B2 Expressions & Patterns 13 min read Medium

Unintentional Ending (-go malatda)

Use -고 말았다 when an action happens contrary to your intention, creating a feeling of regret or finality.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use -고 말다 to express that an action happened unintentionally or against your will, often with a sense of regret.

  • Attach -고 말다 to the verb stem: 먹고 말았다 (I ended up eating it).
  • Use it for actions you didn't plan: 늦고 말았다 (I ended up being late).
  • Conjugate the ending (말았다/말았어요/말았습니다) based on the desired formality.
Verb Stem + -고 + 말다 (Conjugated)

Overview

The Korean grammar pattern -고 말았다 (-go malatda) signifies that an action or event ultimately occurred, often contrary to the speaker's wishes, expectations, or efforts to prevent it. It conveys a sense of unintentionality, uncontrollability, or regret/resignation regarding the final outcome. Unlike a simple past tense statement that neutrally reports an event, -고 말았다 imbues the statement with emotional weight, highlighting the speaker's lack of agency or their lament over an unavoidable conclusion.

It essentially means "ended up doing X," "couldn't help but do X," or "unfortunately did X," emphasizing the finality of an undesired result.

This construction is crucial for expressing nuanced emotional states in Korean, moving beyond mere factual reporting to communicate personal feeling about an event. It reflects a moment where an outcome was reached, and the speaker acknowledges a certain powerlessness or sorrow in its occurrence. For instance, stating 지갑을 잃어버렸어요 (jigabeul ileobeoryeosseoyo – "I lost my wallet") is a factual report, while 지갑을 잃어버리고 말았어요 (jigabeul ileobeorigo malasseoyo – "I ended up losing my wallet") suggests regret or an unforeseen circumstance despite care.

How This Grammar Works

At its core, -고 말았다 is formed by attaching the connective ending -고 (-go) to a verb stem, followed by the auxiliary verb 말다 (malda) conjugated in the past tense. While 말다 independently means "to stop" or "to cease" (as in 하지 마세요 – haji maseyo, "Please don't do it"), its function within this compound structure is distinct. When combined with -고 and used in the past tense, 말다 loses its literal meaning of stopping an action and instead denotes the finality and inevitability of an action's completion, often with a tint of regret or an admission of failure to prevent it.
Linguistically, this pattern highlights the speaker's subjective perception of the event. It shifts the focus from the action itself to the unwanted or unavoidable outcome, reflecting a struggle between intention and reality. Consider the sentence 시험에 떨어지고 말았어 (siheome tteoreojigo marasseo – "I ended up failing the exam").
The speaker didn't intend to fail, perhaps studied hard, but the result was beyond their control or regrettable. This demonstrates a sense of resignation; the event concluded in a way that the speaker did not desire.
The emotional weight conveyed by -고 말았다 varies depending on context, ranging from mild disappointment to profound regret or even tragedy. It suggests that despite some internal or external resistance, the action reached an ultimate, often undesirable, conclusion. For example, 울고 말았어요 (ulgo malasseoyo – "I ended up crying") implies that the speaker tried not to cry, perhaps held back tears, but ultimately succumbed to emotion.
This showcases the pattern's capacity to express an overwhelming, uncontrollable response.
Another key aspect is the implication of effort or resistance. The use of 말다 implicitly suggests that there was an attempt, however slight, to prevent the action from happening or to alter its course. If there was no resistance or if the action was entirely intentional and desired, -고 말았다 would be inappropriate.
The nuance lies in the speaker's internal battle or external circumstances leading to an undesired, yet finalized, state. Therefore, it's not merely about an action being completed, but about an action being completed despite (or contrary to) the speaker's will.

