C1 Conjunctions & Connectors 5 min read Medio

Emphatic Conditional (-거들랑)

Use '-거들랑' for emphatic, informal conditions followed by a strong command or suggestion to sound like a native.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use -거들랑 to emphasize a condition, often implying a strong suggestion, personal opinion, or a slightly cheeky challenge.

  • Use with verbs/adjectives: '먹거들랑' (If you really eat).
  • Often implies a 'if you are going to do X, then do Y' structure.
  • Adds a conversational, sometimes slightly bossy or playful tone.
Verb/Adj Stem + 거들랑 + Result

Overview

Welcome to the world of advanced Korean nuances. Today, we are diving into 거들랑. This is an emphatic conditional connector.
Think of it as the spicy cousin of -거든. It translates roughly to if or in case. However, it carries a much stronger punch. It is colloquial, slightly old-fashioned, and very expressive.
You will hear it in dramas or from older speakers. It sets up a condition with a bit of attitude. Using it makes you sound like a native pro.
It is perfect for giving strong advice or commands. If you want to sound firm yet natural, this is your tool. Just don't overdo it, or you might sound like a grumpy grandparent!

How This Grammar Works

This grammar point links two clauses together. The first clause sets the condition. The second clause usually contains a command or suggestion.
It is very similar to the standard -거든 pattern. However, the addition of -랑 adds a layer of emphasis. It highlights the condition as something specific or perhaps unlikely.
It creates a rhythmic, bouncy feel to your speech. It’s like highlighting a sentence with a neon yellow marker. You are telling the listener,
Pay attention to this specific scenario.
It’s great for situations where you want to be very clear.
Think of it as a grammar traffic light. It tells the listener exactly when to act.

Formation Pattern

1
Take the verb or adjective stem.
2
For present tense, just add -거들랑.
3
It doesn't matter if the stem ends in a vowel or consonant.
4
For 먹다 (to eat), it becomes 먹거들랑.
5
For 가다 (to go), it becomes 가거들랑.
6
For the past tense, use -었/았/였거들랑.
7
For 했다 (did), it becomes 했거들랑.
8
For nouns, use -(이)거들랑.
9
학생 (student) becomes 학생이거들랑.
10
의사 (doctor) becomes 의사거들랑.

When To Use It

You use -거들랑 when you want to give a command. It is perfect for requests or suggestions too. Use it in casual, spoken conversations with friends.
It works well when you are being slightly playful. Imagine you are ordering food with a close friend. You could say,
If the food is spicy, tell me!
Use 맵거들랑 말해줘.
It also fits when giving directions to someone you know well.
If you see the bank, turn right.
Use 은행이 보이거들랑 우회전해. It is excellent for setting boundaries in relationships.
"If you're going to be late, call me." Use 늦거들랑 전화해. It adds a touch of personality to your Korean. It’s much more flavorful than a plain -면 ending.

When Not To Use It

Avoid using -거들랑 in formal writing or speeches. Do not use it with people of much higher status. It can sound a bit too casual or even rude.
If you use it with your CEO, they might think you’re being cheeky. Think of it like wearing flip-flops to a job interview. It’s just not the right vibe for professional settings.
Also, avoid using it in the second clause for simple facts. It must be followed by an imperative or suggestive ending. You can't say
If it rains, I eat pancakes
using -거들랑 in a neutral way.
It needs that do something! energy at the end.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is using it for general truths.
If ice melts, it becomes water
should use -면. Using -거들랑 here sounds very strange and dramatic. Another mistake is forgetting the imperative ending. You shouldn't end the sentence with a simple declarative like -어요. It needs to be -아/어라, -으세요, or -자. Some people also confuse it with the sentence-ending -거든(요). Remember, -거들랑 is a connector, not a final ending. It’s like a bridge, not the destination. Yes, even native speakers might trip over this if they aren't paying attention. Don't be that person who uses it in a formal essay!

Contrast With Similar Patterns

Let’s look at -면, -거든, and -거들랑. -면 is your basic, neutral if. It’s the vanilla ice cream of grammar. -거든 is more colloquial and used for commands.
It’s like vanilla with a few sprinkles. -거들랑 is the full sundae with extra syrup. It is the most emphatic and informal of the three.
While -면 can be used in any sentence, the others are restricted. -거든 and -거들랑 both demand an action in the next clause. -거들랑 feels slightly more sassy or old-fashioned than -거든.
It’s like the difference between "If you're bored... and If you happen to be bored...
It adds a specific nuance of
in the event that this actually happens."

