A2 · Elementary Chapter 9

Rules, Obligations, and Opinions

5 Total Rules
53 examples
5 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Navigate Korean social rules and express your thoughts with polite, natural nuance.

  • Ask for permission and state rules politely.
  • Express personal and social obligations clearly.
  • Share your soft opinions and describe how things change.
Master the art of polite requests and social boundaries.

What You'll Learn

You've mastered the Korean basics – fantastic! Now, let's level up your fluency and confidence so you can speak more like a native. This chapter is all about navigating social interactions and expressing yourself with nuance. Imagine you're in a Korean café and want to politely ask a friend if you can borrow their book, or you need to say, May I go? You'll learn the perfect way with «-아/어/여도 되다». Then, we'll dive into must-nots and prohibitions. Want to explain a rule like "You can't take photos here,

or firmly advise someone
You shouldn't do that«? »-(으)면 안 되다" is your go-to. Next, you'll master how to express necessity – the musts and have-tos of daily life. Whether you need to say
I have to go to work
or
It must be done,
«-아야/어야 하다/되다» will make your Korean sound natural and authentic. We’ll also cover how to describe changes, like saying
the weather is getting cold
or "I'm getting tired using ~아/어/여지다
. Finally, for those moments when you want to share an opinion or make a soft guess – like
It seems like it's going to rain or I think this book is interesting" – you'll learn «-(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다» to sound incredibly natural and polite. These five grammar patterns are interconnected tools that will empower you to express permissions, rules, obligations, changes, and soft opinions with precision and grace in any modern Korean conversation. Ready to speak Korean with true confidence? Let's go!

Learning Objectives

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

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Ask for permission in various social settings using -아/어/여도 되다.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Identify and explain prohibitions or rules using -(으)면 안 되다.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to: Express necessity and personal duties using -아야/어야 하다.
  4. 4
    By the end you will be able to: Describe transitions in state or weather using -아/어/여지다.
  5. 5
    By the end you will be able to: Soften your opinions and make polite guesses using -(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다.

Chapter Guide

Overview

Congratulations on reaching the A2 level in your Korean grammar journey! You've mastered the fundamentals, and now it's time to unlock a new layer of fluency and expressiveness. This chapter is your key to navigating daily social interactions with greater confidence and nuance, helping you sound more like a native speaker. We'll explore essential structures that allow you to express rules, obligations, permissions, and even your personal opinions. Imagine being able to politely ask if you can borrow something, state a rule like "No photos allowed," or share a soft guess about the weather. These skills are crucial for practical communication in any Korean-speaking environment. By understanding these interconnected grammar patterns, you'll gain the ability to articulate complex thoughts and feelings, making your Korean conversations richer and more authentic. Get ready to elevate your language skills and speak A2 Korean with precision and grace!

How This Grammar Works

This chapter introduces five vital Korean grammar patterns that will significantly boost your communicative abilities. First, to ask for permission, you'll use -아/어/여도 되다. Attach -아도 되다 to verb stems ending in ㅏ/ㅗ, -어도 되다 to others, and -여도 되다 for 하다 verbs. For example, 들어가도 돼요? (May I come in?). To express prohibition or what "must not" be done, we use -(으)면 안 되다. If the verb stem ends in a consonant, use -으면 안 되다; if it ends in a vowel, use -면 안 되다. So, 여기 앉으면 안 돼요. (You mustn't sit here.). When expressing necessity, meaning "must" or "have to," the pattern is -아야/어야 하다/되다. Similar to permission, -아야 하다/되다 is for ㅏ/ㅗ, -어야 하다/되다 for others, and -여야 하다/되다 for 하다 verbs. For instance, 숙제해야 해요. (I have to do homework.) or 숙제해야 돼요. (I have to do homework.). To describe a change of state, or "to become" something, we use -아/어/여지다. This is applied to adjective or verb stems, as in 날씨가 따뜻해졌어요. (The weather became warm.). Finally, to express guesses or opinions politely, you'll master -(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다. For verbs, use -는 것 같다 (present tense) or -(으)ㄴ 것 같다 (past tense). For adjectives, use -(으)ㄴ 것 같다 (present tense). For example, 비가 오는 것 같아요. (It seems like it's raining.) or 이 책이 좋은 것 같아요. (This book seems good/I think this book is good.).