Formation Pattern

1
The formation of -고 말았다 is straightforward, attaching directly to the verb stem without regard for vowel or consonant endings. This simplicity makes it easy to apply once the core meaning is understood. The auxiliary verb 말다 is then conjugated in the past tense, typically 말았다 (malatda), which then adapts to different politeness levels.
2
To form this pattern:
3
Take any action verb stem.
4
Attach the connective ending -고 (-go).
5
Follow with 말았다 (malatda), the past tense form of 말다.
6
Conjugate 말았다 according to the desired politeness level (casual, polite, formal).
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| Verb Stem | Connective | Auxiliary Verb (Past) | Polite (해요체) | Casual (해체) | Formal (합니다체) |
8
| :----------- | :--------- | :-------------------- | :--------------------- | :-------------------- | :----------------------- |
9
| 가- (to go) | -고 | 말았다 | 가고 말았어요 (gago malasseoyo) | 가고 말았어 (gago marasseo) | 가고 말았습니다 (gago malasseumnida) |
10
| 먹- (to eat) | -고 | 말았다 | 먹고 말았어요 (meokgo malasseoyo) | 먹고 말았어 (meokgo marasseo) | 먹고 말았습니다 (meokgo malasseumnida) |
11
| 읽- (to read) | -고 | 말았다 | 읽고 말았어요 (ilkgo malasseoyo) | 읽고 말았어 (ilkgo marasseo) | 읽고 말았습니다 (ilkgo malasseumnida) |
12
| 울- (to cry) | -고 | 말았다 | 울고 말았어요 (ulgo malasseoyo) | 울고 말았어 (ulgo marasseo) | 울고 말았습니다 (ulgo malasseumnida) |
13
| 사- (to buy) | -고 | 말았다 | 사고 말았어요 (sago malasseoyo) | 사고 말았어 (sago marasseo) | 사고 말았습니다 (sago malasseumnida) |
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Example Sentences:
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너무 피곤해서 지하철에서 잠들고 말았어요. (neomu pigonhaeseo jihacheoleseo jamdeulgo malasseoyo.) – "I was so tired that I ended up falling asleep on the subway." (Unintentional, perhaps inconvenient).
16
비밀을 말하지 않으려고 했는데 실수로 말하고 말았어. (bimireul malhaji aneuryeogo haetneunde silssuro malhago marasseo.) – "I tried not to tell the secret, but I ended up saying it by mistake." (Regret, lack of control).
17
마지막 기차를 놓치고 말았습니다. (majimag gichaleul nohchigo malasseumnida.) – "I ended up missing the last train." (Unfortunate outcome, resignation).

