeonseo	If you could solve this problem
저를 사랑한다면서	jeoreul saranghandamyeonseo	If you loved me
내가 그를 믿는다면서	naega geuleul midneundamyeonseo	If I believed him

In these examples, the conditional clause is followed by the connector "-(으)면서" and the hypothetical outcome.

If-Then Sentences

One of the most common types of conditional sentences in English is the "if-then" sentence. This type of sentence expresses a conditional relationship between two events, with the word "then" used to introduce the outcome. In Korean, this type of conditional sentence can be formed using "만약" (man-yak) or "만일" (man-il) followed by "그러면" (geureomyeon) or "그럼" (geureom). Here are some examples:

Korean	Pronunciation	English
만약 비가 오면 그러면 우산을 가져가	man-yak biga omyeon geureomyeon usaneul gajyeoga	If it rains, then bring an umbrella
만일 시간이 있다면 그럼 영화를 보러 갈까요?	man-il sigani itdamyeon geureom yeonghwareul boreo galkkayo?	If there is time, then shall we go watch a movie?

As you can see, the conditional clause is introduced by "만약" or "만일", followed by "그러면" or "그럼", and the expected outcome.

Summary

Conditional sentences are an important part of everyday conversations in Korean. By learning how to form and use conditional sentences using conjunctions and connectors, you will be able to express hypothetical situations and outcomes. Remember to use "만약" (man-yak) or "만일" (man-il) for the conditional clause and "-(으)면" ((eu)myeon) or "-(으)면서" ((eu)myeonseo) for the connectors, depending on the type of sentence being formed.

Sources

• Korean grammar
• Korean conjunction

Table of Contents - Korean Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Korean Alphabets

• Reading and writing Korean Alphabets
• Korean Pronunciation
• Subject and Object Markers

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Greetings and Introductions

• Hello and Goodbye
• Introducing Yourself
• Family and Friends

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Korean Culture and Customs

• Korean Etiquette
• Korean Holidays
• Korean Cuisine

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Sentence Building

• Basic Verb Conjugation
• Question Words
• Connecting Verbs

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Daily Routine

• Daily Activities
• Means of Transportation
• Weather and Seasons

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Korean Pop Culture

• Korean Dramas
• Korean Music
• Korean Cinema

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Describing People and Things

• Describing People
• Describing Things
• Comparatives and Superlatives

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Food and Drinks

• Food and Ingredients
• Drinks
• Cooking and Recipes

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Korean Traditions

• Korean Weddings
• Korean Festivals
• Korean Games and Sports

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Verb Tenses

• Past Tense
• Future Tense
• Progressive Tense

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Travel and Sightseeing

• Travel Vocabulary
• Sightseeing Vocabulary
• Shopping Vocabulary

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Korean Arts and Crafts

• Korean Calligraphy
• Korean Pottery
• Korean Paper Crafts

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Conjunctions and Connectors

• Conjunctions
• Connectors
• Conditional Sentences

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Health and Body

• Body Parts
• Health Vocabulary
• Exercise and Fitness Vocabulary

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Korean Nature

• Korean National Parks
• Korean Folk Villages
• Korean Eco-Friendly Practices

Related Lessons

• Korean Pronunciation
• How to Use Have
• Question Words
• Describing Things
• Conditional Mood
• Connectors
• 0 to A1 Course
• Reading and writing Korean Alphabets
• Subject and Object Markers
• Questions