-ge: So that, In order to (Result)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use -게 to turn a verb into an adverb or to express a goal/result for the following action.
- Use -게 to modify a verb: 빨리 먹게 해줘 (Let me eat quickly).
- Use -게 to show purpose: 잘 들리게 크게 말하세요 (Speak loudly so it can be heard well).
- Use -게 with '되다' for passive results: 알게 되다 (To come to know).
Overview
The Korean grammar ending -게 (pronounced roughly as geh) is a versatile adverbial connective that primarily expresses result, purpose, or manner. At its core, -게 links a preceding clause or descriptive state to a subsequent action, indicating that the action is performed so that a particular outcome is achieved, in order to bring about a certain state, or in a certain manner. It's a fundamental particle for expressing how one action influences another, focusing on the effect or adverbial quality of the preceding element.
Unlike endings that strictly convey intention (like -(으)려고), -게 shifts the focus to the resulting state or condition. Think of it as shaping the environment or the conditions under which the main action occurs. For instance, if you want someone to speak loudly, you're not just asking them to speak; you're asking them to speak in such a way that it is loud (크게 말하다).
This subtle but crucial distinction underpins its usage across various contexts, from direct commands to describing states. Mastering -게 allows you to articulate nuanced relationships between actions and their outcomes, which is essential for B1-level communication.
It is omnipresent in daily Korean conversation, often serving functions that English expresses with phrases like "so that," "in order to," or by transforming adjectives into adverbs (e.g., "quick" to "quickly"). Consider the sentence 문 좀 열어 줄게요 (I'll open the door). If you add 들어갈 수 있게 (so that I can enter), it becomes 들어갈 수 있게 문 좀 열어 줄게요 (I'll open the door so that I can enter).
Here, 들어갈 수 있게 specifies the purpose or desired result of opening the door.
How This Grammar Works
빠르다 (to be fast) becomes 빠르게 (quickly/fast). When attached to an action verb stem, it indicates the purpose or desired result of the main action. The structure can be conceptualized as:제가 피곤하지 않게 차를 운전해 주세요 (Please drive the car so that I don't get tired). Here, the subject of 피곤하다 (to be tired) is 제가 (I), while the subject of 운전하다 (to drive) is implied to be 당신 (you). The driving action is adjusted to suit the passenger's comfort.밥을 맛있게 먹었어요 (I ate the meal deliciously) emphasizes the manner of eating.모두가 볼 수 있게 칠판에 써 주세요 (Please write it on the whiteboard so everyone can see) highlights the purpose or desired result of writing.Formation Pattern
다 from the verb or adjective.
하다 (to do) | 하 | 하게 | ha-ge | so that one does |
먹다 (to eat) | 먹 | 먹게 | meok-ge | so that one eats |
가다 (to go) | 가 | 가게 | ga-ge | so that one goes |
예쁘다 (to be pretty)| 예쁘 | 예쁘게 | ye-ppeu-ge | prettily/beautifully|
작다 (to be small) | 작 | 작게 | jak-ge | small/small-sized |
많다 (to be many) | 많 | 많게 | man-ke | so that it is many |
ㅂ, ㄷ, ㄹ, and ㅎ irregulars all behave as regular verbs when -게 is attached.
ㅂ irregular | 돕다 (to help) | 돕 | 돕게 | dop-ge | so that one helps |
ㄷ irregular | 듣다 (to listen) | 듣 | 듣게 | deut-ge | so that one listens|
ㄹ irregular | 만들다 (to make) | 만들 | 만들게 | man-deul-ge| so that one makes |
ㅎ irregular | 빨갛다 (to be red) | 빨갛 | 빨갛게 | ppal-gat-ge| red/redly |
음악을 크게 듣게 해주세요. (Please let me listen to the music loudly.) Here, 듣다 (to listen) is a ㄷ irregular, but 듣게 forms without ㄷ changing to ㄹ.
집을 예쁘게 만들게 도와줄래요? (Will you help me make the house pretty?) Here, 만들다 (to make) is an ㄹ irregular, and 만들게 forms simply by adding -게 to the stem 만들-.
When To Use It
- 1Expressing Purpose or Desired Result ("so that," "in order to")
모두가 볼 수 있게 칠판에 크게 써 주세요.(Please write big on the whiteboard so that everyone can see it.)- 합니다체:
모두가 볼 수 있게 칠판에 크게 써 주십시오. - 해체:
모두가 볼 수 있게 칠판에 크게 써 줘.
늦지 않게 일찍 출발했어요.(I departed early so that I wouldn't be late.)- 합니다체:
늦지 않게 일찍 출발하였습니다. - 해체:
늦지 않게 일찍 출발했어.