Quick FAQ

Q

Is -거들랑 used in Seoul?

Yes, but it’s more common in older generations or specific dialects.

Q

Can I use it with my teacher?

Only if you have a very close, almost family-like relationship.

Q

Does it mean because?

No, unlike -거든, -거들랑 only functions as a conditional connector.

Q

Is it okay for TOPIK II?

You should recognize it, but don't use it in the writing section.

Q

Does it sound feminine?

Not necessarily, but it can sound very expressive or ahjumma-style sometimes.

Q

Can I use it for the past?

Yes, to mean

If (something) already happened, then...

Meanings

A conditional suffix that emphasizes the condition, often used when giving advice or stating a strong preference.

1

Strong Suggestion

Used to suggest an action based on a condition.

“돈이 없거들랑 빌려줄게.”

“배가 고프거들랑 이거 먹어.”

2

Emphatic Condition

Highlighting a specific scenario that must be met.

“비가 오거들랑 우산을 챙겨라.”

“내일 시간이 있거들랑 놀러 와.”

Formation of -거들랑

Verb/Adj Stem Suffix Result
가다 가 거들랑 가거들랑
먹다 먹 거들랑 먹거들랑
예쁘다 예쁘 거들랑 예쁘거들랑
작다 작 거들랑 작거들랑
좋다 좋 거들랑 좋거들랑
오다 오 거들랑 오거들랑

Reference Table

Reference table for Emphatic Conditional (-거들랑)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative Stem + 거들랑 가거들랑
Negative Stem + 지 않거들랑 가지 않거들랑
Past Past Stem + 거들랑 갔거들랑
Adjective Adj Stem + 거들랑 예쁘거들랑

Espectro de formalidad

Formal
시간이 있으시면 오십시오.

시간이 있으시면 오십시오. (Invitation)

Neutral
시간이 있으면 오세요.

시간이 있으면 오세요. (Invitation)

Informal
시간이 있거들랑 와.

시간이 있거들랑 와. (Invitation)

Jerga
시간 나거들랑 와라.

시간 나거들랑 와라. (Invitation)

The -거들랑 Universe

-거들랑

Tone

  • Emphatic Stronger than -면

Usage

  • Advice Giving suggestions

Context

  • Casual Friends/Family
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Examples by Level

1

배가 고프거들랑 먹어.

If you are hungry, eat.

2

시간이 있거들랑 전화해.

If you have time, call me.

1

비가 오거들랑 우산 가져가.

If it rains, take an umbrella.

2

도움이 필요하거들랑 말해줘.

If you need help, tell me.

1

좋은 생각이 있거들랑 나중에 말해줘.

If you have a good idea, tell me later.

2

어려운 점이 있거들랑 언제든 물어봐.

If there is anything difficult, ask anytime.

1

그 친구가 오거들랑 나한테 먼저 알려줘.

If that friend comes, let me know first.

2

혹시라도 마음이 바뀌거들랑 연락해.

If by any chance your mind changes, contact me.

1

그렇게 불만이 많거들랑 직접 해결해 봐.

If you have so many complaints, try solving it yourself.

2

정말 가고 싶거들랑 지금 바로 준비해.

If you really want to go, prepare right now.

1

굳이 그렇게까지 해야겠거들랑 이유를 설명해 봐.

If you must do it that way, try explaining the reason.

2

이게 최선이라 생각하거들랑 그대로 진행해.

If you think this is the best, proceed as is.

Easily Confused

Emphatic Conditional (-거들랑) vs -면

Both are conditionals.

Emphatic Conditional (-거들랑) vs -거든

Both sound similar.

Emphatic Conditional (-거들랑) vs -다면

Both are conditionals.

Errores comunes

✗

밥 먹거들랑요.

✓

밥 먹거들랑 말해.

It needs a main clause.
✗

가거들랑.

✓

가거들랑 연락해.

Incomplete sentence.
✗

예쁘거들랑.

✓

예쁘거들랑 사.

Needs a result clause.
✗

비가 오거들랑.

✓

비가 오거들랑 우산 써.

Missing consequence.
✗

시간이 있거들랑.

✓

시간이 있거들랑 와.

Missing consequence.
✗

돈이 많거들랑.

✓

돈이 많거들랑 기부해.

Missing consequence.
✗

사장님, 가거들랑 보고하세요.

✓

사장님, 가시면 보고하세요.

Too informal for boss.
✗

숙제 하거들랑.

✓

숙제 하거들랑 제출해.

