B2 · Upper Intermediate Chapter 1

Professional Comparisons and Proportions

3 Total Rules
31 examples
4 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of professional comparison and proportional reasoning in Korean.

  • Compare two entities using formal structures.
  • Describe proportional relationships in professional settings.
  • Express dependencies between factors and outcomes.
Speak with precision, reason with logic.

What You'll Learn

Hey there! In this chapter, you're going to pick up some super useful Korean skills for comparing things and talking about how different elements relate to each other, especially in work or formal settings. It's an A1 level, so no need to stress – we’ll make it super easy and fun! You’ll start with '-에 비해' to make comparisons like 'compared to...' Imagine you're in a meeting saying, 'Our new project is more efficient compared to the old one.' This helps you make clear judgments. Next, we’ll explore the 'the more... the more...' structures with '-ㄹ/을수록' and '-면 -(으)ㄹ수록'. You’ll learn to say things like, 'The more you practice, the better you get at Korean,' or 'The more feedback we get, the more we can improve.' These are great for describing progressive changes in any situation. Then, we introduce '-에 비례하여,' letting you explain things that change proportionally, like 'Our sales increased in proportion to our advertising efforts.' It's perfect for explaining cause and effect in a structured way. Finally, master '-에 따라' to express 'depending on...' This lets you say, 'Delivery times vary depending on the destination,' or 'My plans change depending on the weather.' By the time you finish this chapter, you'll confidently discuss comparisons, proportional changes, and dependencies. You'll sound more natural and precise, whether you're at work, traveling, or chatting with Korean friends. Let's get started!

Learning Objectives

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

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Compare project performance using -에 비해 (e bihae).
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Articulate proportional growth using -에 비례하여 (e biryeohayeo).
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to: Explain conditional outcomes using -에 따라 (e ttara).

Chapter Guide

Overview

Welcome to your B2 Korean grammar journey, where we'll unlock the power of precise comparisons and proportional statements! This chapter, "Professional Comparisons and Proportions," is designed to elevate your Korean grammar skills, especially for workplace discussions, academic presentations, or any situation demanding clear, nuanced communication. At the B2 Korean level, mastering these structures will enable you to articulate complex ideas, evaluate data, and present arguments with greater sophistication. You'll learn essential phrases that move beyond basic comparisons, allowing you to discuss cause and effect, dependencies, and relative judgments with confidence. Whether you're analyzing sales figures, explaining project progress, or discussing policy impacts, these patterns are indispensable. Get ready to sound more native, more professional, and more articulate in Korean!

How This Grammar Works

Let's dive into the core Korean grammar patterns that will transform your comparative and proportional expressions. Each of these structures serves a unique function, making your communication more precise.
First up is -에 비해 (Compared To: Evaluation & Relative Judgment). This pattern is used to make a comparison between two things, often highlighting a difference or an evaluation. It's like saying "compared to X, Y is..." and is particularly useful for objective analysis.
* 우리 팀의 성과는 작년에 비해 크게 향상되었습니다. (Our team's performance has significantly improved compared to last year.)
* 이 제품은 다른 경쟁사 제품에 비해 가격이 저렴합니다. (This product is cheaper compared to competitors' products.)
Next, we have the powerful 'the more... the more...' structure: -ㄹ/을수록 and -(으)ㄹ수록 (Proportional Grammar: 'The More... The More' / The More, The Better). This expresses that as one condition increases or changes, another condition also changes proportionally. Use -ㄹ수록 after verb/adjective stems ending in a vowel or ㄹ, and -을수록 after stems ending in a consonant (not ㄹ).
* 이 프로젝트는 준비할수록 성공 가능성이 높아집니다. (The more you prepare for this project, the higher its success rate becomes.)
* 일을 미룰수록 부담이 커집니다. (The more you postpone work, the greater the burden becomes.)
For more formal or quantitative relationships, we use -에 비례하여 (Mathematical Proportions). This pattern explicitly states that one thing changes in direct proportion to another, often seen in economic, scientific, or business contexts.
* 수익은 투자금에 비례하여 증가했습니다. (Profits increased in proportion to the investment.)
* 직원들의 생산성은 적절한 휴식 시간에 비례하여 높아집니다. (Employees' productivity increases in proportion to adequate break times.)
Finally, master -에 따라 (Depending On...). This versatile expression means "depending on," "according to," or "in accordance with." It's perfect for indicating variability or adherence to a standard.
* 시장 상황에 따라 전략을 조정해야 합니다. (We need to adjust our strategy depending on market conditions.)
* 보고서 내용에 따라 회의 일정이 변경될 수 있습니다. (The meeting schedule may change depending on the report's content.)

