B1 · मध्यवर्ती चैप्टर 1

Setting the Scene and Conditions

5 कुल नियम
54 उदाहरण
6 मिनट
इस अध्याय के नियम त्वरित अभ्यास

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of conditional expressions to set scenes and link ideas like a native speaker.

  • Construct versatile 'if' and 'when' sentences for everyday life.
  • Use social buffers to make your requests and background statements sound natural.
  • Express hypothetical scenarios and diverse choices with confidence.
Master the conditions that bring your Korean to life.

तुम क्या सीखोगे

Ready to elevate your Korean conversations from simply getting by to truly expressing yourself like a native speaker? In this exciting chapter, you'll dive deep into the art of 'setting the scene' and mastering various conditional expressions. We'll unpack five essential patterns that allow you to link ideas, convey nuances, and build more complex sentences. You'll start with the fundamental «-(으)면» to express general 'if' or 'when' conditions. Then, we'll explore «~는데/은데/ㄴ데», a super useful connector to provide background information, set a polite tone, or introduce a contrast before your main point – making your requests and statements much softer and more natural. Next up is «거든», perfect for 'action-oriented' conditions where you're giving advice, making a suggestion, or a promise contingent on an action. We'll also tackle «ㄴ/는다면», your go-to for sophisticated hypothetical 'what-if' scenarios, letting you express imaginative thoughts and nuanced possibilities. Finally, you'll master «든지/든가», a versatile pattern that allows you to list options while indicating indifference – 'whether A or B, the outcome is the same'. Imagine you're chatting with a friend: 'If it rains, shall we watch a movie instead?' (-(으)면). Or you want to smoothly ask a favor: 'I'm quite busy right now, but could you lend me a hand?' (~는데). You'll be able to give clear instructions: 'If you go to the market, please pick up some fruit for me.' (거든). Ever dreamt in Korean? Now you can express those dreams: 'If I won the lottery, I'd buy a house by the beach!' (ㄴ/는다면). And offer choices effortlessly: 'Whether you come early or late, it's fine.' (든지). By the end of this chapter, you won't just understand conditions; you'll be able to confidently 'set the scene,' express various types of 'if' statements, and handle complex choices, making your Korean sound incredibly fluent and expressive. Get ready to sound more like a native!

Learning Objectives

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

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Use five distinct conditional patterns to link thoughts and navigate social situations.

अध्याय गाइड

Overview

Welcome to your next big step in mastering Korean grammar B1! This chapter,
Setting the Scene and Conditions,
is designed to transform your conversations from basic exchanges into nuanced, expressive interactions. As you progress in your intermediate Korean journey, simply knowing vocabulary isn't enough; you need to understand how to link ideas, provide context, and express various conditions naturally.
This guide will equip you with five powerful conditional expressions, moving you closer to sounding like a native speaker.
At the CEFR B1 level, you're ready to tackle more complex sentence structures. This chapter focuses on patterns that allow you to set the stage for your main point, introduce conditions, and even speculate on hypothetical situations. We'll explore the versatile -(으)면 for general 'if/when' statements, the crucial ~는데/은데/ㄴ데 for background and polite softening, and 거든 for action-oriented conditions.
You'll also learn ㄴ/는다면 for sophisticated hypothetical scenarios and 든지/든가 for expressing choices with indifference. Mastering these conditional expressions in Korean will significantly enhance your fluency and confidence, making your communication much richer and more effective.

