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Easy Korean - Level 9, Unit 26: With the intention of... (-(으)ㄹ 양으로)

When you take an action with a specific intention, purpose, or calculation in mind, you can use the formal/literary structure -(으)ㄹ 양으로.

It translates to "With the intention of..." or "Planning to..."

Structure Breakdown

  • -(으)ㄹ = future / intent
  • 양 (량 / 量) = intent / amount / calculation
  • 으로 = with / by

Literally: "With the calculation that I will [X]..."

How to Conjugate

Just like other future-tense modifiers.

1. Vowel stem: Add -ㄹ 양으로 * 가다 -> 갈 양으로 (With the intention of going) * 사다 -> 살 양으로 (With the intention of buying)

2. Consonant stem: Add -을 양으로 * 먹다 -> 먹을 양으로 (With the intention of eating) * 잡다 -> 잡을 양으로 (With the intention of catching)

3. ㄹ stem: Add -양으로 * 만들다 -> 만들 양으로 (With the intention of making)

When is this used?

In spoken, everyday Korean, people usually say -(으)려고 (in order to / intending to). * Spoken: 도망가려고 했어요 (I intended to run away). * Written/Formal: 도망갈 양으로 그랬어요 (I did it with the intention of running away).

You will see -(으)ㄹ 양으로 mostly in novels, news, or storytelling.

Example Sentences

  1. 사장을 만날 양으로 회사에 찾아갔습니다. (I visited the company with the intention of meeting the boss.)

  2. 한몫 크게 잡을 양으로 사업을 시작했어요. (He started the business with the intention of making a big fortune.)

  3. 오늘은 밤을 새울 양으로 커피를 많이 마셨다. (I drank a lot of coffee planning to stay up all night today.)

  4. 도대체 무슨 양으로 그런 말을 했어요? (With what intention in the world did you say such a thing?) (Here, 양 is used as a standalone noun).