Core Pattern Rule: Quoting Commands with -래(요)
This pattern is a casual, spoken way to report a command or instruction you received from someone else. It's a contraction of the full quoted command form, -(으)라고 하다.
Meaning & Usage
Meaning: "(Someone) said to..." or "(Someone) told me/us to..."
When to use: Use it to relay an order, request, or instruction in everyday conversation.
Formation
This pattern attaches directly to a verb stem.
Vowel or ㄹ ending stem + -래(요):
오다 (to come) → 오래(요)
만들다 (to make) → 만들래(요)
Consonant ending stem + -으래(요):
먹다 (to eat) → 먹으래(요)
앉다 (to sit) → 앉으래(요)
Negative Commands: For "told not to...", use -[Verb Stem]지 말래(요).
가다 (to go) → 가지 말래(요)
마시다 (to drink) → 마시지 말래(요)
엄마가 집에 오래. / 이거 먹으래. / 의사 선생님이 술 마시지 말래요. / 가지 말래.
Full Form vs. Contraction
As mentioned, -래(요) is the short, conversational form of -(으)라고 해(요). While -래(요) is overwhelmingly common in speech, understanding the full form helps clarify the grammar.
The Full Structure
The full pattern is [Verb Stem]-(으)라고 하다. The final 하다 conjugates to 해 (casual) or 해요 (polite).
오래 is short for 오라고 해.
먹으래요 is short for 먹으라고 해요.
가지 말래 is short for 가지 말라고 해.
When to Use the Full Form
While -래(요) is more natural for quick reports, the full form -(으)라고 해요 can be used for emphasis, clarity, or in slightly more formal written contexts. It explicitly includes the quoting particle -라고 and the verb 하다 (to say/tell).
Spoken (Natural): 엄마가 밥 먹으래.
Full Form (Clear/Slightly Formal): 엄마가 밥 먹으라고 해.
사장님이 이거 다 하래요. / 사장님이 이거 다 하라고 해요. / 의사 선생님이 술 마시지 말래. / 의사 선생님이 술 마시지 말라고 해.