아이가 편안하게 잠들 수 있게 조용히 해주세요.(Please be quiet so that the child can fall asleep comfortably.)- 합니다체:
아이가 편안하게 잠들 수 있게 조용히 해주십시오. - 해체:
아이가 편안하게 잠들 수 있게 조용히 해 줘.
- 1Forming Adverbs of Manner ("-ly")
빠르다(to be fast) →빠르게(quickly)
일을 빠르게 처리했습니다. (I handled the work quickly.)- 합니다체:
일을 빠르게 처리하였습니다. - 해체:
일을 빠르게 처리했어.
쉽다(to be easy) →쉽게(easily)
이 문제는 생각보다 쉽게 풀렸어요. (This problem was solved more easily than I thought.)- 합니다체:
이 문제는 생각보다 쉽게 풀렸습니다. - 해체:
이 문제는 생각보다 쉽게 풀렸어.
즐겁다(to be joyful) →즐겁게(joyfully)
우리 함께 즐겁게 여행해요. (Let's travel joyfully together.)- 합니다체:
우리 함께 즐겁게 여행합시다. - 해체:
우리 함께 즐겁게 여행하자.
- 1To allow, permit, or cause something to happen (often with
하다or만들다)
하다 (to do/make) or 만들다 (to make) to express enabling or causing a state or action. This construction means "to make (something) so that (it becomes a certain way)" or "to allow (something) to happen."문제가 해결되게 해주세요.(Please make the problem be solved / Please allow the problem to be solved.)- 합니다체:
문제가 해결되게 해주십시오. - 해체:
문제가 해결되게 해 줘.
우리가 더 친해지게 만들었어요.(It made us become closer.)- 합니다체:
우리가 더 친해지게 만들었습니다. - 해체:
우리가 더 친해지게 만들었어.
선생님께서 제가 한국어를 잘하게 가르쳐 주셨어요.(My teacher taught me so that I would speak Korean well.)- 합니다체:
선생님께서 제가 한국어를 잘하게 가르쳐 주셨습니다. - 해체:
선생님께서 제가 한국어를 잘하게 가르쳐 주셨어.
잘하다 becomes 잘하게 to mean 'well'.)- 1Softening Requests or Explanations (Casual Speech)
너무 시끄럽게...(It's too noisy, so... [can you be quiet?])우리 만나게...(So that we can meet... [let's arrange a time].)아이가 자게 조용히 해줘.(Be quiet so that the child can sleep.) — A more direct request. Compare this to just아이가 자게...which would be a softer hint.
Common Mistakes
- 1Confusing with
-(으)려고(Intention vs. Result)
-(으)려고. While both can convey purpose, their focus is distinct.- -(으)려고: Emphasizes the subject's direct intention or plan to do something. The subject of both clauses is typically the same.
저는 밥을 먹으려고 식당에 갔어요. (I went to the restaurant to eat a meal. - My intention.)- -게: Emphasizes the result or state brought about by an action, or the manner of an action. The subjects of the two clauses can be different.
배가 고프지 않게 밥을 미리 먹었어요. (I ate in advance so that I wouldn't be hungry. - The result of eating in advance.)-도록), not -(으)려고.- Correct:
아이가 편하게 잘 수 있게 불을 껐어요.(I turned off the light so that the child could sleep comfortably. - Different subjects: I turned off, child sleeps.) - Incorrect:
아이가 편하게 잘 수 있으려고 불을 껐어요.(Grammatically awkward/wrong.)
- 1Confusing with
-고 싶다(Desire vs. Result)
- Correct:
한국어를 잘하게 공부하고 있어요.(I am studying so that I can speak Korean well. - Focus on the result of studying.) - Incorrect:
한국어를 잘하게 싶어요.(This is wrong.잘하고 싶어요would be correct for 'I want to do well'.)
- 1Using for "Because" / Causal Relation
-(으)니까 or 아/어서. It doesn't mean "because." Instead, it means "in order to" or "so that."비싸게 사지 마세요.(Don't buy it expensively / Don't pay a high price.)
비싸니까 사지 마세요.- 1Misapplying Adverbial Function
- Correct:
책을 조용하게 읽어요.(I read the book quietly.) -조용하다(to be quiet) + -게 describes how one reads. - Incorrect:
조용하게 사람이에요.(This is wrong.조용한 사람이에요would mean 'a quiet person'.) You cannot combine an adverbial form directly with a noun or use it to describe a static quality of a noun in this way. It must modify a verb.
Real Conversations
-게 is highly prevalent in everyday Korean, spanning from casual chats to more formal requests. Its adaptability makes it invaluable for clear and effective communication.
1. Expressing Desired Outcomes in Daily Life:
- Situation: At a cafe, ordering coffee.
