안녕하세요, 여러분! Today, I will show you how to make a conditional sentence involving intentions or goals! At the end of the lesson, you'll be able to say like "If you want to pass the test, study hard." or "If you want to get a refund, bring the receipt."
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1. 으려면 Grammar
V(으)려면 is a connective ending. It is a short version of (으)려고 하면. This grammar is made with two grammar elements; 으려고 하다 and (으)면.
(으)려 came from (으)려고. It is a grammar structure that shows intention or purpose like "in order to V." (으)면 is a conditional part, meaning "if." So, (으)려면 means "if (someone) wants to do V" or "if (someone) intends to do V". Here is an example to help you understand.
If you want to get first place on the test, you have to study hard! So, to show the condition of getting first place, we can attach (으)려면 to 일등을 하다(to get first place).
2. Conjugation Information
You can attach (으)려면 only to a verb.
Regular
받침 O | + 으려면 | 먹다 (to eat) → 먹으려면 (If you want to eat...) |
받침 X | +려면 | 가다 (to go) → 가려면 (If you want to go...) |
ㄹ 받침 | +려면 | 놀다 (to play) → 놀려면 (If you want to play...) |
받침 O + 으려면
읽다 to read → 읽으려면
닫다 to close → 닫으려면
잡다 to catch → 잡으려면
앉다 to sit → 앉으려면
받침 X + 려면
보다 to see → 보려면
가다 to go → 가려면
사다 to buy → 사려면
전화하다 to make a phone call → 전화하려면
쓰다 to write/to use → 쓰려면
빌리다 to borrow → 빌리려면
ㄹ받침 + 려면
만들다 to make → 만들려면
놀다 to play → 놀려면
열다 to open → 열려면
Irregular
ㄷ 받침 | Change ㄷ to ㄹ + 으려면 | 듣다 (to listen) → 들으려면 (if you want to listen...) |
ㅅ 받침 | Drop ㅅ + 으려면 | 잇다 (to connect) → 이으려면 (if you want to connect...) |
ㅂ 받침 | Drop ㅂ + 우려면 | 돕다 (to help) → 도우려면 (if you want to help...) |
ㄷ 받침: Change ㄷ to ㄹ +으려면
걷다 to walk → 걸으려면
묻다 to ask → 물으려면
ㅅ 받침: Drop ㅅ + 으러면
긋다 to draw a line → 그으려면
짓다 to build/to cook rice → 지으려면
ㅂ 받침: Drop ㅂ + 우려면
굽다 to bake → 구우려면
줍다 to pick up → 주우려면
3. Sentence Information
Commonly, (으)려면 is followed by suggest or command form. If you want to V, you have to do V or you shouldn't do V. I'll show you detailed examples in the example section!
아/어/여야 돼요. Should/Must V
(으)면 돼요. To be enough
(으)면 안 돼요. Should not V
(으)세요. Command
는 게 좋아요. You'd better
필요해요. Need
4. Examples
I'll show you examples using various endings!
1
시험을 통과하려면 열심히 공부해야 돼요.
If you want to pass the test, you must start hard.
시험 is a teat. 통과하다 means to pass. You should study hard(열심히) to pass the 시험!
2
백 점을 맞으려면 놀면 안 돼요.
You shouldn't play around if you want to get the perfect score.
백 means hundred 점 means score. 백점(100) is the maximum(perfect) score of the test. Banning an action (으)면 안 되다 is also working well with (으)려면 grammar! It is combined with 놀다(to play). 놀다 is not only just playing like children do. It has a vibe that you don't focus and do something else instead of studying like watching TV or daydreaming.
3
학교에 가려면 지하철을 타세요.
If you want to get to school, ride the subway.
You can use the command form (으)세요 as well. 지하철 is a subway.
4
빨리 가려면 택시를 타는 게 좋아요.
If you want to get there faster, you'd better ride a taxi.
A suggestion ending is also well used with the 으려면 grammar! 택시 is a pretty easy word, right? A taxi!
5
Q: 부산에 가려면 어떻게 해야 돼요? What should I do to get to Busan?
A: 기차나 버스를 타세요. Ride a train or a bus.
부산 is a city in South Korea. You can get there by 기차(train) or 버스(bus). You can say "or" in Korean by using the (이)나 grammar.
6
기차를 타려면 표가 필요해요. If you want to ride a train, you need a ticket.
표 is a ticket. 필요해요 came from the basic form 필요하다 (to need). You need a 표 to ride 기차(train).
7
약속 시간에 늦지 않으려면 서둘러야 해요.
We should be in a hurry so as not to be late.
8
한국어를 잘하려면 매일 연습해야 해요.
If you want to be good at Korean, you must practice every day.
5. Wrap-up & Worksheet
(으)려면 is the combined form of (으)려고 and (으)면. It means "if you want to V," or "if you intend to V." The final consonant is the key to conjugation.
I have created a free, printable worksheet for you. The answers are distributed throughout the lesson. Once you've finished the worksheet, go back to the lesson to check your answers. This will also help with your review!
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