Korean Grammar Causal Conjunctions
Korean Grammar Causal Conjunctions
I. ~서because ~
(Replace [~] with the stem of the conjugated verb or adjective)
1) Combine two independent phrases together with the causal syllable 서, when we explain objective cause and effect or factual causation. The sentence has “So, naturally…” nuance.
Ex)
많다 (infinitive adjective) to be many or be much of
많아요 (conjugated adjective) many or much
많아 (conjugated stem) many or much
많아 + 서 there is many or much of a Subject so, (naturally)…
2) Causal phrase comes first and the consequence phrase follows.
Ex) 일이 많아서 피곤해요. I am tired because there is a lot of work.
일이 많아서 which means, ‘because there is a lot of work’ is the causal phrase; therefore, this causal phrase come first in the sentence and the consequence phrase; 피곤해요meaning ‘I am tired’, follows.
In English it is “I am tired because there is lots of work.” But in Korean it is “There is lots of work so, (naturally) I am tired.” This is because the causal phrase always comes first before the consequence phrase.
3) The syllable 서, which always combines with the conjugated stem of verbs or adjectives, doesn’t require tense consistency. Therefore, you don’t need to add the past tense syllables :았, 었 nor the future tense syallable or consonant: 겠, ㄹ within a sentence that contains the causal marker서.
Ex) 어제 숙제가 많아서 늦게 잤어요. (숙제 homework, 늦게 late)
Because there was a lot of homework yesterday, I slept late.
4) Used in certain expressions
Ex) 만나서 반갑습니다.
Nice to meet you.
선물을 주셔서 감사합니다.
Thank you for giving me a present.
늦어서 죄송합니다.
I am sorry for being late.
Exercise 1) Translate the following sentences into Korean using 서 and vice versa.
1. 사탕이 너무 맛있어서 너무 많이 먹었어요. (사탕 candy, 너무 많이 too much)
→ .
2. 안 먹어서 배고파요. (배고프다 to be hungry)
→ .
3. 여행이 길어서 오늘 피곤해요. (여행 trip, 길다 to be long)
→ .
4. I am studying Korean hard because Korean is interesting. (열심히 hard)
→ .
5. I could not do the homework because I didn’t have the time. (숙제 homework, 시간 time)
→ .
6. I cleaned my room because it was dirty. (방 room, 더럽다 to be dirty, 청소하다 to clean)
→ .
7. I want to eat ice cream because it is very hot today.
(오늘 today, 덥다 to be hot, ice cream 아이스크림, 먹고 싶어요 want to eat)
→ .
8. I should go to the restroom because I drank a lot of water.
(마시다 to drink, 화장실 restroom, 많이 a lot)
→ .
9. 좋은 영화를 봐서 행복해요. (좋은 영화 good movie, 행복하다 to be happy)
→ .
10. 콘서트를 끝내서 축하해요.
(콘서트 concert, 끝내다 to finish something, 축하해요 congratulations)
→ .
11. 초콜릿 때문에 살쪄서 운동해야 해요.
(때문에 because of/due to, 살찌다 to gain weight, 운동하다 to work out)
→ .
12. 점심을 너무 많이 먹어서 졸려요. (너무 많이 too much, 졸리다 to be sleepy)
→ .
13. I slept late because last night I hung out with my friends until late.
[어젯밤 last night, 놀다 to hang out, 늦게 late (as an adverb), 늦게까지 until late]
→ .
14. 할 일이 많아서 피곤해요. (할 일 work to do)
→ .
15. 늦어서 죄송합니다.
→ .
16. 너무 많이 먹어서 배불러요.
→ .
17. 고향에 와서 기분이 좋아요. (고향 hometown, 기분이 좋다 to feel good)
→ .
18. 피곤해서 일찍 자고 싶어요.
→ .
19. 눈이 많이 와서 길이 얼었어요. (길이 얼다 the streets are frozen)
→ .