Incomplete.
✗

먹거들랑요.

✓

먹거들랑 말해.

Needs context.
✗

그렇게 하거들랑.

✓

그렇게 하거들랑 책임져.

Needs consequence.
✗

가거들랑요.

✓

가거들랑 연락해.

Needs context.
✗

오거들랑요.

✓

오거들랑 말해.

Needs context.

Sentence Patterns

___ 있거들랑 ___ 해.

___ 가거들랑 ___ 사와.

___ 필요하거들랑 ___ 말해.

Real World Usage

Texting a friend common

일찍 끝나거들랑 연락해!

Giving advice to a junior common

어려운 게 있거들랑 말해라.

Social media post occasional

혹시 이 옷 예쁘거들랑 댓글 달아주세요.

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💡

Use it for advice

It is best used when you are giving advice to someone you know well.
⚠️

Avoid in formal settings

It can sound too casual or bossy in a professional environment.
🎯

Combine with imperatives

It works very well with imperative endings like -해 or -하세요.

Smart Tips

Use -거들랑 to make your advice sound more personal and caring.

시간이 있으면 전화해. → 시간이 있거들랑 전화해.

Use it to emphasize that the condition is important.

비가 오면 우산을 챙겨. → 비가 오거들랑 우산을 챙겨.

Use it to sound more expressive.

도움이 필요하면 말해. → 도움이 필요하거들랑 말해.

Pronunciación

geo-deul-lang

Liaison

The 'ㄹ' sound carries over to the next syllable.

Emphasis

시간이 있거들랑↗

Rising intonation on the condition emphasizes the 'if'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of '거들랑' as 'Go-the-long' way—if you really want to take the long way, you have to be sure about it!

Visual Association

Imagine a teacher pointing a finger at you, saying 'If you really want to do that, then do it properly!' The finger is the -거들랑 suffix.

Rhyme

If you want to be strong, add -거들랑.

Story

Min-su tells his friend, 'If you really want to eat pizza, tell me.' He uses '피자 먹거들랑 말해.' His friend feels the emphasis and decides to tell him immediately.

Word Web

조건강조조언구어체가정

Desafío

Write three sentences using -거들랑 to give advice to a friend today.

Notas culturales

Used often by older generations to give advice to younger ones. It sounds like 'wise advice'.

Derived from the combination of the conditional marker -거 and the emphatic particle -들랑.

Conversation Starters

“

주말에 시간이 있거들랑 뭐 하고 싶어?

“

도움이 필요하거들랑 누구한테 말할 거야?

“

맛있는 음식을 먹거들랑 누구랑 먹고 싶어?

Journal Prompts

Write about advice you would give to your younger self using -거들랑.
Describe a situation where you had to give a strong suggestion to a friend.
If you were to move to Korea, what would you do first? Use -거들랑.
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Test Yourself

Fill in the correct form of -거들랑.

시간이 ___ 연락해.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 있거들랑
It is the correct emphatic conditional.
Which sentence is more emphatic? Opción múltiple

Choose the best sentence.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 비가 오거들랑 우산 써.
It adds the emphatic nuance.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 시간이 있거들랑 연락해
Correct word order.
Match the condition to the advice. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A: 이거 먹어 / B: 나한테 말해
Logical match.

Score: /4

Ejercicios de practica

4 exercises
Fill in the correct form of -거들랑.

시간이 ___ 연락해.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 있거들랑
It is the correct emphatic conditional.
Which sentence is more emphatic? Opción múltiple

Choose the best sentence.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 비가 오거들랑 우산 써.
It adds the emphatic nuance.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

연락해 / 있거들랑 / 시간이

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 시간이 있거들랑 연락해
Correct word order.
Match the condition to the advice. Match Pairs

Match: 배가 고프거들랑 / 돈이 필요하거들랑

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A: 이거 먹어 / B: 나한테 말해
Logical match.

Score: /4

Preguntas frecuentes (6)

Yes, it attaches to any verb or adjective stem.

No, it is generally informal or semi-formal.

It adds emphasis and is often used for advice.

Yes, but it is less common.

Mostly in dialogue or informal writing.

It can, depending on the tone and context.

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In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Si + subjuntivo

Korean has a specific suffix for emphatic advice.

French moderate

Si + présent

Korean uses morphology to express emphasis.

German moderate

Wenn

Korean uses a suffix.

Japanese partial

tara

Korean is more specific in its conditional markers.

Arabic low

idha

Korean is agglutinative.

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Warning of Future Negative Result (-다가는)

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