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: "여기 사진 찍으면 안 돼요." (You must not take pictures here.)
✓ Correct: "여기서 사진 찍으면 안 돼요." (You must not take pictures here.)
*Explanation:* The particle for location where an action occurs is -에서, not -이/가. When stating a prohibition for an action at a specific place, use -에서.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: "저는 피곤해졌어요." (I became tired.)
✓ Correct: "저는 피곤해졌어요." or "저는 피곤해졌어요." (I became tired.)
*Explanation:* While grammatically correct, -아/어/여지다 often sounds more natural with adjectives that describe a *change* in state rather than a simple statement of one's current state. For verbs like "to be tired" (피곤하다), the -아/어/여지다 form is perfectly fine and often used, but ensure correct conjugation. A common mistake is misapplying the vowel combination (e.g., 피곤하아지다 instead of 피곤해지다).
  1. 1✗ Wrong: "제가 가야 돼요?" (I have to go?)
✓ Correct: "제가 가야 해요?" or "제가 가야 돼요?" (Do I have to go?)
*Explanation:* While both 하다 and 되다 can be used with -아야/어야 to express necessity, 하다 is generally more common and slightly more direct when referring to one's own obligation. 되다 can sometimes imply a slightly more external or unavoidable necessity. Both are acceptable, but it's good to be aware of the subtle nuance. The mistake here is more about not realizing both are options rather than one being strictly wrong. The most common mistake is mixing up the vowel ending for -아야/어야.

Real Conversations

A

A

여기 앉아도 돼요? (May I sit here?)
B

B

네, 앉으세요. (Yes, please sit.)
A

A

죄송하지만, 여기는 사진을 찍으면 안 돼요. (Excuse me, but you mustn't take photos here.)
B

B

아, 몰랐어요. 죄송합니다. (Oh, I didn't know. I'm sorry.)
A

A

내일 일찍 일어나야 해요. (I have to wake up early tomorrow.)
B

B

왜요? 무슨 일 있어요? (Why? Is something happening?)

Quick FAQ

Q

What's the difference between -아야 해요 and -아야 돼요 when expressing necessity?

Both mean "have to" or "must." -아야 해요 is slightly more common and often implies a personal obligation, while -아야 돼요 can sometimes suggest an external or general necessity, but in many contexts, they are interchangeable.

Q

Can -(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다 be used with past tense?

Yes! For verbs, use -은/는 것 같다 for present (e.g., 비가 오는 것 같아요 - It seems like it's raining) and -았던/었던 것 같다 for past (e.g., 비가 왔던 것 같아요 - It seems like it rained). For adjectives, use -았던/었던 것 같다 for past (e.g., 날씨가 추웠던 것 같아요 - It seems like the weather was cold).

Q

How do I make a polite request using -아/어/여도 되다?

Simply add -요 to 되다 to make it -아/어/여도 돼요? for a standard polite question. For even more politeness, you can use -아/어/여도 괜찮아요? (Is it okay if I...?)

Q

Are there informal ways to say "you must not" in Korean?

Yes, you can drop the -요 ending for casual situations with friends: -(으)면 안 돼. For example, 만지면 안 돼. (Don't touch it.).

Cultural Context

In Korean culture, politeness and indirectness are highly valued. Grammar patterns like -(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다 are frequently used to soften statements and opinions, avoiding direct assertions that might sound presumptuous or confrontational. Similarly, when making requests or stating rules, using polite forms like -아/어/여도 돼요? and -(으)면 안 돼요. is crucial to maintain harmony and respect. The frequent use of -아야/어야 하다/되다 reflects a society that values responsibility and fulfilling obligations. Mastering these nuances will make your A2 Korean sound more natural and culturally appropriate.

Key Examples (8)

1

여기 앉아도 돼요?

Can I sit here?

Asking Permission: May I? (-아/어/여도 되다)
2

이거 사진 찍어도 돼요?

May I take a photo of this?

Asking Permission: May I? (-아/어/여도 되다)
3

여기서 담배를 피우면 안 돼요.

You must not smoke here.

Must Not: Expressing Prohibition with -(으)면 안 되다
4

전 남자친구한테 연락하면 안 돼!

You shouldn't contact your ex-boyfriend!

Must Not: Expressing Prohibition with -(으)면 안 되다
5

I have to wake up early tomorrow.

I have to wake up early tomorrow.

Must & Have To: Expressing Necessity (-아야/어야 하다/되다)
6

You must set a password of 8 characters or more.

You must set a password of 8 characters or more.

Must & Have To: Expressing Necessity (-아야/어야 하다/되다)
7

The weather suddenly got cold.

The weather suddenly got cold.

To Become (Change of State)
8

Your Korean pronunciation has become really good!

Your Korean pronunciation has become really good!