When To Use It

This grammar pattern is specifically employed when an action or event reaches a conclusion that is undesirable, unintended, or perceived by the speaker as unavoidable despite efforts to the contrary. It conveys a strong sense of finality coupled with resignation, regret, or an admission of uncontrollability. You will typically find -고 말았다 in contexts where the speaker expresses a personal emotional response to an outcome.
Here are the primary situations in which to use -고 말았다:
  • Unintended or Unfortunate Outcomes: When an event occurs contrary to one's plans or wishes, often leading to a negative consequence. This is the most common use case, capturing accidents, mistakes, or circumstances beyond one's control.
  • 그만 발을 헛디뎌서 넘어지고 말았어요. (geuman bareul heotdidyeoseo neomeojigo malasseoyo.) – "I accidentally tripped and ended up falling over." (An unintended accident).
  • 핸드폰을 새로 샀는데 벌써 깨뜨리고 말았어. (haendeupon-eul saero satneunde beolsseo kkaetteurigo marasseo.) – "I just bought a new phone, but I already ended up breaking it." (Regret over an unfortunate incident).
  • Giving in to Temptation or Impulse: When one succumbs to something they intended to resist, often involving desires, emotions, or habits they wanted to break.
  • 다이어트 중이었는데 야식을 먹고 말았어요. (daieoteu jungieotneunde yasigeul meokgo malasseoyo.) – "I was on a diet, but I ended up eating a late-night snack." (Succumbing to temptation, regret).
  • 그 영화가 너무 슬퍼서 저도 모르게 울고 말았어요. (geu yeonghwaga neomu seulpeoseo jeodo moreuge ulgo malasseoyo.) – "That movie was so sad that I ended up crying without realizing it." (Overwhelmed by emotion, uncontrollable).
  • Inevitable or Irreversible Conclusions: For events that reached a definitive end, especially if that end carries a sense of finality or sadness, even if not directly caused by the speaker's mistake.
  • 결국 프로젝트는 실패로 끝나고 말았습니다. (gyeolguk peurojekteuneun silpaero kkeutnago malasseumnida.) – "Ultimately, the project ended up failing." (Inevitable, unfortunate conclusion for something big).
  • 오랜 친구와 다투고 결국 연락을 끊고 말았어. (oraen chinguwa datugo gyeolguk yeollageul kkeunkko marasseo.) – "I argued with an old friend and ended up cutting off contact." (Irreversible outcome, resignation).
  • Expressing Resignation to Fate: Sometimes, it can be used to express a reluctant acceptance of a situation that unfolded, indicating a feeling that the outcome was predetermined or simply had to be.
  • 어쩔 수 없이 그 일을 맡고 말았어요. (eojjeol su eopshi geu ileul matgo malasseoyo.) – "I had no choice but to end up taking on that task." (Resignation to an unavoidable responsibility).
It is essential to remember that the core sentiment is always one of unintentionality or non-desire regarding the final state. Even in cases of resignation, it implies that the speaker would have preferred a different outcome if given the choice. This pattern gives voice to the common human experience of things not going exactly as planned, or emotions taking over despite one's best efforts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misunderstand the nuanced emotional and intentional implications of -고 말았다, leading to several common errors. Mastering this pattern requires not just correct formation, but also a deep grasp of its specific usage contexts.
1. Using it for Positive or Intended Outcomes:
This is perhaps the most frequent mistake. -고 말았다 inherently carries a negative, regrettable, or uncontrollable connotation. Using it for desired achievements or positive results makes the speaker sound regretful about something good, which is illogical.
  • Incorrect: 열심히 공부해서 시험에 합격하고 말았어요. (yeolsimhi gongbuhaeseo siheome hapgyeokhago malasseoyo.) – This translates roughly to "I studied hard and unfortunately passed the exam." It sounds like you regret passing.
  • Correct Alternative: For a positive achievement, use simpler past tense or patterns that express effort and success: 열심히 공부해서 시험에 합격했어요. (yeolsimhi gongbuhaeseo siheome hapgyeokhaesseoyo.) ("I studied hard and passed the exam.") or 열심히 공부해서 시험에 합격해냈어요. (yeolsimhi gongbuhaeseo siheome hapgyeokhaenaesseoyo.) ("I studied hard and managed to pass the exam.")
2. Confusing with -아/어 버렸다 (-a/eo beoryeotda):
This is another major point of confusion, as both patterns denote completion of an action, but with crucial differences in nuance. While both imply an action is finished, -고 말았다 focuses on the unintentional, regrettable, or unavoidable nature of the outcome, whereas -아/어 버렸다 focuses on the act of completion itself, often with a sense of thoroughness, finality, or getting rid of something.
| Feature | -고 말았다 | -아/어 버렸다 |
| :---------------- | :-------------------------------------------- | :--------------------------------------------------------- |
| Core Meaning | Ended up doing X (unintentionally/regretfully/unavoidably) | Did X completely/thoroughly; got rid of X; finished X (sometimes with regret, sometimes with relief) |
| Speaker's Emotion | Regret, resignation, sorrow, lack of control | Relief (finally finished!), regret (it's gone!), emphasis on thoroughness |
| Focus | The outcome is undesirable/unintended | The action's completion and its thoroughness/finality |
| Implicit Suggestion | Resistance or desire to prevent was present, but failed | The action is done, often irreversible, and now there's nothing left/to do about it |
  • Example 1: Losing something
  • 지갑을 잃어버리고 말았어요. (jigabeul ileobeorigo malasseoyo.) – "I ended up losing my wallet." (Focus on the regrettable outcome, perhaps despite being careful).
  • 지갑을 잃어버렸어요. (jigabeul ileobeoryeosseoyo.) – "I lost my wallet." (Neutral statement).
  • Example 2: Eating something
  • 다이어트 중인데 케이크를 다 먹고 말았어요. (daieoteu junginde keikeureul da meokgo malasseoyo.) – "I'm on a diet, but I ended up eating all the cake." (Regret over succumbing to temptation).
  • 너무 맛있어서 케이크를 다 먹어 버렸어요. (neomu masisseoseo keikeureul da meogeo beoryeosseoyo.) – "It was so delicious that I ate all the cake (up)." (Emphasis on thorough completion, could be with satisfaction or mild regret).
3. Using it with Descriptive Verbs (Adjectives):
Like many action-oriented grammar patterns, -고 말았다 cannot be directly attached to descriptive verbs (adjectives). Its function is to describe the completion of an action. If you need to describe a change in state or condition, other patterns are appropriate.
  • Incorrect: 날씨가 좋고 말았어요. (nalssiga jokgo malasseoyo.) – (Implies something like "The weather ended up being good, unfortunately.") This is grammatically incorrect and semantically odd.
  • Correct Alternative: To express a change in state, use -게 되다 (-ge doeda):
  • 결국 날씨가 좋게 되었어요. (gyeolguk nalssiga joke doeeosseoyo.) – "In the end, the weather became good."
4. Incorrect Tense Usage (Future Tense):
-고 말았다 is almost exclusively used in the past tense because it describes an outcome that has already happened. While it's grammatically possible to conjugate 말다 into the future (-고 말 것이다), it is very rarely used and can sound unnatural or overly dramatic/fatalistic, often replaced by simpler future expressions or other grammatical structures to indicate an inevitable future.
  • Rare/Awkward: 결국 나는 실패하고 말 것이다. (gyeolguk naneun silpaehago mal geosida.) – "Eventually, I will end up failing." (Sounds overly theatrical or like a prophecy).
  • More Natural: 결국 실패할 것 같아요. (gyeolguk silpaehal geot gatayo.) – "I think I'll eventually fail." (More natural prediction).
By carefully considering the intention, emotional nuance, and grammatical category of the verb, you can avoid these common pitfalls and use -고 말았다 with precision and confidence.