저는 커피를 달게 해주세요. (Please make my coffee sweet.)
- 합니다체: 저는 커피를 달게 해주십시오.
- 해체: 나는 커피 달게 해 줘.
(Here, 달다 (to be sweet) becomes 달게 (sweetly/to be sweet) to modify the 하다 in 해주다.)
- Situation: Instructing a friend on a task.
이 자료를 모두가 쉽게 이해하게 정리해 줘. (Please organize these materials so that everyone can easily understand them.)
- 합니다체: 이 자료를 모두가 쉽게 이해하게 정리해 주십시오.
- 해체: 이 자료 모두가 쉽게 이해하게 정리해 줘.
(Emphasizes the result of the organizing: easy understanding for all.)
2. Adverbial Usage in Casual Speech & Texting:
- Situation: Describing how someone performs an action.
걔는 항상 밝게 웃어. (That kid always smiles brightly.)
- 합니다체: 그 아이는 항상 밝게 웃습니다.
- 해체: 걔는 항상 밝게 웃어.
(From 밝다 (to be bright) + -게 = 밝게 (brightly).)
- Situation: Giving advice.
우리 천천히 생각하게 될 거야. (We'll come to think about it slowly / We'll gradually think about it.)
- 합니다체: 저희는 천천히 생각하게 될 것입니다.
- 해체: 우리 천천히 생각하게 될 거야.
(From 천천하다 (to be slow/gradual) + -게 = 천천하게 (slowly/gradually).)
3. In More Formal or Written Contexts:
- Situation: A company notice.
업무 효율성을 높이게 새로운 시스템을 도입했습니다. (We introduced a new system to increase work efficiency.)
- 합니다체: 업무 효율성을 높이게 새로운 시스템을 도입하였습니다.
- 해체: (Less common in this context.)
(Purpose of introducing the system is to boost efficiency.)
- Situation: A public announcement.
모든 시민이 안전하게 생활할 수 있게 최선을 다하겠습니다. (We will do our best so that all citizens can live safely.)
- 합니다체: 모든 시민이 안전하게 생활할 수 있게 최선을 다하겠습니다.
- 해체: (Less common in this context.)
(The goal of the effort is safe living for citizens.)
Cultural Insight
~하게 해주세요) is a polite and clear way to communicate what you need.Quick FAQ
No. -게 attaches directly to the verb or adjective stem. The tense of the sentence is determined by the main verb in the second clause. For example, 늦지 않게 도착했어요 (I arrived so that I wouldn't be late - Past tense from 도착했어요), not 늦지 않았게 도착했어요.
Not always. When attached to adjectives to form adverbs, it's often best translated as an "-ly" adverb (e.g., 예쁘게 - prettily, 빠르게 - quickly). The core meaning, however, is still about the manner or state that an action creates or adheres to.
While very similar, -도록 (~do-rok) often carries a nuance of reaching a limit, extent, or degree, or it can imply a more formal, literary, or prolonged action/state. -게 is generally more common and versatile in everyday conversation for expressing simple purpose, result, or manner. Think of -도록 as slightly more intense or focused on the point until something happens or to the extent that it happens, whereas -게 is a broader "so that" or "in a manner."
Yes, in casual, often implied or truncated requests/suggestions. For instance, 조용하게... (Quietly... [implying: ...do it quietly]). It softens the request by leaving the explicit command unspoken, often relying on context. It's similar to leaving off the honorific ~요 or ~ㅂ니다 for brevity and informality.
~게 되다 (to come to be, to turn out that)? Is that related?Yes, ~게 되다 is a very common and important construction using -게. It means "to come to be," "to get to," "to end up," or "to become." It implies that a situation or action happens due to circumstances, fate, or an external factor, rather than the subject's direct will. For example, 한국에 살게 됐어요. (I ended up living in Korea / I came to live in Korea). This emphasizes that the living situation was a result of circumstances, not necessarily a direct initial plan. It's an extension of -게's core meaning of 'result' or 'state being created'.
Formation of -게
| Verb/Adj | Stem | Ending | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
|
먹다
|
먹
|
게
|
먹게
|
|
예쁘다
|
예쁘
|
게
|
예쁘게
|
|
하다
|
하
|
게
|
하게
|
|
듣다
|
듣
|
게
|
듣게
|
|
가다
|
가
|
게
|
가게
|
|
보다
|
보
|
게
|
보게
|
Meanings
The -게 ending functions primarily to transform a verb into an adverbial form or to connect two clauses where the first clause acts as a condition or purpose for the second.
Purpose/Result
Indicates the purpose or intended result of the following action.
“잊지 않게 적어 두세요.”
