Master 78 TOPIK II grammar patterns with clear explanations, examples, and practice exercises for Korean learners.
78 grammar patterns
Even though just / At least
(이)나마 expresses accepting something small or inadequate as better than nothing.
Even (last remaining)
마저 means "even" for the last remaining thing, emphasizing completeness.
Unable to continue / Fed up with
-다 못해 expresses being unable to continue doing something, leading to another action.
Finish off / Get rid of
-아/어 치우다 expresses completing or getting rid of something quickly.
Keep doing repeatedly
-아/어 대다 expresses repeated or continuous action, often excessive.
Because (formal)
-(으)므로 is the formal written form of "because" or "since".
Completely (negative)
-아/어 빠지다 emphasizes completeness of a negative state.
The fact that (formal)
-(으)ㄴ/는 바 is a formal expression meaning "the fact that" or "what..."
Intending to (formal)
-고자 expresses intention or purpose in formal contexts.
Practically / Virtually
-(으)ㄴ/는 셈이다 expresses that something is practically or virtually the case.
Thanks to
-(으)ㄴ/는 덕분에 expresses gratitude for positive causation.
As (you know) / Almost
-다시피 means "as you know" when referencing shared knowledge, or "almost" with certain verbs.
To the point of
-(으)ㄹ 지경이다 expresses reaching an extreme state or point.
As a result of (excessive)
-(으)ㄴ/는 나머지 expresses an excessive action leading to a result.
To the extent that
-(으)ㄹ 정도(로) expresses the degree or extent of something.
Because of (blame)
-(으)ㄴ/는 탓에 expresses blame or negative causation.
There is no way / Cannot be
-(으)ㄹ 리가 없다 expresses disbelief or impossibility.
As soon as (emphatic)
-기가 무섭게 emphasizes immediacy - something happens the instant another thing occurs.
Tend to (negative habit)
-기 일쑤이다 expresses a habitual tendency, usually negative.
Not only... but also
-(으)ㄹ 뿐만 아니라 expresses addition - not only X but also Y.
It is natural that / Supposed to
-는 법이다 expresses that something is natural, customary, or supposed to be.
Bound to / Natural that
-기 마련이다 expresses that something is natural or inevitable.
Have no choice but to
-(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다 expresses having no alternative but to do something.
Even though / May well
-(으)ㄹ망정 expresses concession - accepting one thing but not another.
Since / Now that
-(으)ㄴ/는 이상 expresses that since something is the case, a consequence follows.
Instead of / In exchange for
-(으)ㄴ/는 대신(에) expresses substitution or compensation.
But / However (literary)
-건만 is a literary/formal connector expressing contrast or unfulfilled expectation.
Rather than / If its going to be
-(으)ㄹ 바에야 expresses preference for an alternative over an undesirable option.
While / Whereas (contrast)
-(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에) expresses contrast between two opposing situations.
As long as
-는 한 expresses a condition that must be maintained for something to be true.
In order to
-기 위해(서) expresses purpose - doing something in order to achieve a goal.
While / During
-는 동안 expresses the duration during which something happens.
Manage to / Accomplish
-아/어 내다 expresses successfully completing a difficult task.
As much as / To the extent
만큼 expresses comparison of degree or extent, meaning "as much as" or "to the extent that".
Even though / Despite
-(으)ㄴ/는데도 expresses contrast - something happens despite another condition.
Even if
-(으)ㄹ지라도 expresses strong concession - even if something extreme happens.
Quoted question
-냐고 is used to quote or report questions, meaning "asked whether/what..."
Quoted command
-(으)라고 is used to quote or report commands, meaning "told (someone) to..."
Quoted suggestion
-자고 is used to quote or report suggestions, meaning "suggested that..."
Quoted statement
-다고 is used to quote or report statements, meaning "that (someone said/thinks)..."
Do and keep/prepare in advance
-아/어 두다 expresses doing something and keeping the result, often for future use or preparation.
Let alone / Far from
커녕 means "let alone" or "far from", emphasizing that even a lesser thing didnt happen.
End up doing (unintended result)
-고 말다 expresses that something ended up happening, often unintentionally or regrettably.
Even (emphatic, negative context)
조차 means "even" in emphatic negative contexts, emphasizing that something extreme is also true.