Real Conversations

To truly grasp -고 말았다, observe how native speakers deploy it in everyday scenarios, from casual chats to more reflective social media posts. It's often used when recounting a story where things didn't go as planned or an unexpected emotion took over.

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Scenario 1

Casual chat between friends (about a missed deadline)
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A

어제 과제 다 했어? (eoje gwaje da haesseo?) – "Did you finish your assignment yesterday?"
B

B

아니, 밤새 하다가 너무 졸려서 잠들고 말았어. 망했어. (ani, bamsae hadaga neomu jollyeoseo jamdeulgo marasseo. manghaesseo.) – "No, I was doing it all night, but I was so sleepy I ended up falling asleep. I'm doomed."

- Here, 잠들고 말았어 vividly expresses the friend's regret and lack of control over their sleepiness, despite intending to finish the assignment.

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Scenario 2

Social media post (after an impulsive purchase)

이번 달엔 꼭 돈 아끼려고 했는데, 신상 가방을 보고 결국 지르고 말았어요 ㅠㅠ 예쁘긴 한데 후회돼요. (ibeon dalen kkok don akkilyeogo haetneunde, sinsang gabangeul bogo gyeolguk jireugo malasseoyo ttu ttu. yeppeugin hande huhoedwaeyo.) – "I was really going to save money this month, but after seeing the new bag, I ended up splurging ㅠㅠ. It's pretty, but I regret it."

- 지르고 말았어요 conveys the speaker's surrender to temptation and subsequent regret, a common feeling after an unplanned expense. The ㅠㅠ emoji reinforces the emotional tone.

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Scenario 3

Work email (reporting an unexpected issue formally)

시스템 오류로 인해 중요 데이터가 유실되고 말았습니다. 현재 복구 작업을 진행 중입니다. (siseutem oryuro inhae jungyo deiteoga yusildoego malasseumnida. hyeonjae bokgu jageobeul jinhaeng jungimnida.) – "Due to a system error, critical data ended up being lost. Recovery efforts are currently underway."

- Even in formal contexts, 유실되고 말았습니다 is used to convey an unfortunate and unintended outcome, indicating the gravity of the situation and perhaps a sense of helplessness despite preventative measures.

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Scenario 4

Reflective conversation (about a difficult decision)
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A

그때 유학 가는 거 포기한 거 후회 안 해? (geuttae yuhak ganeun geo pogihan geo huhoe an hae?) – "Don't you regret giving up on going to study abroad then?"
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B

솔직히 아쉬움이 많이 남지만, 상황이 안 돼서 결국 포기하고 말았지. 어쩔 수 없었어. (soljikhi aswium-i mani namjiman, sanghwangi an dwaeseo gyeolguk pogihago malatji. eojjeol su eopseosseo.) – "Honestly, I have a lot of lingering regret, but the circumstances weren't right, so I ended up giving up. I couldn't help it."

- 포기하고 말았지 here expresses resignation to an unavoidable decision, highlighting the speaker's enduring regret over a choice forced by external circumstances.

These examples illustrate that -고 말았다 is a versatile expression of human experience, capturing moments of weakness, error, and fate. Its authentic use adds significant depth to Korean communication.

Quick FAQ

  • Q: Can -고 말았다 be used with 있다 (itda) or 없다 (eopda)?

No, 있다 and 없다 are descriptive verbs (or indicate existence/possession) and not action verbs that lead to a finished, regretted action. -고 말았다 requires an action verb. You can, however, use a compound verb that ends with an action, like 사라지고 말았다 (sarajigo malatda – "ended up disappearing"), where 사라지다 (sarajida) is an action verb meaning "to disappear."

  • Q: Is it always negative? Can it ever be neutral or positive?

While predominantly used for negative or regrettable outcomes, in some rare, highly literary or dramatic contexts, it can simply emphasize finality or inevitability without overt regret, such as "The long night finally ended." However, for everyday communication, it almost always implies an outcome that the speaker views as undesirable or uncontrollable. Stick to the "oops" or "unfortunately it happened" sense in daily use.