“다치지 않게 조심하세요.”
Adverbialization
Turns a verb into an adverb to describe how an action is performed.
“예쁘게 꾸몄어요.”
“맛있게 드세요.”
Passive/Change of State
Used with '되다' to indicate a change in state or realization.
“알게 되었어요.”
“보게 됐어요.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Stem + 게
|
잘하게
|
|
Negative
|
안 + Stem + 게
|
안 먹게
|
|
Passive
|
Stem + 게 되다
|
알게 되다
|
|
Adverbial
|
Adj + 게
|
예쁘게
|
|
Instruction
|
Stem + 게 하세요
|
조용하게 하세요
|
|
Result
|
Stem + 게 되었다
|
보게 되었다
|
Formality Spectrum
맛있게 드십시오. (Dining)
맛있게 드세요. (Dining)
맛있게 먹어. (Dining)
맛나게 먹어. (Dining)
The -게 Universe
Usage
- 목적 Purpose
- 결과 Result
- 부사 Adverb
Examples by Level
맛있게 드세요.
Enjoy your meal.
예쁘게 입으세요.
Dress nicely.
조용하게 말해요.
Speak quietly.
재밌게 놀아요.
Have fun.
잘 들리게 말해주세요.
Please speak so I can hear well.
잊지 않게 적으세요.
Write it down so you don't forget.
다치지 않게 조심하세요.
Be careful not to get hurt.
늦지 않게 오세요.
Come so you aren't late.
그 소식을 듣고 알게 되었어요.
I heard the news and came to know it.
사람들이 보게 크게 써주세요.
Please write it big so people can see.
비가 오지 않게 기도해요.
I'm praying it doesn't rain.
한국어를 잘하게 되고 싶어요.
I want to become good at Korean.
문제가 해결되게 노력하겠습니다.
I will strive so that the problem is solved.
모두가 만족하게 준비했습니다.
I prepared it so that everyone is satisfied.
실수가 없게 검토하세요.
Review it so there are no mistakes.
더 잘하게 연습 중이에요.
I am practicing to get better.
상황이 호전되게 조치를 취했습니다.
I took measures so that the situation improves.
의도가 명확하게 전달되게 하세요.
Ensure the intent is conveyed clearly.
차질이 생기지 않게 주의하십시오.
Be careful so that no setbacks occur.
결과가 좋게 나오길 바랍니다.
I hope the results turn out well.
역사가 반복되지 않게 교훈을 얻어야 합니다.
We must learn lessons so history does not repeat.
법이 공정하게 적용되게 해야 합니다.
The law must be applied fairly.
모순이 없게 논리를 구성하세요.
Construct the logic so there are no contradictions.
모두가 수긍하게 설명했습니다.
He explained it so that everyone could accept it.
Easily Confused
Both attach to verbs.
Common Mistakes
먹다게
먹게
학생게
학생답게
먹기 위해서
먹게
가게 했다
가게 했다
Sentence Patterns
___게 하세요.
Real World Usage
예쁘게 나왔다!
Adverbial use
Smart Tips
Use -게.
Pronunciation
Consonant assimilation
If the stem ends in a consonant, it may change based on the following sound.
Rising
먹게?
Questioning intent.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of -게 as 'Get' (the English word). You 'Get' a result by doing an action.
Visual Association
Imagine a bridge connecting two islands. One island is 'Action', the other is 'Result'. The bridge is labeled '-게'.
Rhyme
For a result you want to see, just add a little -게.
Story
Min-su wanted to pass the test. He studied hard (공부하게). He wanted to hear the music, so he turned it up (크게). Finally, he came to know the answer (알게 되었다).
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences today using -게 to describe how you do things (e.g., 'I walk quickly').
Cultural Notes
The phrase '맛있게 드세요' is a cultural staple when eating.
Derived from Middle Korean adverbial markers.
Conversation Starters
어떻게 하면 한국어를 잘하게 돼요?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
맛있___ 드세요.
Score: /1
Practice Exercises
1 exercises맛있___ 드세요.
Score: /1
Practice Bank
10 exercises머리를 ___ 잘라 주세요. (짧다)
___ 않게 메모를 해요. (잊어버리다)
Select the right sentence.
먹을 수 있도 맵게 해 주세요.
쉽게 설명해 주세요.
Match the pairs
사람들 / 비켜 / 지나가게 / 주세요
편하게 입을 수 ___ 큰 사이즈 주세요.
시험에 떨어지지 ___ 열심히 공부해.
운동할 수 있게요 일찍 일어났어요.
Score: /10
FAQ (1)
No, only verbs and adjectives.
Scaffolded Practice
1
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
-ku
Japanese -ku is strictly adverbial.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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