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Easy Korean Level 4 - Unit 1: The more [A], the more [B] / -(으)면 -(으)ㄹ수록

Welcome to Level 4! In this lesson, we will learn how to express "the more [A], the more [B]" in Korean.

The structure we use is: -(으)면 -(으)ㄹ수록

How it works

You attach this structure to a verb or adjective stem. It consists of two parts, but they are almost always used together: 1. -(으)면 (if/when) 2. -(으)ㄹ수록 (the more...)

Conjugation Rules

  • Verb stems ending in a vowel: Add -면 -ㄹ수록
  • 가다 (to go) -> 가면 갈수록 (the more you go, the more...)
  • Verb stems ending in a consonant: Add -으면 -을수록
  • 먹다 (to eat) -> 먹으면 먹을수록 (the more you eat, the more...)
  • Verb stems ending in ㄹ: Drop the ㄹ and add -면 -ㄹ수록
  • 만들다 (to make) -> 만들면 만들수록 (the more you make, the more...)

Examples

  1. 맛있다 (to be delicious)
  2. 맛있으면 맛있을수록 좋아요.

  3. The more delicious it is, the better.

  4. 배우다 (to learn)

  5. 한국어는 배우면 배울수록 재미있어요.

  6. The more I learn Korean, the more interesting it is.

  7. 사람이 많다 (there are many people)

  8. 사람이 많으면 많을수록 더 신나요!
  9. The more people there are, the more exciting it is!

Shortening the Phrase

Sometimes, Korean speakers drop the -(으)면 part and just use -(으)ㄹ수록. - 갈수록 (as time goes by / the more you go) - 많을수록 (the more there are)

Example: - 갈수록 한국어가 어려워져요. (As time goes by, Korean is getting harder.)