  • Q: Does it imply a sudden event, or can it be a gradual process?

It can apply to both. A sudden event like 넘어지고 말았어요 ("I ended up falling") or a culmination of a gradual process like 점점 그렇게 되고 말았어요 (jeomjeom geureoke doego malasseoyo – "It gradually ended up becoming like that"). The key is the final, often regrettable, state.

  • Q: Is there an equivalent for advising someone not to let something happen?

Yes, you can use the negative command form -지 말고 (-ji malgo) or the future conditional form with ~게 하지 마라 (-ge haji mara). For example, 후회하게 되지 말고 지금 해! (huhoeage doeji malgo jigeum hae!) – "Don't let yourself regret it, do it now!" or 실수하고 말지 않도록 조심해! (silsuhago malji antorok josimhae!) – "Be careful not to end up making a mistake!" This shows the inverse intention of preventing the undesirable outcome.

  • Q: Can I use it in questions about someone else's regrettable outcome?

Yes, but it's less common than in statements. You might ask 결국 그 일을 후회하고 말았나요? (gyeolguk geu ireul huhoeago malatnayo?) – "Did you end up regretting that?" This confirms the regrettable outcome. However, direct questions like 죽고 말았나요? ("Did they end up dying?") can be very direct and possibly insensitive, often replaced by more neutral phrasing depending on context.

This pattern, though simple in formation, adds significant depth and emotional resonance to Korean communication. By understanding its nuances, you can express your feelings about life's uncontrollable moments with precision.

Conjugation of -고 말다

Form Past Polite Formal
먹다
먹고 말았다
먹고 말았어요
먹고 말았습니다
가다
가고 말았다
가고 말았어요
가고 말았습니다
울다
울고 말았다
울고 말았어요
울고 말았습니다

Meanings

Indicates that an action has been completed, usually against the speaker's intention or expectation, often implying regret or surprise.

1

Unintentional result

The action happened despite the speaker's desire to avoid it.

“실수를 하고 말았다.”

“그를 보고 말았다.”

2

Inevitable completion

Emphasizing that a difficult task was finally finished after a long struggle.

“결국 해내고 말았다.”

“정상에 오르고 말았다.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Unintentional Ending (-go malatda)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Stem + -고 말았다
늦고 말았다
Polite
Stem + -고 말았어요
늦고 말았어요
Formal
Stem + -고 말았습니다
늦고 말았습니다
Negative
Stem + -지 않고 말았다
가지 않고 말았다

Formality Spectrum

Formal
울고 말았습니다.

울고 말았습니다. (Emotional situation.)

Neutral
울고 말았어요.

울고 말았어요. (Emotional situation.)

Informal
울고 말았어.

울고 말았어. (Emotional situation.)

Slang
울어버렸네.

울어버렸네. (Emotional situation.)

The -고 말다 Concept

-고 말다

Nuance

  • 후회 regret
  • 실수 mistake
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Examples by Level

1

늦고 말았어요.

I ended up being late.

1

비밀을 말하고 말았어요.

I ended up telling the secret.

1

결국 울고 말았어요.

I ended up crying in the end.

1

그는 결국 포기하고 말았다.

He ended up giving up in the end.

1

그녀는 모든 것을 잃고 말았다.

She ended up losing everything.

1

우리는 결국 진실을 마주하고 말았다.

We eventually ended up facing the truth.

Easily Confused

Unintentional Ending (-go malatda) vs -아/어 버리다

Both indicate completion.

Common Mistakes

✗

먹고 말아요 (present)

✓

먹고 말았어요 (past)

This structure describes a completed action.
✗

공부하고 말았어요 (intentional)

✓

공부했어요

Don't use it for things you wanted to do.
✗

늦을 뻔하고 말았어요

✓

늦고 말았어요

Don't combine with other 'near miss' grammar.
✗

그것을 하고 말겠다

✓

그것을 결국 해냈다

Future tense usage is unnatural.

Sentence Patterns

결국 ___고 말았다.

Real World Usage

Social Media common

다이어트 실패... 케이크 먹고 말았다.

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💡

Use with 결국

Adding '결국' (eventually) makes the sentence sound more natural.

Smart Tips

Use -고 말다.

실수했어요. → 실수를 하고 말았어요.

Pronunciation

go-mal-da

Linking

The 'g' sound in -고 connects smoothly to 'm' in 말다.