How This Grammar Works

Let's break down the five essential Korean grammar patterns that will help you set the scene and express conditions.
First up is -(으)면, your foundational 'if' or 'when' connector. You attach -으면 to verb/adjective stems ending in a consonant, and -면 to stems ending in a vowel or ㄹ consonant. It indicates a general condition or a regular occurrence.
* 비가 오면 집에 있을 거예요. (If it rains, I will stay home.)
* 배고프면 밥 먹어요. (If you're hungry, eat rice.)
Next, we have ~는데/은데/ㄴ데, a super versatile connector often called the social buffer. -는데 is for verbs and adjectives ending in a vowel, -은데 for adjectives ending in a consonant, and -ㄴ데 for verbs and adjectives ending in a consonant and for past tense. It sets background information, provides context, or introduces a contrast, making your following statement or request sound softer.
* 지금 바쁜데, 좀 도와줄 수 있어요? (I'm busy right now, but could you help me a bit?)
* 이 식당은 음식이 맛있는데, 좀 비싸요. (This restaurant's food is delicious, but it's a bit expensive.)
Then there's 거든, the 'action if' pattern. This is used when giving advice, making a suggestion, or a promise contingent on an action. It often implies a future action or situation.
* 궁금한 거 있거든, 언제든지 물어보세요. (If you have anything you're curious about, please ask anytime.)
* 내일 시장에 가거든, 과일 좀 사다 줘. (If you go to the market tomorrow, please buy some fruit for me.)
For sophisticated hypothetical scenarios, you'll use ㄴ/는다면. This pattern is perfect for 'what-if' situations that are often contrary to reality or highly speculative. You attach -ㄴ다면 to verb stems ending in a vowel or ㄹ, and -는다면 to verb stems ending in a consonant.
For adjectives, use -다면 or -았/었다면 for past hypothetical.
* 복권에 당첨된다면, 세계 여행을 갈 거예요. (If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.)
* 시간이 많다면, 한국어를 더 열심히 공부할 텐데. (If I had more time, I would study Korean harder.)
Finally, 든지/든가 allows you to list options while indicating indifference – 'whether A or B, the outcome is the same.' You attach it directly to verb or adjective stems.
* 오든지 말든지 네 마음대로 해. (Come or not, do as you please.)
* 무엇을 먹든지 다 좋아요. (Whatever I eat, it's all good.)

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: 복권에 당첨되면, 세계 여행을 갈 거예요. (If I win the lottery, I will travel the world.)
✓ Correct: 복권에 당첨된다면, 세계 여행을 갈 거예요. (If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.)
*Explanation:* While -(으)면 can express 'if', ㄴ/는다면 is much more suitable for expressing hypothetical or unlikely 'what-if' scenarios, making the statement sound more like a dream or speculation rather than a likely future event.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 배고프는 데, 밥 먹자. (I'm hungry, let's eat.)
✓ Correct: 배고픈데, 밥 먹자. (I'm hungry, so let's eat.)
*Explanation:* The adjective 배고프다 (to be hungry) conjugates with -ㄴ데 when the stem ends in a consonant (like -ㄴ from 배고프), not -는 데. For adjectives, it's -은데 (if consonant) or -ㄴ데 (if vowel). For verbs, it's always -는데.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 만약 한국에 가거든, 김치를 사 올게. (If I go to Korea, I'll buy kimchi.)
✓ Correct: 한국에 가거든, 김치를 사 올게. (If you go to Korea, please buy kimchi.)
*Explanation:* 거든 is primarily used for conditions where the speaker is giving advice, a suggestion, or a promise contingent on *the listener's* action, or a general piece of advice. Using it for your own action (especially with 만약) can sound unnatural. For your own action, -(으)면 is more common.

Real Conversations

A

A

지금 출발하거든, 늦지 않을 거야. (If you leave now, you won't be late.)
B

B

알겠어요. 지금 갈게요. (Okay. I'll go now.)
A

A

이 옷은 디자인은 예쁜데, 좀 비싸네요. (This clothing's design is pretty, but it's a bit expensive.)
B

B

맞아요. 세일하면 사려고요. (That's right. If it goes on sale, I'll buy it.)
A

A

만약 시간이 더 있다면, 뭘 하고 싶어요? (If you had more time, what would you want to do?)
B

B

음... 제주도에 가서 한 달 살기 해보고 싶어요! (Hmm... I'd like to go to Jeju Island and try living there for a month!)

Quick FAQ

Q

What's the main difference between -(으)면 and ㄴ/는다면 in Korean?

-(으)면 is used for general or likely 'if/when' conditions, while ㄴ/는다면 is specifically for hypothetical, often unlikely or contrary-to-fact, 'what-if' scenarios.

Q

How do I choose between -는데, -은데, and -ㄴ데?

Use -는데 for verbs, and for adjectives ending in a vowel. Use -은데 for adjectives ending in a consonant. Use -ㄴ데 for adjectives ending in a vowel OR for past tense verbs/adjectives. It's all about the stem's ending sound.

Q

Can I use 거든 in formal situations?

