B2 · Obere Mittelstufe Kapitel 19

Citing Sources and Causes

4 Gesamtregeln
40 Beispiele
5 Min.
Regeln in diesem Kapitel Schnelle Übung

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of explaining causes, citing sources, and setting conditions like a native speaker.

  • Distinguish between internal and external causes for negative outcomes.
  • Integrate news and professional reports using proper citation structures.
  • Express conditional dependencies and universal independence in any situation.
Mastering nuance: from causes to conditions.

Was du lernen wirst

Ready to fine-tune your Korean to B2? This chapter is your secret weapon for sounding truly native when you discuss *why* things happen and *who* or *what* is responsible. You’ll master four essential grammar patterns to express cause, blame, external information, and conditional relationships with precision. First, you'll master attributing negative outcomes. Ever want to subtly blame someone or explain an unexpected mishap? We'll show you how to use -탓에 for assigning blame ('Because of you, I was late!') and -바람에 for sudden, unforeseen problems ('Traffic caused me to be late!'). This nuance is key for B2 speakers. Then, learn to cite information like a pro with -에 따르면. This isn't just 'according to,' it's about correctly integrating reports and news, always paired with the right indirect speech ending like -대요. Imagine discussing current events or sharing advice – you'll do it seamlessly. Next, master -에 따라(서), a versatile expression linking changing results to specific variables. Explain how your exam score *depends on* study effort, or how prices *vary according to* the season. Finally, express absolute independence with -ㄴ/은/는 관계없이. Declare something is true *regardless of* age, cost, or any other condition. Say things like, 'No matter the weather, I'm going!' By chapter's end, you'll confidently wield these rules, expressing complex ideas with native-like accuracy. You'll articulate causes, cite sources, and discuss dependencies, truly elevating your Korean. Get ready to impress!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Articulate specific causes for negative events using -탓에 and -바람에.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Synthesize information from external sources using -에 따르면.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to: Describe variable results based on changing factors using -에 따라.
  4. 4
    By the end you will be able to: Assert statements that remain true regardless of context using -관계없이.

Kapitel-Leitfaden

Overview

Welcome to your next step in mastering B2 Korean grammar! This chapter is meticulously designed to elevate your ability to articulate *why* things happen, *who* or *what* is responsible, and how information is presented in Korean. Moving beyond basic cause-and-effect, you'll delve into nuances that are crucial for sounding truly native and expressing complex ideas with precision.
Understanding these advanced patterns is key to unlocking a higher level of fluency and engaging in sophisticated conversations.
By focusing on specific expressions for cause, blame, external information, and conditional relationships, you'll gain the tools to discuss current events, share opinions based on reports, and explain dependencies like a seasoned speaker. This isn't just about memorizing rules; it's about integrating them into your natural speech to convey subtle meanings. Get ready to refine your Korean grammar and impress with your enhanced communicative abilities.
We'll cover four essential grammar patterns: -탓에, -바람에, -에 따르면, -에 따라(서), and -ㄴ/은/는 관계없이. Each one offers a unique way to connect ideas, attribute outcomes, and structure arguments, pushing your B2 Korean skills to new heights.

How This Grammar Works

Let's dive into the core mechanics of these powerful Korean grammar patterns, each offering a distinct way to express causality, citation, or dependency.
First, for attributing negative outcomes, we have -탓에 and -바람에. -탓에 is used when you want to assign blame or fault for a negative result, often implying a specific person or action is responsible. It carries a stronger negative connotation than a simple because of. For example: 네 탓에 우리가 늦었어. (We were late because of you.) Here, you are directly blamed.
On the other hand, -바람에 is used for sudden, unforeseen negative consequences, typically caused by external circumstances or events beyond one's control. It doesn't imply blame but rather an unfortunate chain of events. For instance: 갑자기 비가 오는 바람에 소풍이 취소됐어요. (The picnic was canceled because it suddenly rained.)
Next, when you need to cite sources or report information professionally, you'll use -에 따르면. This pattern means according to and is essential for integrating news, reports, or official statements. Crucially, it almost always pairs with indirect speech endings like -대요 (short for -다고 해요) or -라고 합니다.
For example: 뉴스에 따르면 내일 날씨가 맑대요. (According to the news, the weather will be clear tomorrow.)
Then, to express how something changes or varies based on a specific factor, we use -에 따라(서). This versatile expression means depending on, according to, or in accordance with. It highlights a relationship where one element's state or outcome is determined by another. You can use either -에 따라 or -에 따라서 interchangeably.
For example: 가격은 계절에 따라 달라져요. (Prices vary according to the season.)
Finally, to express absolute independence from a condition, you'll master -ㄴ/은/는 관계없이. This pattern translates to regardless of or irrespective of, indicating that a certain condition or factor does not influence the outcome. It's perfect for making strong, unconditional statements.
For instance: 나이와 관계없이 누구나 참여할 수 있어요. (Anyone can participate regardless of age.)