20. 머리가 아파서 약을 먹었어요. (약 medicine)
→ .
21. I only want to drink water because I am sick. (만 only/just)
→ .
22. I don’t have time because I go to school.
→ .
23. I couldn’t do the homework because I was very busy. (숙제 homework)
→ .
24. I am sorry that I am late. (늦다 to be late)
→ .
25. 어제 만나서 반가웠어요. (반갑다 to be nice to meet you)
→ .
26. 초대해 주셔서 고마워요. (초대해 주시다 to give me an invitation/to invite)
→ .
27. 오랫동안 그를 못 봐서 처음 보는 것 같아요.
(...는 것 같아요 I think …/it seems that…/ it feels like that…)
→ .
Exercise 2) Complete the sentence of A using the causal marker서, as given in the example below.
Ex)
Q 왜 밖에 안 나가요?
A (눈이 오다) 눈이 와서 나갈 수 없어요.
1. Q 왜 그 가방을 안 사요?
A (돈이 없다)
2. Q 왜 지하철을 안 타요?
A (사람이 많다)
3. Q 왜 놀러 안 가요?
A (바쁘다)
4. Q 왜 음식을 안 먹어요?
A (배가 아프다)
Exercise 3) Combine the two sentences into one sentence using the causal marker서.
1) 컴퓨터를 오래 봤어요. 눈이 피곤해요. (컴퓨터 computer)
→ .
2) 어제 바빴어요. 친구를 못 만났어요.
→ .
3) 친구가 학교에 안 왔어요. 친구 집에 전화했어요. (전화하다 to call)
→ .
4) 책이 너무 재미없었어요. 잤어요.
→ .
Exercise 4) Complete the sentence by constructing a causal phrase using the causal marker 서 and the word in the parenthese, as given in the example below.
Ex)
Q 왜 김치를 못 먹어요? Why can’t you eat Kimchi?
A (맵다) 매워서 못 먹어요. I can’t eat Kimchi because it is spicy.
1. Q 왜 친구를 못 만나요? Why can’t you meet your friend?
A (시간이 없다)
→ .
I can’t meet my friend because I don’t have the time.
2. Q왜 모임에 못 왔어요? Why couldn’t you come to the meeting?
A (바쁘다)
→ .
I couldn’t go to the meeting because I was busy.
3. Q왜 어제 안 나갔어요? Why didn’t you go out yesterday?
A (춥다)
→ .
I couldn’t go out because it was cold.
4. Q왜 기차를 못 탔어요? Why couldn’t you take the train?
A (사람이 너무 많다)
→ .
I couldn’t take it because there were too many people on the train.
5. Q왜 음식을 안 먹어요? Why don’t you eat the food?
A (배가 아프다)
→ .
I can’t eat the food because I have a stomach ache.
II. …(으)니까 because…
(Replace […] with the stem of the infinitive verb or adjective)
1) Explaining the subjective reason: “as you know…so (or) since…” nuance.
Ex)
그들은 열심히 일하니까 성공할 거예요.
As you know they work hard, so they will succeed.
2) The causal phrase comes first and the consequence phrase follows.
Ex)
친구가 보고 싶으니까 전화할 거예요.
Because I miss my friend, I will call him.
3) ㅆ으니까: Because ~ in past tense
ㄹ 거니까: Because … in future tense
Ex)
어제 일찍 잤으니까 오늘 아침에 일찍 일어날 수 있었어요.
Because I selpt early yesterday, I could get up early this morning.
그가 여기에 왔으니까 그를 만나러 갈 거예요.
Since he came here, I will go to meet him.
운동할 거니까 많이 먹어도 괜찮아요.
It is fine even though I eat a lot since I will work out.
4) When you suggest an action (propositive) or request an action (imperative).
Ex) Propositive
비가 오니까 우산을 가져 가세요.
Ex) Imperative
보고 싶으니까 빨리 오세요!