While 거든 is generally more common in spoken and informal contexts, it can be used in slightly more formal settings when giving instructions or advice, especially in a professional setting where the speaker is in a position to advise (e.g., «궁금한 점이 있으시거든, 언제든지 연락 주십시오» - If you have any questions, please contact us anytime). However, -(으)면 is generally safer for formal written communication.

Q

Is there any difference between 든지 and 든가?

No, 든지 and 든가 are largely interchangeable and carry the same meaning of

whether A or B
or any A/B with indifference. 든지 might be slightly more common in everyday speech, but both are correct.

Cultural Context

These conditional expressions are vital for polite and indirect communication, a hallmark of Korean culture. The use of ~는데/은데/ㄴ데 is particularly common, as it allows speakers to gently introduce a topic or make a request without sounding abrupt. It creates a buffer that shows consideration for the listener.
Similarly, using 거든 for suggestions or advice is a common way to guide someone's actions without being overly direct. Mastering these patterns doesn't just improve your grammar; it helps you navigate the subtle social nuances of speaking Korean like a native.

मुख्य उदाहरण (8)

1

The weather is nice, so shall we go for a walk?

मौसम अच्छा है, तो क्या हम सैर पर चलें?

सामाजिक बफर: ~는데 (लेकिन, और, इसलिए)
2

I saw a movie yesterday, and it was really fun.

कल मैंने एक फिल्म देखी और वह बहुत मजेदार थी।

सामाजिक बफर: ~는데 (लेकिन, और, इसलिए)
3

집에 도착하거든 연락해.

घर पहुँचने पर मुझे मैसेज या कॉल करना।

'एक्शन अगर' पैटर्न: एक बार जब... तो करें (거든)
4

배가 고프거든 이거 먹어.

अगर भूख लगी है, तो इसे खा लो।

'एक्शन अगर' पैटर्न: एक बार जब... तो करें (거든)
5

내가 복권에 당첨된다면 세계 여행을 할 거야.

अगर मैं लॉटरी जीत जाऊं, तो मैं पूरी दुनिया की सैर करूँगा।

काल्पनिक अगर (ㄴ/는다면)
6

그가 나를 좋아한다면 얼마나 좋을까?

अगर वह मुझे पसंद करता, तो कितना अच्छा होता?

काल्पनिक अगर (ㄴ/는다면)
7

사든지 말든지 마음대로 하세요.

चाहे खरीदो या नहीं, अपनी मर्जी से करो।

चाहे, कोई भी, या (든지/든가)
8

어디든지 내가 너를 따라갈게.

तुम कहीं भी जाओ, मैं तुम्हारे पीछे आऊंगा।

चाहे, कोई भी, या (든지/든가)

टिप्स और ट्रिक्स (4)

💡

Should I वाला हैक

क्या तुम पूछना चाहते हो 'क्या मुझे ये करना चाहिए?' तो -(으)면 को 되다 के साथ जोड़ो। जैसे: «이거 누르면 돼요?» (क्या मुझे इसे दबाना चाहिए?)
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: सशर्त -(으)면: 'अगर' और 'जब' का कनेक्टर
💡

बात को अधूरा छोड़ना

अगर कोई ऐसा काम कहे जो तुम नहीं कर सकते, तो बस «...는데요» पर वाक्य खत्म कर दो। यह सुनने में बहुत विनम्र लगता है: «죄송한데 지금은 좀 바쁜데요.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: सामाजिक बफर: ~는데 (लेकिन, और, इसलिए)
⚠️

एंडिंग का जाल

बीच में आने वाले «거든» (अगर) और वाक्य के अंत में आने वाले «거든요» (क्योंकि) में कंफ्यूज मत होना! अगर यह वाक्य के आखिर में है, तो यह शर्त नहीं है: «내일은 바쁘거든요.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 'एक्शन अगर' पैटर्न: एक बार जब... तो करें (거든)
🎯

लिखने में इस्तेमाल करो

अगर तुम TOPIK एग्जाम के लिए निबंध लिख रहे हो, तो साधारण '-면' की जगह इसका इस्तेमाल करो, तुम ज़्यादा प्रोफेशनल लगोगे: «성공하고 싶다면 열심히 노력해야 합니다.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: काल्पनिक अगर (ㄴ/는다면)

मुख्य शब्दावली (5)

비가 오다 (biga oda) to rain 바쁘다 (bappeuda) to be busy 시장 (sijang) market 로또 (lotto) lottery 상관없다 (sanggwaneopda) to not matter

Real-World Preview

calendar

Planning a Weekend Out

Review Summary

  • Verb + (으)면
  • Verb/Adj + 는데/은데/ㄴ데
  • Verb + 거든
  • Verb + ㄴ/는다면
  • Verb + 든지/든가

सामान्य गलतियाँ

The 'if' clause shouldn't dictate a past tense result unless the condition is also past.

