25 intermediate beginner grammar patterns — nominalizers, progressive, conditionals, and complex expressions.
Fixed patterns and set phrases
-는 것
Turns a verb clause into a noun phrase, equivalent to English '-ing' or 'the fact that'.
-아/어야 하다
Expresses obligation or necessity, meaning 'must' or 'have to'.
-지 않다
The standard long-form negation pattern, meaning 'do not' or 'is not'.
-아/어 보다
Expresses trying or experiencing an action, meaning 'try doing' something.
-려고
Expresses intention or purpose, meaning 'in order to' or 'intending to'.
-ㄹ 수 없다
Expresses inability, meaning 'cannot' or 'is unable to'.
-아/어 주다
Expresses doing an action for someone else's benefit, meaning 'do something for (someone)'.
-(으)면 좋겠다
Expresses a wish or hope, meaning 'I wish' or 'it would be nice if'.
-는 게 좋다
Used to give advice or recommendations, meaning 'it's good to' or 'you'd better'.
-ㄹ 것 같다
Expresses conjecture or probability, meaning 'seems like' or 'I think (it will)'.
-아/어도 되다
Expresses permission, meaning 'may', 'is allowed to', or 'it's okay to'.
-(으)면 안 되다
Expresses prohibition, meaning 'must not' or 'is not allowed to'.
-ㄹ 줄 알다
Expresses knowledge of how to do something, meaning 'know how to'.
Connecting clauses and complex sentences
-ㄹ 때
Expresses 'when' a certain action or state occurs.
-기 때문에
Expresses a reason or cause, meaning 'because of doing something'.
-는데
Provides background information or a soft contrast, similar to 'but' or 'and' with context.
-기 전에
Expresses that something happens before another action, meaning 'before doing'.
-ㄴ 후에
Expresses that something happens after another action, meaning 'after doing'.
-(으)면서
Expresses two simultaneous actions by the same subject, meaning 'while doing'.
-고 있다, -ㄴ 적이 있다, progressive and experience
-고 있다
Expresses an ongoing action, equivalent to English '-ing' (present progressive).
-는 중
Expresses that an action is currently in progress, meaning 'in the middle of doing'.
-ㄴ 적이 있다
Expresses past experience, meaning 'have done before' or 'have the experience of'.
은/는, 이/가, 을/를, 에, 에서, 도, 의
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