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: 교통체증 탓에 비행기를 놓쳤어요. (I missed the flight because of traffic congestion [blaming traffic].)
✓ Correct: 교통체증 바람에 비행기를 놓쳤어요. (I missed the flight due to traffic congestion [unforeseen circumstance].)
*Explanation:* While -탓에 indicates a cause for a negative outcome, it strongly implies blame or fault, often human. Traffic congestion is an external, unforeseen event, making -바람에 the more natural and appropriate choice to express the negative consequence without assigning blame.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 기상청에 따르면 «내일은 춥다.» (According to the meteorological agency, Tomorrow is cold.)
✓ Correct: 기상청에 따르면 내일은 춥대요. (According to the meteorological agency, tomorrow is cold.)
*Explanation:* -에 따르면 always requires an indirect speech ending (like -대요, -라고 합니다, -다고 합니다, etc.) to properly integrate the reported information into the sentence. Using direct speech or omitting the indirect speech ending is grammatically incorrect in this context.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 열심히 공부한 것에 따라 시험에 합격했어요. (I passed the exam according to studying hard.)
✓ Correct: 노력에 따라 결과가 달라져요. (Results vary depending on effort.) / 열심히 공부해서 시험에 합격했어요. (I studied hard, so I passed the exam.)
*Explanation:* -에 따라 indicates a variable relationship or a consequence of a *changing factor*, not a direct cause for a single, completed event. For a direct cause resulting in a specific outcome, simpler conjunctions like -아/어서 or -기 때문에 are more suitable. The wrong example awkwardly implies the passing was *conditional* on studying rather than a direct result.

Real Conversations

A

A

네 탓에 중요한 회의에 늦었잖아! (Because of you, I was late for the important meeting!)
B

B

미안해, 갑자기 차가 고장 나는 바람에 어쩔 수 없었어. (I'm sorry, my car suddenly broke down, so I couldn't help it.)
A

A

새로운 연구 결과에 따르면 커피가 건강에 좋대요. (According to new research, coffee is good for your health.)
B

B

정말요? 그럼 이제 마음 놓고 마셔도 되겠네요. (Really? Then I can drink it without worry now.)
A

A

이용 요금은 사용하는 시간에 따라 달라지나요? (Does the usage fee vary depending on the time you use it?)
B

B

아니요, 시간과 관계없이 한 달에 만 원이에요. (No, regardless of the time, it's 10,000 won per month.)

Quick FAQ

Q

How do -탓에 and -바람에 differ from -때문에 in B2 Korean grammar?

-때문에 is a neutral because of. -탓에 implies blame or fault for a negative outcome. -바람에 suggests an unforeseen, often sudden, negative consequence from external factors.

Q

Can I use -에 따르면 to report my own opinion in Korean?

No, -에 따르면 is strictly for citing external, often objective, sources like news, reports, or official statements, not personal opinions.

Q

Is there a difference between -에 따라 and -에 따라서?

While largely interchangeable, -에 따라서 can sometimes feel slightly more complete or emphatic, but their core meaning and usage for expressing dependency remain the same.

Q

What's a common mistake when using -ㄴ/은/는 관계없이?

A common mistake is trying to attach it to a verb phrase directly without nominalizing it first. Remember to use -는 것 or a noun form before 관계없이. For example, 날씨가 좋은 것과 관계없이 (regardless of the weather being good).

Cultural Context

In Korean communication, the choice between -탓에 and -바람에 subtly reflects how speakers perceive responsibility and express frustration. Using -탓에 can be quite direct and, depending on the context and relationship, might be seen as confrontational. In contrast, -바람에 allows for expressing negative outcomes while subtly deflecting direct blame, often used when explaining unfortunate circumstances.
Citing sources with -에 따르면 is a mark of educated speech and is crucial in formal settings or when conveying verified information, reflecting a value placed on credible sources. These nuances are vital for achieving true B2 Korean fluency and demonstrating cultural awareness.

Wichtige Beispiele (8)

1

비가 많이 오는 바람에 축구 경기가 취소됐어요.