Wrong: 비가 오면 영화를 봤어요. (If it rains, I watched a movie.)
सही: 비가 오면 영화를 봐요. (If it rains, I watch a movie.)

~는데 is used for context, but should lead to a polite request, not a blunt demand.

Wrong: 바쁜데, 도와주세요. (I am busy, but help me.)
सही: 바쁜데, 좀 도와줄 수 있어요? (I am busy, could you help me?)

~든지 implies a choice between different options, not the same action twice.

Wrong: 가든지 가든지 하세요. (Go or go.)
सही: 가든지 오든지 하세요. (Either go or come.)

इस अध्याय के नियम (5)

1

सशर्त -(으)면: 'अगर' और 'जब' का कनेक्टर

B1
किसी शर्त या समय को नतीजे से जोड़ने के लिए «-(으)면» का इस्तेमाल करो, जैसे हिंदी में «अगर» या «जब»।
시간 있으면 커피 한 잔 할래?
11 उदाहरण
2

सामाजिक बफर: ~는데 (लेकिन, और, इसलिए)

B1
कोरियाई समाज में सीधे 'ना' कहना बुरा माना जाता है, इसलिए «는데» का इस्तेमाल करके बात को नरम बनाया जाता है।
The weather is nice, so shall we go for a walk?
12 उदाहरण
3

'एक्शन अगर' पैटर्न: एक बार जब... तो करें (거든)

B1
जब अगली बात कोई «हुक्म», «सुझाव» या «वादा» हो, तब 'Action If' के लिए «거든» का इस्तेमाल करो।
집에 도착하거든 연락해.
10 उदाहरण
4

काल्पनिक अगर (ㄴ/는다면)

B1
जब बात ऐसी हो जो सच होने की उम्मीद कम हो, तो «ㄴ/는다면» का इस्तेमाल करो। यह तुम्हारी कोरियन को «कल्पनाशील», «गंभीर» और «ज़ोरदार» बनाता है।
내가 복권에 당첨된다면 세계 여행을 할 거야.
11 उदाहरण
5

चाहे, कोई भी, या (든지/든가)

B1
जब आपके पास कई विकल्प हों और आप कहना चाहें कि 'कोई भी चलेगा' या 'फर्क नहीं पड़ता', तो «든지» का इस्तेमाल करें।
사든지 말든지 마음대로 하세요.
10 उदाहरण

Next Steps

You've done an incredible job today! Keep practicing these patterns, and you'll find your Korean becoming more fluid every single day.

Journaling: Write 5 sentences using ~는데 to describe your daily routine.

Continue to: Timing and Simultaneous Actions

त्वरित अभ्यास (10)

'가다' (जाना) के सही रूप से खाली जगह भरें।

지금 학교에 ____, 같이 갈래?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 가는데
'가다' एक क्रिया है, इसलिए वर्तमान काल में इसके साथ हमेशा '는데' लगता है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: सामाजिक बफर: ~는데 (लेकिन, और, इसलिए)

इस irregular शब्द में गलती पहचानो।

음악을 듣으면 기분이 좋아요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 음악을 들으면 기분이 좋아요.
듣다 (सुनना) एक ㄷ-irregular शब्द है। Vowel के सामने ㄷ बदलकर ㄹ हो जाता है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: सशर्त -(으)면: 'अगर' और 'जब' का कनेक्टर

इनमें से कौन सा वाक्य व्याकरण के हिसाब से सही है?

'खाना स्वादिष्ट है पर महंगा है' के लिए सही वाक्य चुनें।

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 음식이 맛있는데 비싸요.
'맛있다' के अंत में '있다' है, इसलिए '은데' के बजाय '는데' का प्रयोग होगा।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: सामाजिक बफर: ~는데 (लेकिन, और, इसलिए)

सलाह देने के लिए कौन सा वाक्य ज़्यादा नेचुरल है?

