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Easy Korean - Level 9, Unit 9: To the point where... (-(으)ㄹ 정도로)

To describe the degree or extent of an action or a state, we use the structure -(으)ㄹ 정도로. It means "to the point where..." or "to the extent that..."

Structure Breakdown

  • -(으)ㄹ = modifier meaning future / potential / extent
  • 정도 = degree / extent
  • 로 = to / by Literally: "To the degree of [X]..."

How to Conjugate

1. Vowel stem: Add -ㄹ 정도로 * 죽다 (wait, consonant!) * 쓰러지다 (to collapse) -> 쓰러질 정도로 (to the point of collapsing) * 아프다 -> 아플 정도로 (to the point where it hurts)

2. Consonant stem: Add -을 정도로 * 죽다 -> 죽을 정도로 (to the point of dying) * 놀라다 (vowel!) -> 먹다 -> 먹을 정도로 (to the point of eating)

3. ㄹ stem: Add -정도로 * 울다 -> 울 정도로 (to the point of crying)

-을 만큼 vs. -을 정도로

These two structures mean almost exactly the same thing. * 죽을 만큼 아파요 = I am sick enough to die. * 죽을 정도로 아파요 = I am sick to the point of dying. They can be used interchangeably in 99% of situations!

Sentence Structure

You can place the extent clause either at the beginning or in the middle. * [Extent]-(으)ㄹ 정도로 + [Action/State] (e.g., 배가 터질 정도로 많이 먹었어요 = I ate so much to the point my stomach would explode).

Example Sentences

  1. 너무 웃겨서 눈물이 날 정도로 웃었어요. (It was so funny that I laughed to the point where tears came out.)
  2. 매일 포기하고 싶을 정도로 힘들었어요. (It was hard to the point where I wanted to give up every day.)
  3. 목이 아플 정도로 소리를 질렀어요. (I screamed to the point where my throat hurt.)
  4. 밤을 새울 정도로 공부했어요. (I studied to the point of staying up all night.)