Easy Korean - Level 6, Unit 19: I'm worried that... (-(으)ㄹ까 봐)

When you want to say that you took a certain action because you were worried that something bad might happen, you use the structure -(으)ㄹ까 봐.

Literally, this comes from -(으)ㄹ까 (I wonder if...) + 보다 (to see/look/think). So it means "I think it might happen (and I am worried about it)."

How to Conjugate

Just like other future-tense style structures:

1. Vowel stem: Add -ㄹ까 봐 * 가다 -> 갈까 봐 (Worried they might go) * 아프다 -> 아플까 봐 (Worried they might be sick)

2. Consonant stem: Add -을까 봐 * 늦다 -> 늦을까 봐 (Worried I might be late) * 먹다 -> 먹을까 봐 (Worried they might eat it)

3. ㄹ stem: Add -까 봐 * 울다 -> 울까 봐 (Worried they might cry)

How to Use It in a Sentence

The first half of the sentence is the thing you are worried about. The second half is the action you took to prevent it or deal with it.

• [늦을까 봐] + [택시를 탔어요.] (I was worried I would be late, so I took a taxi.)

• [비가 올까 봐] + [우산을 가져왔어요.] (I was worried it might rain, so I brought an umbrella.)

Ending the sentence with -(으)ㄹ까 봐요

Sometimes you can end the sentence right there to simply express your worry: "I'm worried that..." * 내일 비가 올까 봐요. (I'm worried it might rain tomorrow.) * 시험이 어려울까 봐요. (I'm worried the test might be difficult.)

Example Sentences

1. 사람이 너무 많을까 봐 일찍 출발했어요. (I was worried there would be too many people, so I left early.)
2. 아이가 깰까 봐 조용히 걸었어요. (I was worried the child might wake up, so I walked quietly.)
3. 선생님이 화내실까 봐 말을 못 했어요. (I couldn't speak because I was worried the teacher would be angry.)