सही वाक्य चुनें:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 피곤하거든 쉬세요.
'거든' स्वाभाविक रूप से '-세요' जैसे हुक्म या पोलाइट रिक्वेस्ट के साथ जुड़ता है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 'एक्शन अगर' पैटर्न: एक बार जब... तो करें (거든)

'먹다' (खाना) के सही काल्पनिक रूप से खाली जगह भरें।

내가 매운 음식을 잘 ____ 얼마나 좋을까?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 먹는다면
'먹다' एक एक्शन वर्ब है जिसमें 'batchim' है, इसलिए काल्पनिक 'अगर' के लिए '는다면' लगेगा।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: काल्पनिक अगर (ㄴ/는다면)

가다 (जाना) को सही तरीके से खाली जगह में भरो।

내일 날씨가 좋으면, 공원에 ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 갈게요
शर्त है 'अगर मौसम अच्छा हुआ' (좋으면)। अगले हिस्से में मुख्य क्रिया चाहिए, इसलिए 'जाऊँगा' (갈게요) सबसे सही है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: सशर्त -(으)면: 'अगर' और 'जब' का कनेक्टर

इस वाक्य में गलती ढूँढें और उसे ठीक करें।

Find and fix the mistake:

한국에 오거든 연락해요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: जैसा है वैसा ही सही है
वाक्य व्याकरण की दृष्टि से सही है: 'अगर तुम कोरिया आओ, तो मुझसे संपर्क करना।'

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 'एक्शन अगर' पैटर्न: एक बार जब... तो करें (거든)

'अगर मैं खाता हूँ' के लिए सही शब्द चुनो:

먹다 (खाना) + (으)면 का सही रूप क्या है?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 먹으면
먹다 के अंत में consonant (ㄱ) है, इसलिए हमें बीच में '으' लगाना होगा, जिससे ये '먹으면' बनेगा।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: सशर्त -(으)면: 'अगर' और 'जब' का कनेक्टर

काल्पनिक स्थिति के लिए कौन सा वाक्य व्याकरण की दृष्टि से सही है?

सही वाक्य चुनें:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 돈이 많다면 차를 살 거예요.
'많다' एक एडजेक्टिव है, इसलिए इसमें 'ㄴ/는' जोड़े बिना सिर्फ '다면' लगता है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: काल्पनिक अगर (ㄴ/는다면)

'मैं कहीं भी जाऊँगा' (I'll go anywhere) के लिए सही वाक्य चुनें।

सही वाक्य चुनें:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 어디든지 갈게요.
'든지' चुनाव या बेफिक्री के लिए है। '던지' यहाँ गलत स्पेलिंग है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: चाहे, कोई भी, या (든지/든가)

Score: /10

सामान्य प्रश्न (6)

-(으)면 एक शर्त (If) है जिससे कोई नतीजा निकलता है। -(을/ㄹ) 때 सिर्फ समय (When/During) बताता है। जैसे: «비가 오면 घर पर रहो» (If it rains) बनाम «비가 올 때 बारिश का मज़ा लो» (While it's raining).
सिर्फ तब जब तुम पछतावा या कोई कल्पना कर रहे हो ('अगर मुझे पता होता...')। अगर कोई पुरानी घटना बतानी हो, तो «-(을/ㄹ) 때» का इस्तेमाल करें।
बिल्कुल नहीं! इसका मतलब 'और' या 'तो' भी हो सकता है। इसका मुख्य काम बस संदर्भ (context) देना है। जैसे: «비가 오는데...» (बारिश हो रही है तो...)
अगर विशेषण के अंत में पाछिम है, तो '은데' लगाओ, जैसे «좋은데»। अगर नहीं है, तो 'ㄴ데' लगाओ, जैसे «큰데»।
बहुत कम। यह ज़्यादातर बोलने वाली भाषा है। फॉर्मल राइटिंग में «-(으)면» या «-(으)ㄹ 경우» का इस्तेमाल करना बेहतर है।
«가면» एक न्यूट्रल 'अगर' है। लेकिन «가거든» का मतलब है 'एक बार तुम वहाँ पहुँच जाओ, तो यह खास काम करना।' यह एक्शन पर ज़ोर देता है।
अगला अध्याय
Timing and Simultaneous Actions
रोडमैप पर वापस