Unit 12: Since, Because (-(으)니까)

You already know -아/어/여서 to mean "because." In Easy Korean, we have another very common word for "because" or "since": -(으)니까.

Difference from -아/어/여서

The biggest difference is that with -(으)니까, the second part of the sentence can be a command (imperative) or a suggestion (propositive). You cannot do that with -아/어/여서!

Structure

Verb Stem + -(으)니까

1. Vowel stem: Add -니까 (가다 -> 가니까)
2. Consonant stem: Add -으니까 (먹다 -> 먹으니까)
3. ㄹ stem: Drop ㄹ, add -니까 (만들다 -> 만드니까)

(Note: You can use past tense stems here! 갔으니까 = since I went)

Examples

• 날씨가 추우니까 따뜻하게 입으세요. (Since the weather is cold, please dress warmly. -> Command!)
• 내일 바쁘니까 모레 만나요. (Since I am busy tomorrow, let's meet the day after tomorrow. -> Suggestion!)
• 비가 오니까 우산을 가져가세요. (Because it is raining, please take an umbrella.)