Unit 9: On The Verge Of (-(으)ㄹ 지경이다)

When a situation is so extreme that you feel like you are "on the verge of" doing something or something happening, you use -(으)ㄹ 지경이다 in Easy Korean.

Structure

Verb Stem + -(으)ㄹ 지경이다

This is an exaggeration tool, very similar to "죽을 정도로" (to the point of dying). - 쓰러지다 (to collapse) -> 쓰러질 지경이다 (I am on the verge of collapsing) - 미치다 (to go crazy) -> 미칠 지경이다 (I am on the verge of going crazy) - 울다 (to cry) -> 울 지경이다 (I am on the verge of crying)

Examples

• 일이 너무 많아서 쓰러질 지경이에요. (I have so much work, I am on the verge of collapsing.)
• 배가 고파서 죽을 지경이에요. (I am so hungry I am on the verge of dying.)
• 시끄러워서 정말 미칠 지경이에요. (It is so loud, I am on the verge of going crazy.)