Course

2. Intentions & Excuses

Learn essential Korean grammar patterns for expressing intentions, giving reasons, and making excuses. This course covers how to explain your purpose with -(으)려고, describe unexpected outcomes with -는 바람에, and discuss worries, regrets, and assumptions. Work through these lessons to build more nuanced and natural conversational skills for explaining why things happen.

25 episodes

Continue · EP.26 Start from EP.26

Episodes

EP.26

Intend to / In order to

-으려고

Use -(으)려고 to explain the purpose or intention behind your actions. Learn to say why you're doing something, like "I exercise in order to lose weight" or "I'm saving money with the intention of buying a house."

EP.27

Go to do

-으러

Use -(으)러 to state your purpose for going or coming somewhere. It's perfect for everyday situations like saying "Let's go to eat" (밥 먹으러 가자) or "I came to see you" (널 보러 왔어).

EP.28

Thinking of doing

-으ㄹ 생각이야

Use -(으)ㄹ 생각이야 to express what you're thinking of doing or planning for the future. Drill real-life examples for talking about personal intentions, like quitting your job, moving house, or getting married.

EP.29

Because of [Action]

-느라고

Use -느라고 to explain why something didn't happen or had a negative result, often as an excuse. It means "because I was busy doing..." or "as a result of doing...", perfect for when you miss a call because you were sleeping.

EP.30

Worried that

-으ㄹ까 봐

Use -(으)ㄹ까 봐 to explain why you did something—because you were worried about a potential negative outcome. Learn to say you brought an umbrella "in case it rains" or studied hard "afraid that you might fail."

EP.31

Because of [Unexpected]

-는 바람에

Use -는 바람에 to explain that an unexpected event caused a negative outcome. It's perfect for making excuses, like when you were late because of traffic or ruined your clothes because you spilled coffee.

EP.32

Because / So

-아/어서

Learn to connect a cause and effect using the -아/어서 pattern, meaning "so" or "because." Practice explaining why something happened in everyday situations, like being late because of traffic or buying something because it was pretty.

EP.33

Because of [Noun]

-때문에

Use -때문에 to state the reason for something, linking an outcome directly to a noun. Learn to explain both negative results, like being late "because of the rain," and positive ones, like succeeding "because of you."

EP.34

Thanks to

-덕분에

Use -덕분에 to say "thanks to" a person, thing, or situation that caused a positive outcome. Learn to express gratitude for good results, like getting a discount because of a friend or enjoying a trip because of good weather.

EP.35

Thought that...

-줄 알았어

Express a mistaken belief with '-(으)ㄴ/는 줄 알았어' (I thought that...). Use it when you realize your assumption was wrong, like thinking today was a day off or that something was free.

EP.36

Didn't know that...

-줄 몰랐어

Use the -줄 몰랐어 pattern to express that you didn't know a certain fact. It's perfect for showing surprise or explaining why you were unaware, like when you find out something is expensive or that an appointment is today.

EP.37

Pretend to

-은/는 척하다

Use the pattern -은/는 척하다 to tell someone to stop faking an action or state. Practice telling people not to pretend they're asleep, busy, or know something when they clearly don't.

EP.38

While I'm at it

-김에

Use -(으)ㄴ/는 김에 to mean "while you're at it" or "since you're already..." when one action provides a good opportunity to do another. It's perfect for when you're already going out and can grab something, or since you've started cleaning, you might as well finish the whole room.

EP.39

While / Then

-다가

Use the -다가 pattern to explain that one action was interrupted by another. It's perfect for describing everyday situations where something unexpected happens, like meeting a friend while walking or getting hungry while studying.

EP.40

Guess I should

-아/어야겠다

Express a personal decision or realization with -아/어야겠다, meaning 'I guess I should...'. It's for when a situation makes you decide what to do next, like feeling hungry and thinking 'I should eat,' or realizing you're late and deciding 'I should take a taxi.'

EP.41

Should have / Regret

-으ㄹ걸 그랬어

Use -을/ㄹ걸 그랬어 to express regret about something you didn't do, meaning "I should have...". Learn to talk about past regrets, like wishing you'd studied more for a test or brought an umbrella.

EP.42

Might

-으ㄹ지도 몰라

Use -(으)ㄹ지도 몰라 to say something "might" happen or "could" be true. It's perfect for expressing uncertainty, like when you think it might rain, someone might be late, or a place might be expensive.

EP.43

Just have to

-기만 하면 돼

Use "-기만 하면 돼" to reassure someone that a task is simple by highlighting the one key action needed. Learn to say "all you have to do is sign" or "you just have to show up" to make complex situations feel easy.

EP.44

Is it true that...?

-다면서?

Use the '-다면서?' pattern to confirm something you've heard from someone else. It's perfect for situations where you want to ask, 'Is it true that...?' like when you hear a friend is getting married or quitting their job.

EP.45

Since I observed...

-길래

Use -길래 to explain why you did something based on what you personally saw, heard, or felt. It's perfect for when you see it's raining and decide not to go out, or spot a sale and buy something on impulse.

EP.46

In order to

-기 위해서

Use -기 위해서 to clearly state the purpose for an action, emphasizing the goal. It's perfect for situations like saving money "in order to buy a house" or exercising "for the sake of your health."

EP.47

Making an excuse of

-핑계 대고

Use "-(ㄴ/는)다는 핑계 대고" to explain the excuse you used for an action, implying it might not be the real reason. Practice common scenarios like using sickness to leave early or studying to play games.

EP.48

If / When

-으면

Use -(으)면 to state what will happen or what should be done when a certain condition is met. It works for hypothetical 'if' situations, like 'I won't go if it rains,' and for 'when' situations that trigger an action, like 'Contact me when you arrive.'

EP.49

Resolved to

-기로 마음먹었어

Use -기로 마음먹었어 to express a firm resolution or strong will to do something. Practice with real-life examples for when you've made a big decision, like setting a New Year's goal or deciding to quit a bad habit.

EP.50

I think / It seems

-는 것 같아

Use the '-(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다' pattern to soften your opinions, making them sound like a guess or impression. Drill common examples for when you think you've caught a cold, it seems to be raining, or something feels expensive.