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: 이 도시는 작년보다 인구가 적습니다. (This city's population is smaller than last year.)
✓ Correct: 이 도시는 작년에 비해 인구가 적습니다. (This city's population is smaller compared to last year.)
*Explanation:* While -보다 is used for simple, direct comparisons, -에 비해 is preferred when making a relative judgment or evaluation, especially in more formal contexts or when the comparison is against a standard or past state.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 더 많이 노력하면 할수록 더 좋은 결과가 나온다. (If you try harder, better results come out.)
✓ Correct: 더 많이 노력할수록 더 좋은 결과가 나옵니다. (The more you try, the better results you get.)
*Explanation:* The structure -ㄹ/을수록 already embeds the "if... then more" meaning. Using an additional "더 많이... 하면" can be redundant or less natural. Simply attach -ㄹ/을수록 to the verb or adjective stem.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 계획에 따라서 프로젝트가 진행되었다. (The project proceeded depending on the plan.)
✓ Correct: 계획에 따라 프로젝트가 진행되었습니다. (The project proceeded according to the plan.)
*Explanation:* When -에 따라 means "according to" or "in accordance with" a plan, rule, or instruction, the particle -서 is usually omitted, especially in formal writing or speech.

Real Conversations

A

A

이번 분기 실적은 지난 분기에 비해 어떠한가요? (How are this quarter's results compared to last quarter's?)
B

B

생산성이 향상될수록 비용 절감 효과가 커졌습니다. (The more productivity improved, the greater the cost-saving effect became.)
A

A

고객의 요구 사항에 따라 제품 사양을 조절해야 합니다. (We need to adjust the product specifications depending on customer requirements.)
B

B

네, 요구사항이 구체적일수록 개발 기간이 단축될 것입니다. (Yes, the more specific the requirements are, the shorter the development period will be.)
A

A

저희 회사의 시장 점유율은 마케팅 노력에 비례하여 증가했습니다. (Our company's market share increased in proportion to our marketing efforts.)
B

B

아주 좋은 소식이네요. (That's very good news.)

Quick FAQ

Q

What's the main difference between -에 비해 and -보다?

-에 비해 is used for relative judgment or evaluation against a benchmark, often implying a more analytical comparison. -보다 is a simpler, more direct comparison ("A is taller than B").

Q

Can -에 따라 be used in the sense of "according to" a document or rule?

Yes, absolutely! -에 따라 is frequently used to mean "according to" a report, regulation, or instruction, making it very useful in professional contexts.

Q

Is -에 비례하여 always very formal?

Yes, -에 비례하여 carries a distinct formal and often academic or business tone. It's typically used when discussing measurable, proportional relationships, making it less common in casual conversation.

Cultural Context

These B2 Korean grammar patterns are highly valued in professional and academic settings because they enable speakers to express complex relationships with precision and objectivity. Using structures like -에 비해, -에 비례하여, and -에 따라 demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of Korean grammar and lends credibility to your statements. Native Korean speakers frequently employ these in presentations, official reports, and formal discussions to convey nuanced meaning and analytical depth, making your communication sound more polished and authoritative.

Key Examples (6)

1

Gagyeok-e bihae seongneung-i jinjja joayo.

Compared to the price, the performance is really good.

Compared To: Evaluation & Relative Judgement (-에 비해)
2

Gidae-e bihaeseo yeonghwa-ga byeollo-yeosseo.

Compared to my expectations, the movie was meh.

Compared To: Evaluation & Relative Judgement (-에 비해)
3

노력에 비례하여 성적이 올랐어요.

The grades rose in proportion to the effort.