Variations of 니까
1a) …니까: If the stem of the infinitive verb or adjective ends with a vowel, 니까 is added to the stem.
- 마시다 → 마시 + 니까 because Subject drinks
- 가다 → 가 + 니까 because Subject goes
- 졸리다 → 졸리 + 니까 because Subject is sleepy
- 보다 → 보 + 니까 because Subject watches
Ex)
졸리니까 잘 거예요. (졸리다 to be sleepy)
Because I am sleepy, I will sleep.
1b)…니까: If the stem of the infinitive verb or adjective ends with the consonant ㄹ, ㄹ is dropped and 니까 is added to the stem.
- 살다→ 사 + 니까 because Subject lives
Ex)
한국에 사니까 좋아요!
Since I live in Korea, it is great!
Exercise 5) Translate the following sentences using 니까 into Korean and vice versa.
1) I should sleep early because I go to school tomorrow.
(일찍 early, 자다 sleepy, ~야 해요 = ~야 돼요 should/need to)
→ .
2) I will drink some coffee because I am sleepy. (졸리다 to be sleepy, 마시다 to drink)
→ .
3) I can’t concentrate because I am hungry. (집중하다 to concentrate)
→ .
4) I will work hard today because I hung out with my friends having fun yesterday.
(좋은 시간을 보내다 to have a good time, 즐겁게 having fun, 열심히 hard)
→ .
5) I think he is lazy because he always chills.
(항상 always, …다고 생각해요 I think that…, 게으르다 to be lazy)
→ .
6) 가족을 사랑하니까 보고싶어요. (가족 family, 보고싶다 to want to see = to miss someone)
→ .
7) 날씨가 따뜻하니까 소풍 가고 싶어요. (따뜻하다 to be warm, 소풍가다 to go on a picnic)
→ .
8) 다른 나라에 사니까 다른 문화를 이해할 수 있어요.
(다른 문화 another culture/ other cultures, 이해하다 to understand)
→ .
2) 으니까: If the stem of the infinitive verb or adjective ends with a bottom consonant, an extra syllable 으 is added just before 니까.
- 없다 → 없으 + 니까 because Subject does not have
- 있다 → 있으 + 니까 because Subject has
- 먹다 → 먹으 + 니까 because Subject eats
- 재미있다 → 재미있으 + 니까 because Subject is interesting
Ex)
저희는 시간이 없으니까 다음에 만나요. (다음에 next time)
Because we don’t have time, let’s meet next time.
Exercise 6) Translate the following sentences using 으니까 into Korean and vice versa.
1) I am bored because I am alone. (혼자 alone, 심심하다 to be bored)
→ .
2) Try reading this book because it is interesting.
(재미있다 to be interesting, 읽어 보다 to try reading)
→ .
3) 곧 시험이 있으니까 공부해야 해요. (곧 soon, 시험 exam, 공부하다 to study)
→ .
3a) 우니까: If the stem of the infinitive verb or adjective ends with the bottom consonant ㅂ, and ㅂ is dropped during conjugation, an extra syllable 우 is added just before 니까.
- 시끄럽다 – 시끄러워요 → 시끄러우 + 니까 because Subject is noisy
- 더럽다 –더러워요 → 더러우 + 니까 because Subject is dirty
- 춥다 - 추워요 → 추우 + 니까 because Subject is cold
- 덥다 –더워요 → 더우 + 니까 because Subject is hot
Ex)
시끄러우니까 문을 닫아 주세요. (시끄럽다 to be noisy, 문 door, 닫다 to close)
Because it is noisy, please close the door.
3b) 으니까: if the stem of the infinitive verb or adjective ends with the bottom consonant ㅂ, and ㅂ remains unchanged during conjugation, then 으니까 is used after the infinitive stem.
- 입다 → 입 + 으니까 because Subject wears
- 접다 → 접 + 으니까 because Subject folds
- 뽑다 → 뽑 + 으니까 because Subject extracts/picks up
Exercise 7) Translate the following sentences into Korean using 우니까/으니까 and vice versa.