To Become (Change of State)

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

Interchangeable with 괜찮다

You can often replace '되다' with '괜찮다' (to be okay) to sound slightly more casual or soft. '가도 괜찮아요?'
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Asking Permission: May I? (-아/어/여도 되다)
💡

Check the stem

Always look at the last letter of the verb stem before choosing between -면 and -으면.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Must Not: Expressing Prohibition with -(으)면 안 되다
💡

Vowel Harmony

Always look at the last vowel of the stem, not the whole word.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Must & Have To: Expressing Necessity (-아야/어야 하다/되다)
💡

Vowel Check

Always check the last vowel of the adjective stem before adding the suffix.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: To Become (Change of State)

Key Vocabulary (7)

들어가다 (deureogada) to enter 사진을 찍다 (sajineul jjikda) to take a photo 숙제하다 (sukje-hada) to do homework 춥다 (chupda) to be cold 건강하다 (geongang-hada) to be healthy 생각하다 (saenggak-hada) to think 예쁘다 (yeoppeuda) to be pretty

Real-World Preview

image

At a Korean Art Museum

Review Summary

  • Verb Root + -아/어/여도 되다
  • Verb Root + -(으)면 안 되다
  • Verb Root + -아야/어야 하다/되다
  • Adjective Root + -아/어/여지다
  • Verb/Adj + -(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다

Common Mistakes

Confusing -면 (if) with -도 (also/even). To ask permission, you must use -도 되다 (Even if I go, is it okay?).

Wrong: 가면 돼요? (Gamyeon dwaeyo?)
Correct: 가도 돼요? (Gado dwaeyo?)

For change of state, you must conjugate the adjective to the -아/어 form before adding -지다. Don't just attach it to the root.

Wrong: 춥지다 (chupjida)
Correct: 추워지다 (chuwojida)

Using the verb ending -는 for adjectives. Adjectives use -(으)ㄴ 것 같다, while verbs use -는 것 같다 in the present tense.

Wrong: 먹는 것 같아요 (meokneun geot gat-ayo) for an adjective
Correct: 매운 것 같아요 (maeun geot gat-ayo)

Next Steps

You've just unlocked the ability to have real, nuanced conversations. Your Korean is starting to sound much more sophisticated and respectful. Keep practicing these social tools!

Write 3 rules for your favorite hobby in Korean.

Look out the window and describe 3 things that are changing (weather, light, etc.) using -아/어지다.

Continue to: Building Sentences with Core Particles

Quick Practice (10)

Fill in the blank.

그 영화가 ___ 것 같아요. (재미있다)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 재미있는
Adjective + -(으)ㄴ.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expressing Guesses & Opinions: 'It seems like' (-(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다)

Which is correct?

수업 시간에 자면 안 돼요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Correct
The grammar is used correctly.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Must Not: Expressing Prohibition with -(으)면 안 되다

Fill in the blank.

여기 ___ 돼요? (앉다)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 앉아도
Correct conjugation.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Asking Permission: May I? (-아/어/여도 되다)

Choose the correct form.

그 사람이 지금 ___ 것 같아요. (먹다)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 먹는
Present verb + -는.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expressing Guesses & Opinions: 'It seems like' (-(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다)

Choose the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 먹어야 해요
Standard polite form.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Must & Have To: Expressing Necessity (-아야/어야 하다/되다)

Conjugate the adjective.

날씨가 (춥다) ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 추워졌어요
춥다 -> 추워지다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: To Become (Change of State)

Complete the sentence: 여기에서 담배를 피우___ 안 돼요.

피우___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 면
피우 ends in a vowel.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Must Not: Expressing Prohibition with -(으)면 안 되다

Fix the error: 먹으면 안 되요.

Find and fix the mistake:

먹으면 안 되요

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 먹으면 안 돼요
Spelling of 돼요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Must Not: Expressing Prohibition with -(으)면 안 되다

Fix the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

먹다도 돼요?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 먹어도 돼요?
Correct conjugation.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Asking Permission: May I? (-아/어/여도 되다)

Fill in the correct form.

저는 내일 학교에 ___ 해요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 가야
가다 ends in ㅏ.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Must & Have To: Expressing Necessity (-아야/어야 하다/되다)

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

Yes, it is very versatile for asking permission.
It depends on the ending (해요 vs 합니다).
Yes, e.g., '내가 하면 안 돼요?' (Can I not do it?).
It can be formal if you use '안 됩니다'.
They are mostly interchangeable. '하다' is slightly more active, '되다' is slightly more situational.
Use '안' before the verb: '안 가야 해요' (I don't have to go).
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