Mathematical Proportions (-에 비례하여)
4

배달 거리에 비례하여 배달비가 추가돼요.

The delivery fee is added in proportion to the delivery distance.

Mathematical Proportions (-에 비례하여)
5

날씨에 따라 기분이 달라요.

My mood changes depending on the weather.

Depending On... (-에 따라)
6

사람에 따라 생각이 다를 수 있어요.

Thoughts can differ depending on the person.

Depending On... (-에 따라)

Tips & Tricks (3)

💡

Noun Only

Always remember that -에 비해 attaches to nouns. If you have a verb, change it to a noun form (e.g., 먹다 -> 식사).
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Compared To: Evaluation & Relative Judgement (-에 비해)
🎯

Use for Salaries!

When negotiating a job or freelance contract, use '경력에 비례하여' (in proportion to experience) to sound professional and logical.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Mathematical Proportions (-에 비례하여)
💡

Noun forms

Always turn verbs into noun forms before using -에 따라.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Depending On... (-에 따라)

Key Vocabulary (5)

효율적 (hyoyuljeok) efficient 증가하다 (jeunggahada) to increase 광고 (gwanggo) advertisement 결과 (gyeol-gwa) result 상황 (sanghwang) situation

Real-World Preview

briefcase

Project Review Meeting

Review Summary

  • [Noun] + -에 비해
  • [Noun] + -에 비례하여
  • [Noun] + -에 따라

Common Mistakes

When using -에 비례하여, use the full adverbial form for professional writing.

Wrong: 그것에 비례해 (Geugeot-e biryehae)
Correct: 그것에 비례하여 (Geugeot-e biryeohayeo)

Do not add an extra -해서. The particle -에 비해 is already complete.

Wrong: 비해해서 (Bihaehaeseo)
Correct: 비해 (Bihae)

Dependency uses the location particle -에, not the object particle -을.

Wrong: 상황을 따라 (Sanghwang-eul ttara)
Correct: 상황에 따라 (Sanghwang-e ttara)

Next Steps

You have done an amazing job today! Keep practicing these patterns in your daily life to make them second nature.

Write a 3-sentence summary of your day using -에 비해 and -에 따라.

Continue to: Formal Logic and Causation

Quick Practice (9)

Choose the best fit.

Which noun fits '___에 비례하여 배터리가 소모됩니다'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 사용 시간
Battery consumption is proportional to usage time.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Mathematical Proportions (-에 비례하여)

Fill in the blank.

날씨___ 따라 달라요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 에
Particle needed is 에.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Depending On... (-에 따라)

Find the error.

Find and fix the mistake:

작년보다에 비해 매출이 올랐어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 작년에 비해
Remove redundant particles.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Compared To: Evaluation & Relative Judgement (-에 비해)

Choose the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 식사량에 비해 맛있어요.
Must attach to a noun.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Compared To: Evaluation & Relative Judgement (-에 비해)

Fill in the blank.

온도에 ___ 압력이 변합니다.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 비례하여
Scientific proportionality.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Mathematical Proportions (-에 비례하여)

Fill in the blank.

노력에 ___ 성과가 나타납니다.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 비례하여
The context implies a proportional relationship.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Mathematical Proportions (-에 비례하여)

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

노력 비례하여 결과가 좋다.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 노력에 비례하여 결과가 좋다.
Must use the particle '에'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Mathematical Proportions (-에 비례하여)

Fill in the blank with the correct particle.

작년 ___ 비해 올해는 더 바빠요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 에 비해
The structure is Noun + 에 비해.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Compared To: Evaluation & Relative Judgement (-에 비해)

Choose the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 노력에 비례하여 결과가 좋다.
Only 'effort/result' is a measurable proportional relationship.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Mathematical Proportions (-에 비례하여)

Score: /9

Common Questions (5)

No, you must turn the verb into a noun first (e.g., '먹다' -> '식사').
They are mostly interchangeable, but -에 비해서 is slightly more emphatic.
No, it must be a noun that represents a measurable quantity or variable.
Yes, it is typically used in professional or academic contexts.
No, you must use a noun form like -는 것.
Next Chapter
Formal Logic and Causation
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