1) I will clean my room because it is dirty.
(방 room, 더럽다 to be dirty, 청소하다 to clean)
→ .
2) I will wash my hands because my hands are dirty.
(손 hand, 더럽다 to be dirty, 씻다to wash)
→ .
3) 잡초를 뽑으니까 정원이 깔끔해졌어요.
(잡초 weeds, 뽑다 to extract/pick up, 정원 garden, 깔끔해지다 to become neat)
→ .
4) It became warm because I wore clothes. (옷 clothes, 따뜻해지다 to become warm)
→ .
4a) 으니까: If the stem of the infinitive verb or adjective ends with the bottom consonant ㄷ, and ㄷchanges into ㄹ during conjugation, 으니까 is used after the changed form.
- 걷다 → 걸으 + 니까 Because Subject walks
- 듣다 → 들으 + 니까 Because Subject listens to or hears
Ex)
걸으니까 기분이 좋아요. (걷다 to walk, 기분이 좋다 to feel good)
Because I walk, I feel good.
4b) 으니까: If the stem of the infinitive verb or adjective ends with ㄷ as the bottom consonant, and ㄷ remains unchanged during conjugation, 으니까 is used after the infinitive stem.
- 닫다 → 닫으 + 니까 Because Subject closes
- 받다 → 받으 + 니까 Because Subject receives
Ex)
창문을 닫으니까 더워요. (창문 window, 닫다 to close)
Because I closed the window, it is hot.
Exercise 8) Translate the following sentences into Korean using 니까 and vice versa.
1) 음악을 들으니까 신나요. (음악 music, 듣다 to listen, 신나다 to be excited)
→ .
2) I am tired because I walk a lot. (걷다 to walk, 피곤하다 to be tired)
→ .
3) I feel good because I receive a card.
(카드 card, 받다 to receive, 기분이 좋다 to feel good)
→ .
4) I am glad to receive the gift. (선물gift, 받다 to receive, 기쁘다 to be glad)
→ .
5) 오늘 식당 문을 닫았으니까 다음에 갑시다.
(식당 restaurant, 문을 닫다 to be closed/to close the door)
→ .
Review) Translate the following sentences into Korean using either 서 or 니까 and vice versa.
1) I don’t have time so see you next time. (hint: propositive : 니까)
→ .
2) I am tired so I want to drink coffee.
→ .
3) I am sick so I don’t want to do anything. (아무것도 anything)
→ .
4) Today’s weather is cold so wear warmly. (hint: imperative : 니까, 따뜻하게 warmly)
→ .
5) I am bored because there is nothing to do.
(할 것이 없다 there is nothing to do, 심심하다 to be bored)
→ .
6) 그 영화는 재미있으니까 꼭 보세요. (꼭 make sure)
→ .
7) 걸어서 기분이 좋아요. (기분이 좋다 to feel good)
→ .
8) 배고프니까 음식을 먹고 싶어요.
→ .
9) 그들을 사랑해서 그들에게 잘 해주고 싶어요.
(잘 well, 해주다 to treat)
→ .
III. …기 때문에 because of …ing
(… is the stem of the infinitive verb or adjective)
- ~ㅆ기 때문에because ~ (past) : ~ is the stem of the conjugated verb or adjective
Synonym) ~ㅆ으니까
- …기 때문에 because … (present) :…is the stem of the infinitive verb or adjective
Synonym) …우/으/니까
- …ㄹ 것이기 때문에 because… (future): Use ㄹ variations from the expression of “…ㄹ 수 있어요” in chapter 6 of I Can Speak Korean book for beginners
Synonym) …ㄹ 거니까
*** In Korean, the causal phrase comes first and the consequence phrase comes after
Exercise 9) Translate the following sentences into Korean using the기 때문에 expression.
1) A You look sad. Are you ok? (슬퍼 보이다 to look sad)
→ .