Because of doing (excuse/reason)
-느라고 expresses that doing one action caused a negative result, often used as an excuse.
Whether...or / Any-
든지 expresses "whether...or" or creates "any-" words like whoever, whatever, whenever.
If you want/intend to
-(으)려면 expresses "if you want to" or "if you intend to", combining intention with condition.
Because (discovered reason)
-길래 expresses doing something because you discovered/noticed a reason, often unexpected.
Even if only/at least
(이)라도 means even if only or at least, accepting something as a lesser alternative or minimum option.
Only/just (nothing more)
뿐 means only or just, emphasizing that there is nothing more than what is mentioned.
Hearsay/reported speech (casual)
-대요/래요 is the casual polite form for reporting what someone else said.
I should / I must / I will (resolution)
-아/어야지(요) expresses personal resolution or self-directed obligation. More casual than -아/어야 하다.
I noticed that / I found that (past observation)
-던데(요) shares past observations or experiences, often implying contrast or relevance to the current topic.
As / According to / As soon as
-(으)ㄴ/는 대로 means as, according to, or as soon as depending on context and form.
I should have / I bet / Probably
-(으)ㄹ걸(요) expresses regret about past choices or makes confident suppositions about present/future.
Does do... but / It is true that... but
-기는 하다 acknowledges something as true while implying contrast. Often contracted to -긴 하다.
Pretend to / Act like
-(으)ㄴ/는 척하다 means to pretend or act as if. Used when someone fakes an action, state, or identity.
As a result of doing / While doing... realized
-다 보니(까) expresses discovering or experiencing something as a natural result of continued action.
The more... the more
-(으)ㄹ수록 expresses the more X the more Y. Shows proportional or progressive change between two things.
Whether / If (indirect question)
-(으)ㄴ/는지 creates indirect questions meaning whether or if. Used with question words or to express uncertainty.
Reported speech / They say that
-다고 하다 is Korean indirect quotation for reporting speech. Forms vary by sentence type: statements, questions, commands, suggestions.
I expect that / It will probably... but
-(으)ㄹ 텐데 expresses expectation combined with contrast or concern. Used to show consideration or make tentative assumptions.
Worth doing / Deserves to
-(으)ㄹ 만하다 expresses that something is worth doing or deserves attention. Often used for recommendations.
Because (formal reason)
-기 때문에 is the formal way to express because in Korean. More explicit than -아/어서 and works in all sentence types.
Do something in advance / Leave as is
-아/어 놓다 expresses doing an action in advance and leaving the result. Similar to -아/어 두다 but emphasizes completion.
Tend to / Rather
-(으)ㄴ/는 편이다 softens statements - tend to, rather, on the ... side.
So that / In order to / To the point of
-도록 expresses purpose (so that) or extent (until/to the point of).
While doing / Then / And then switched
-다가 indicates an action interrupted or switched to another action.
Know how to / Can / Did not know that
-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다 means know how to do or thought that.
While doing (simultaneous actions)
-(으)면서 expresses while doing, indicating two simultaneous actions by the same subject.
Because of / Due to (unexpected cause)
-는 바람에 expresses an unexpected cause that led to a (usually negative) result. The cause is often sudden or unplanned, and the outcome is typically undesirable.
Used to do / Was doing (past recollection)
-던 is a past tense modifier for recalling habitual actions or interrupted/incomplete past actions. Adds a sense of personal memory or experience to the description.
Coming to do something / Ending up doing
-게 되다 expresses that a situation developed or changed due to external circumstances, not your own decision. Contrasts with -기로 하다 which marks deliberate choices.
Almost did something
-(으)ㄹ 뻔하다 means something almost happened but didn't. Typically used for close calls and near misses, especially dangerous situations that were narrowly avoided.
Deciding to do something
-기로 하다 expresses making a decision or plan to do something. Used for personal choices you control, agreements with others, or firm commitments.
Doing something completely or regrettably
-아/어 버리다 expresses that an action was completed entirely, often with regret or relief. Can mean "ended up doing" (unfortunate) or "got it done" (satisfying).
Expressing realization or contrast
더니 connects a past observation to a present result, often expressing surprise or contrast. Used when what you witnessed leads to an unexpected outcome.
While you're at it
는 김에 means "while you're at it" or "since you're already doing something." Used when taking advantage of an ongoing action to do something additional.