Weil es (plötzlich) stark geregnet hat, wurde das Fußballspiel abgesagt.

Schuldzuweisung: -탓에 und -바람에
2

어제 술을 많이 마신 탓에 오늘 머리가 너무 아파요.

Weil ich gestern viel getrunken habe, tut mein Kopf heute so weh.

Schuldzuweisung: -탓에 und -바람에
3

일기 예보에 따르면 내일은 하루 종일 비가 온대요.

Laut Wetterbericht soll es morgen den ganzen Tag regnen.

Laut... / Nach... (-에 따르면)
4

최근 조사 결과에 따르면 한국인의 커피 소비량이 늘었대요.

Laut aktuellen Umfrageergebnissen ist der Kaffeekonsum der Koreaner gestiegen.

Laut... / Nach... (-에 따르면)
5

사람에 따라 성격이 다 달라요.

Je nach Person ist der Charakter ganz unterschiedlich.

Je nach / Abhängig von ( -에 따라 / -에 따라서 )
6

날씨에 따라서 옷차림이 바뀌어요.

Je nach Wetter ändert sich die Kleidung.

Je nach / Abhängig von ( -에 따라 / -에 따라서 )
7

이유에 관계없이 지각은 안 돼요.

Unabhängig vom Grund ist Verspätung nicht erlaubt.

Ungeachtet dessen / Egal ob (관계없이)
8

날씨에 관계없이 경기는 계속됩니다.

Das Spiel geht unabhängig vom Wetter weiter.

Ungeachtet dessen / Egal ob (관계없이)

Tipps & Tricks (4)

⚠️

Achte auf deinen Ton!

Wenn du zu oft -탓에 benutzt, wirkst du schnell so, als würdest du nie Verantwortung übernehmen. Nutze es sparsam bei Fehlern anderer: «너 탓에 우리 팀이 졌잖아!»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Schuldzuweisung: -탓에 und -바람에
🎯

Die Hearsay-Pflicht

Wenn du «-에 따르면» nutzt, bist du quasi verpflichtet, den Satz mit einer indirekten Form wie «-대요» oder «-라고 해요» zu beenden. Du kannst nicht einfach ein normales «-요» nehmen, da du ja nicht die Originalquelle bist: «기사에 따르면 물가가 올랐대요.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Laut... / Nach... (-에 따르면)
🎯

Der Joker: '다 달라요'

Wenn du nicht weißt, wie du den Satz beenden sollst, nimm einfach «다 달라요» (ist alles unterschiedlich). Das passt fast immer! Zum Beispiel: «사람에 따라 다 달라요.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Je nach / Abhängig von ( -에 따라 / -에 따라서 )
💡

Der Frage-Hack

Wenn du unsicher bist, wie du ein Verb anschließt, denk einfach an 'Fragewort + Frage-Endung'. Zum Beispiel: 누가 (wer) 하는지 (macht?) + 에 관계없이. Das ergibt dann: «누가 하는지에 관계없이.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Ungeachtet dessen / Egal ob (관계없이)

Wichtige Vokabeln (6)

결과 result 뉴스 news 탓 fault 관계 relation 변화 change 보고서 report

Real-World Preview

briefcase

Debriefing a Project

Review Summary

  • Noun + 탓에 / Verb + (으)ㄴ/는 바람에
  • Noun + 에 따르면
  • Noun + 에 따라(서)
  • Noun + (과/와) 관계없이

Häufige Fehler

-탓에 is strictly for negative outcomes. You cannot use it for positive results.

Wrong: 비가 온 탓에 기분이 좋아요.
Richtig: 비가 온 탓에 기분이 나빠요.

Use -에 따르면 for citations, not -에 따라서.

Wrong: 뉴스에 따라서 말했어요.
Richtig: 뉴스에 따르면 말했어요.

Always include the particle -와/과 before 관계없이.

Wrong: 나이 관계없이 공부해요.
Richtig: 나이와 관계없이 공부해요.

Next Steps

You have navigated the complexities of B2 causality! Keep practicing these in your daily conversations to solidify your fluency.

Listen to a Korean news broadcast and identify one citation.

Continue to: Advanced Descriptive Patterns

Schnelle Übung (10)

Fülle die Lücke mit der richtigen Form von '-바람에'.

갑자기 사고가 (나다) ___ 길이 많이 막혔어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 나는 바람에
'-바람에' nutzt immer die Präsens-Modifikatorform '-는', auch wenn das Ereignis in der Vergangenheit liegt.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Schuldzuweisung: -탓에 und -바람에

Fülle die Lücke mit der richtigen Form aus.