B I am sad because I just watched the sad movie.
(슬픈 영화 sad movie, 방금 just, 슬프다 to be sad)
→ .
2) A Why do you study hard? (열심히 hard)
→ .
B I study hard everyday because I want to become an excellent professor.
(훌륭한 교수님 an excellent professor, 되다 to become)
→ .
3) A Why is she mad? (화났어요 to be mad, 싸우다 to fight)
→ .
B She fought with her friend so she is mad.
→ .
4) A Are you hungry?
→ .
B I am hungry because I didn’t eat anything all day long.
(하루종일all day long, 아무것도 anything)
→ .
5) A Do you study Korean?
→ .
B No, I don’t need to study Korean because it is my mother tongue.
(이다 To Be verb, 모국어 mother tongue, …ㄹ 필요가 없다 don’t need to…)
→ .
Exercise 10) Translate the following sentences into English or vice versa, using 기 때문에.
1) 그는 내일 한국에 갈 것이기 때문에 오늘 짐을 싸야 해요.
(짐을 싸다 to pack a luggage)
→ .
2) 저는 한국어를 배우고 싶기 때문에 한국어 책을 알아보고 있어요.
(알아보다 to look for)
→ .
3) They are busy because they are cooking now.
→ .
4) I don’t want to go to the disco party because I can’t dance well.
[춤(을) 추다 to dance, 디스코 파티 disco party]
→ .
5) He will succeed later because he always works hard.
(항상 always, 열심히 hard, 성공하다 to succeed, 나중에 later)
→ .
6) Because she is popular to her friends, a lot of her friends will come to her birthday party. (A에게 인기있다 to be popular with A)
→ .
7) 그들은 연예인이기 때문에 밖에 잘 안 나가요.
(연예인 celebrity, 밖에 outside, 나가다 to go out)
→ .
8) 선생님은 잘 가르치기 때문에 숙제를 열심히 해야 해요. (가르치다 to teach)
→ .
9) 위험하기 때문에 거기에 가면 안 돼요.
(거기 there, 위험하다 to be dangerous, …면 안 돼요 shouldn’t…)
→ .
IV. Noun 때문에 because of Noun
Exercise 11) Translate the following sentences into Korean using 때문에 and vice versa.
1) I am angry because of several reasons. (여러가지 several, 이유 reason, 화나다 to be angry)
→ .
2) I am depressed because of the rain. (비 rain, 우울하다 to be depressed)
→ .
3) I need to work because of money. (돈 money)
→ .
4) 사람 때문에 짜증나요. (짜증나다 to be annoyed/to be annoying)
→ .
5) 일 때문에 바빴어요.
→ .
6) 제 남편의 아버지 때문에 저는 한국어를 더 열심히 공부해야 돼요.
(더 more, 더 열심히 harder)
→ .
V. Noun 덕분에 thanks to Noun
Exercise 12) Translate the following sentences into English and vice versa using 덕분에.
1) 텔레비전 덕분에 다른 나라의 소식을 알 수 있어요.
(다른 나라 other countries, 소식 news, ㄹ 수 있어요 can)
→ .
2) 부모님 덕분에 잘 자랄 수 있었어요.
(자라다 to grow up, 잘 well)
→ .
3) I am happy thanks to my girlfriend.
→ .
4) I could buy a house thanks to my family’s help. (도움 help, 집 house)
→ .
VI. 그러니까 = 그러므로 therefore
- Synonym) 그래서 so
Exercise 13) Translate the following sentences into English and vice versa using 따라서, 그러므로, and 그래서.
1) 저는 그녀를 사랑해요. 따라서 그녀에게 잘 해줄 거예요. (잘 해주다 to treat well)
→ .
2) 한국에 가고 싶어요. 그러므로 열심히 한국어를 배울 거예요.
→ .
3) I need to get up early. So I will go to bed early.
→ .
4) I can’t study at home. Therefore, I will study at a school.
→ .