Korean Lessons ᚛ Level 3 - Korean for Beginners #2 (Lessons 61 to 90) ᚛ Lesson 81 - The verb 그렇다 in Korean and its variations

The verb 그렇다 in Korean and its variations

Dans ce cours : 그러면 / 그래서 / 그러니까 / 그런데 / 근데 / 그렇지만 / 그래도 / 그래 / 그래요 / 그렇다 / 이렇다 / 저렇다

In Korean, there is a rather special verb, that is 그렇다. This word isn't simple to translate into English. The closest expression we can get is "to be like that".

Variations of 그렇다

The verb 그렇다, combined with different endings that we've seen in the previous chapters, will allow you to create many conjunctions with which to enrich your Korean sentences.

그러면

By combining the verb 그렇다 with the condition structure -(으)면, one obtains the word 그러면, literally "if it's like that", which we would generally translate as "then" or "in that case" in English.

배고파? 그러면 밥 먹어.
→ Are you hungry? If you are, eat (a meal).

추워? 그러면 자켓 입어.
→ Are you cold? If you are, wear a jacket.

이 길로 가. 그러면 학교가 보일 거야.
→ Take it this way. Then you will see the school. (Lit: Go on this street. Then the school will be visible.)

오늘 바빠? 그러면 다음에 연락해.
→ Are you busy today? If you are, contact me next time.

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그러면 can be shortened to 그럼 when speaking.

공부 다 끝났어? 그럼 이제 쉬어.
→ Have you finished studying? Then take a rest now.

너 해산물 싫어해? 그럼 삼겹살 어때?
→ Don’t you like seafood? Then what about (eating) samgyeopsal?

그래서 / 그러니까

If you add the cause structures -아/어서 or -(으)니까 to the verb 그렇다, you obtain the words 그래서 and 그러니까, literally "because it's like that", which allow you to obtain English words such as "therefore", "so", "as a result" … etc.

나 살쪘어. 그래서 살 빼야 해.
→ I gained weight, so I have to lose it.

민지가 아파요. 그래서 학교에 못 갔어요.
→ Minji is sick. Therefore, she was not able to go to school.

어제는 비가 많이 왔어요. 그래서 달리기 대회가 취소됐어요.
→ It rained a lot yesterday. Therefore, the track competition was canceled.

저도 이제 어른이에요. 그러니까 간섭하지 말아 주세요.
→ Now I am an adult too. So don't interfere (in my business).

비밀 지킬게. 그러니까 이야기해 줘.
→ I will keep the secret. So tell me, please.

오늘 일 때문에 너무 바빠. 그러니까 내일 만나.
→ Today, because of work, I am very busy. So let’s meet tomorrow.

그런데

By adding the ending of concession -(으)ㄴ/는데 to the verb 그렇다, one obtains the conjunction 그런데, which means "even though it is like that" and allows us to express words like "but", "moreover", or "by the way".

과학 숙제 다 끝났어요. 그런데 수학 숙제가 남아서 아직 쉴 수 없어요.
→ I finished all of my science homework. However, since I still have math homework, I cannot rest yet.

재현이는 오늘 학교 안 가는 날이에요. 그런데 집에 없어요.
→ Jaehyun is not going to school today. But he isn't at home. (Lit: In what concerns Jaehyun, today is a day without going to school.)

어제는 비가 많이 왔어요. 그런데 우산이 없어서 비를 맞았어요.
→ It rained a lot yesterday but since I didn't have an umbrella, I got rained on.

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그런데 can be shortened to 근데 when speaking.

요즘 날씨가 엄청 더워요. 근데 왜 감기에 걸렸어요?
→ These days the weather is very hot. but why did you catch a cold?

그렇지만

By linking the verb 그렇다 with the opposition structure -지만, one obtains the word 그렇지만, literally "it's like that, but", which is generally translated as "but", "however", or "nevertheless" in English.

그 상황은 충분히 이해해. 그렇지만 기분 나빴어.
→ I totally understand this situation. However, I felt bad.

그 식당은 정말 맛있어요. 그렇지만 비싸요.
→ That restaurant is really good. However, it's expensive.

기분 나빴어. 그렇지만 화내지 않았어.
→ I felt bad. However, I was not angry.

그래도

It is possible to combine the verbal ending in -아/어도 with the verb 그렇다 to obtain the conjunction 그래도, literally "even if it's like that", allowing one to express the idea of "in spite of that", "nevertheless", or "but".

저희 할머니는 80살이세요. 그래도 여전히 아름다우세요.
→ My grandmother is 80 years old. In spite of that she is still beautiful.

너한테 상처 많이 받았어. 그래도 너를 떠나지 않을 거야.
→ I have been hurt a lot by you. In spite of that I will not leave you.

미국에 오래 살았어요. 그래도 영어는 어려워요.
→ I have lived in the United States for a long time. In spite of that, English is still hard (for me).

그렇다 en fin de phrase

Exercises

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