Falling

울고 말았어요↘

Shows regret or sadness.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of '말다' as 'stop'. You were trying to stop, but you 'ended up' doing it anyway.

Visual Association

Imagine a person holding a 'Stop' sign, but their feet are walking forward anyway. They are doing the action despite the sign.

Rhyme

I tried to stop, but I failed, -고 말다 is the tale.

Story

Min-su promised not to eat the cake. He stared at it for an hour. Finally, he took a bite. He ate it all. He ended up eating the cake: 케이크를 먹고 말았다.

Word Web

결국실수후회어쩔 수 없이끝내

Challenge

Write 3 sentences about mistakes you made today using -고 말다.

Cultural Notes

Koreans often use this to show humility or to soften a mistake by implying it was 'unavoidable'.

Derived from the verb 말다 (to stop).

Conversation Starters

“

오늘 실수한 적 있어요?

Journal Prompts

Write about a time you broke a diet.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

나는 결국 ___고 말았다.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 먹고
The structure is Stem + -고 말다.

Score: /1

Practice Exercises

1 exercises
Fill in the blank.

나는 결국 ___고 말았다.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 먹고
The structure is Stem + -고 말다.

Score: /1

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Conjugate 'to cry' (울다) to mean 'ended up crying'. Fill in the Blank

슬픈 영화를 보고 ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 울고 말았어요
Match the situation to the nuance. Match Pairs

Match the Korean sentence to the feeling.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["\uc219\uc81c\ub97c \ub2e4 \ud574 \ubc84\ub838\ub2e4 : Relief\/Completion","\ucf00\uc774\ud06c\ub97c \uba39\uace0 \ub9d0\uc558\ub2e4 : Regret\/Broken diet"]
Arrange to say: 'I ended up telling a lie.' Sentence Reorder

말았다 / 거짓말을 / 하고 / 나는

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 나는 거짓말을 하고 말았다
Select the situation where -고 말았다 is MOST appropriate. Multiple Choice

When would you use -고 말았다?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: When you accidentally drop your favorite mug.
Why is this sentence weird? Error Correction

나는 부자가 되고 말았다. (I ended up becoming rich.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It sounds like becoming rich was a mistake or tragedy.
Complete: 'I finally caught a cold.' Fill in the Blank

감기에 ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 걸리고 말았어요
Translate: 'I ended up saying it.' Translation

말하고 말았어.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I ended up saying it.
Which verb form completes: 'The secret was exposed.' Multiple Choice

비밀이 ___ (탄로나다 - to come to light)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 탄로나고 말았다
Fill in the blank. Fill in the Blank

He ___ (leave) the company.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 떠나고 말았다
Reorder: 'I ended up sleeping.' Sentence Reorder

자고 / 말았어요 / 저는

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 저는 자고 말았어요

Score: /10

FAQ (1)

No, it's for completed actions.

Scaffolded Practice

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Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

terminar por + infinitive

Korean is strictly past tense.

French high

finir par + infinitive

French can be used in more contexts.

German moderate

schließlich tun

Korean uses a verb suffix.

Japanese high

~てしまう

Japanese is more common.

Arabic moderate

انتهى بي الأمر بـ

Korean is a suffix.

Chinese low

终于...

Korean is a suffix.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Talking About Habits (-곤 하다)
Next
Hearsay Observation: 'I heard... and now...' (-다더니)

Learn These First

B1 Builds On

Done and Gone: Expressing Completion or Regret (-a/eo beorida)

Overview The Korean grammatical pattern `-아/어 버리다` (a/eo beorida) signifies the **complete execution or definitive...

Related Grammar Rules

B2

No choice but to... (-ㄹ/을 수밖에 없다)

Overview The Korean grammar pattern `-(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다` is a powerful expression of inevitability. It conveys that du...
A2

Present Progressive: -ing (고 있다)

Overview Korean, like English, distinguishes between habitual or general actions and actions that are actively in progre...
B2

To the Absolute Max: (-ㄹ/을 대로)

Overview Korean grammar employs `-(ㄹ/을) 대로` to express that a state or action has reached its absolute **utmost limi...
B2

Just/Only: Emphatic Limitation (-ㄹ/을 뿐이다)

Overview At the B2 CEFR level in Korean, you're moving beyond basic sentence construction to express nuanced ideas, subt...
B2

Logically Likely: -ㄹ/을 법하다

Overview `-(으)ㄹ 법하다` is a Korean grammar pattern that expresses a logical likelihood, plausibility, or reasonable e...
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