상황___ 계획이 바뀔 수도 있어요. (Je nach Situation kann sich der Plan ändern.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 에 따라
«-에 따라» ist der korrekte Ausdruck für 'je nach'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Je nach / Abhängig von ( -에 따라 / -에 따라서 )

Welcher Satz klingt natürlich?

Wähle die korrekte Verwendung von '-탓에' oder '-덕분에'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 선생님 덕분에 시험에 합격했어요.
Eine bestandene Prüfung ist etwas Positives, daher musst du '덕분에' (dank) statt '탓에' (Schuld) verwenden.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Schuldzuweisung: -탓에 und -바람에

Finde und korrigiere den Fehler.

Find and fix the mistake:

날씨가 추운 바람에 감기에 걸렸어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 날씨가 추운 탓에 감기에 걸렸어요.
'-바람에' kann nicht mit Adjektiven wie '춥다' (kalt sein) verwendet werden. Nutze stattdessen '-탓에'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Schuldzuweisung: -탓에 und -바람에

Vervollständige den Satz, um die Nachrichten zu zitieren.

___ 따르면, 내일 눈이 온대요. (Laut den Nachrichten)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 뉴스에
Das Muster ist Nomen + -에 따르면.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Laut... / Nach... (-에 따르면)

Welcher Satz bedeutet korrekt "Unabhängig von der Zeit"?

Wähle die natürliche Phrase:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 시간에 관계없이
Das Standardmuster ist Nomen + 에 + 관계없이.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Ungeachtet dessen / Egal ob (관계없이)

Welcher Satz verwendet '-에 따라' richtig?

Wähle den natürlichsten Satz:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 메뉴에 따라 가격이 달라요.
Die richtige Partikel für dieses Muster ist immer «-에».

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Je nach / Abhängig von ( -에 따라 / -에 따라서 )

Welches Satzende ist am natürlichsten mit -에 따르면?

일기 예보에 따르면 비가 ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 온대요 (man sagt, es kommt)
Wenn du 'Laut...' benutzt, zitierst du Informationen, also solltest du Hearsay-Endungen wie -대요 (kurz für -다고 해요) verwenden.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Laut... / Nach... (-에 따르면)

Finde den unnatürlichen Teil in diesem Satz.

Find and fix the mistake:

나에 따르면 이 영화는 재미있어.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 제 생각에는 이 영화는 재미있어.
Man sagt normalerweise nicht 'Laut mir' («나에 따르면»). Das klingt unnatürlich. Nutze stattdessen 'Meiner Meinung nach' («제 생각에는»).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Laut... / Nach... (-에 따르면)

Finde den Fehler im Satz.

비가 오다 관계없이 축구를 했어.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 비가 오는 것에 관계없이 축구를 했어.
Du kannst 관계없이 nicht direkt an den Verbstamm 오다 hängen. Du musst es nominalisieren (오는 것) oder die Frageform (오는지) nutzen.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Ungeachtet dessen / Egal ob (관계없이)

Score: /10

Häufige Fragen (6)

Ja, genau wie im Deutschen! Du kannst «너 탓에 너무 행복해» sagen, um spielerisch zu sein. In offiziellen Tests wird es aber immer als rein negativ gewertet.
'때문에' ist ein neutraler Grund, aber '탓에' ist eine direkte Anschuldigung. '탓에' klingt viel härter und vorwurfsvoller: «너 탓에 망쳤어.»
Ja, die beiden sind fast identisch. «-에 의하면» klingt etwas formeller oder schriftlicher (wie in einer Abschlussarbeit), während «-에 따르면» breiter in der Sprache und in Nachrichten genutzt wird.
Weil «-에 따르면» ein Zitat einleitet. Wenn du sagst
Laut Nachrichten regnet es
(direktes Ende), klingt es so, als würdest DU den Regen bestätigen. Mit «-대요» (indirekt) zeigst du, dass du nur berichtest, was du gehört hast: «뉴스에 따르면 비가 온대요.»
Ja, aber du musst sie nominalisieren. Meistens nutzt man das Muster «-느냐에 따라(서)». Zum Beispiel: «무엇을 먹느냐에 따라» (Je nachdem, was man isst).
Nicht wirklich. Die Höflichkeit kommt vom Satzende (z.B. «-요»). Das «-서» macht den Satzrhythmus nur etwas weicher und klingt natürlicher im Gespräch.
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