Easy Korean - Level 6, Unit 25: Because of doing... (-느라고)

🏯 Level 6 · Upper Intermediate

Easy Korean - Level 6, Unit 25: Because of doing... (-느라고)

We have learned several ways to say "because" in Korean (e.g., -μ•„/μ–΄μ„œ, -κΈ° λ•Œλ¬Έμ—, -(으)λ‹ˆκΉŒ).

In this unit, we will learn -느라고 (-neu-ra-go). This grammar point means "because of doing [Action 1], [Result 2] happened." However, it is ONLY used when Result 2 is negative or undesirable.

When to use -느라고

  1. Excuse / Negative Consequence: You use it to make an excuse for why you couldn't do something, or why something bad happened.
    • I was so busy [Action 1] that I couldn't sleep [Result 2].
  2. Same Subject: The subject of the first clause and the second clause must be the same person.
  3. Action Verbs Only: You cannot use this with adjectives.

How to Conjugate

Just attach -느라고 directly to the verb stem (no matter if it ends in a vowel or consonant).

  • κ°€λ‹€ -> κ°€λŠλΌκ³  (because of going)
  • λ¨Ήλ‹€ -> 먹느라고 (because of eating)
  • μΌν•˜λ‹€ -> μΌν•˜λŠλΌκ³  (because of working)
  • 놀닀 (γ„Ή drops!) -> λ…ΈλŠλΌκ³  (because of playing)

Tense

You never put past tense or future tense before -느라고. The tense of the whole sentence is shown by the final verb.

  • μ–΄μ œ μˆ™μ œλ₯Ό ν•˜λŠλΌκ³  λͺ» μž€μ–΄μš”. (Because I was doing homework yesterday, I couldn't sleep. -> DO NOT say ν–ˆλŠλΌκ³ ).

Example Sentences

  1. μš”μ¦˜ μ‹œν—˜ 곡뢀λ₯Ό ν•˜λŠλΌκ³  λ„ˆλ¬΄ λ°”λΉ μš”. (Because of studying for the test these days, I am too busy.)
  2. κ²Œμž„μ„ ν•˜λŠλΌκ³  μ „ν™”λ₯Ό λͺ» λ°›μ•˜μ–΄μš”. (I couldn't answer the phone because I was playing a game.)
  3. 아침에 λ°₯을 먹느라고 μ§€κ°ν–ˆμ–΄μš”. (I was late because I was eating breakfast in the morning.)
  4. μΉœκ΅¬ν•˜κ³  λ…ΈλŠλΌκ³  μˆ™μ œλ₯Ό λͺ» ν–ˆμ–΄μš”. (I couldn't do my homework because I was hanging out with my friend.)
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