Auxiliary Verbs I

Korean Grammar 3

Course 3 Β· Chapter 5 Β· Auxiliary Verbs I: Trying, Giving and Doing in Advance

🧩 Auxiliary Verbs I β€” 보쑰 동사

After the voice chapters (Korean Grammar 3 1 to 4), this chapter and the next turn to auxiliary verbs (보쑰 동사). An auxiliary verb is a verb that has lost some or all of its own meaning and adds a shade to the main verb before it: λ¨Ήμ–΄ 보닀 "try eating", 도와 μ£Όλ‹€ "help (for someone)", 써 놓닀 "write (and leave it)". You met several of these as phrases in Korean Basic Conversation 3 and Korean Basic Conversation 4; here you get the full pattern and the contrasts between them.

The rule in one box Main verb in the connective form (-μ•„/μ–΄ or -κ³ ) + auxiliary verb. The main verb keeps its meaning; the auxiliary supplies the extra sense. All endings (tense, honorific, negation, sentence ending) go on the auxiliary, never on the main verb: 읽어 λ³΄μ…¨μ–΄μš”? "Did you try reading it?" (-μ‹œ- and -μ•˜- are on 보닀).

-μ•„/μ–΄ 보닀: try, for the experience

The main verb's action is done as a test or experience. It is used in requests (-μ•„/μ–΄ λ³΄μ„Έμš”), in plans (-μ•„/μ–΄ λ³Όκ²Œμš”) and in the experience pattern -μ•„/μ–΄ λ³Έ 적이 μžˆλ‹€.

FormExampleMeaning
-μ•„/μ–΄ λ³΄μ„Έμš”μ΄ κΉ€μΉ˜λ₯Ό λ¨Ήμ–΄ λ³΄μ„Έμš”.Please try this kimchi.
-μ•„/μ–΄ λ³Όκ²Œμš”λ‚΄μΌ λ‹€μ‹œ ν•΄ λ³Όκ²Œμš”.I'll try again tomorrow.
-μ•„/μ–΄ λ³Έ 적이 μžˆλ‹€ν•œλ³΅μ„ μž…μ–΄ λ³Έ 적이 μžˆμ–΄μš”.I have worn a hanbok before.
-μ•„/μ–΄ λ³΄λ‹ˆκΉŒλ¨Ήμ–΄ λ³΄λ‹ˆκΉŒ λ§›μžˆμ—ˆμ–΄μš”.When I tried it, it was good.

Note the contraction in ν•΄μš”μ²΄: λ³΄μ•„μš” becomes λ΄μš”, so λ¨Ήμ–΄ λ΄μš”, ν•΄ λ΄μš”, κ°€ λ΄μš”.

Watch out: 보닀 "try" needs an action you can choose -μ•„/μ–΄ 보닀 goes with verbs of deliberate action (λ¨Ήλ‹€, μž…λ‹€, κ°€λ‹€, ν•˜λ‹€, 읽닀). It does not combine with adjectives or with involuntary verbs: you cannot "try being tall". For "try" with a negative result, English "tried but failed" is ν•΄ λ΄€μ§€λ§Œ μ•ˆ λμ–΄μš”.

-μ•„/μ–΄ μ£Όλ‹€ and -μ•„/μ–΄ λ“œλ¦¬λ‹€: doing something for someone

The action is done for the benefit of another person. λ“œλ¦¬λ‹€ is the humble form, used when the person receiving the benefit is senior to you.

PatternUseExample
-μ•„/μ–΄ μ£Όμ„Έμš”request: "please do it for me"λ¬Έ μ’€ μ—΄μ–΄ μ£Όμ„Έμš”. Please open the door.
-μ•„/μ–΄ μ€„κ²Œμš”offer to a friend or juniorμ œκ°€ 도와 μ€„κ²Œμš”. I'll help you.
-μ•„/μ–΄ λ“œλ¦΄κ²Œμš”offer to a senior or strangerμ œκ°€ 도와 λ“œλ¦΄κ²Œμš”. Let me help you.
-μ•„/μ–΄ μ£Όμ‹œκ² μ–΄μš”?very polite request사진 μ’€ 찍어 μ£Όμ‹œκ² μ–΄μš”? Could you take a photo for me?

The ν•΄μš”μ²΄ contraction is μ£Όμ–΄μš” β†’ μ€˜μš”: ν•΄ μ€˜μš”, 읽어 μ€˜μš”. Among friends the request is simply -μ•„/μ–΄ 쀘.

Watch out: do not "give" a favour to yourself -μ•„/μ–΄ μ£Όλ‹€ needs a beneficiary other than the doer. μ €λŠ” 책을 읽어 μ€˜μš” means "I read (to someone)", not "I read for myself". And to a senior, say -μ•„/μ–΄ λ“œλ¦¬λ‹€ for what you do for them, but -μ•„/μ–΄ μ£Όμ‹œλ‹€ for what they do for you: μ„ μƒλ‹˜μ΄ κ°€λ₯΄μ³ μ£Όμ…¨μ–΄μš”.

-μ•„/μ–΄ 놓닀 and -μ•„/μ–΄ 두닀: doing in advance and leaving

Both mean that the action is done and its result stays (often for later). 놓닀 stresses the result being left in place; 두닀 stresses keeping or preparing it for the future.

PatternExampleMeaning
-μ•„/μ–΄ 놓닀창문을 μ—΄μ–΄ λ†“μ•˜μ–΄μš”.I left the window open.
-μ•„/μ–΄ λ†“λ‹€ν‘œλ₯Ό 미리 사 λ†“μ•˜μ–΄μš”.I bought the tickets in advance.
-μ•„/μ–΄ 두닀메λͺ¨ν•΄ λ‘μ„Έμš”.Make a note of it (for later).
-μ•„/μ–΄ 두닀이 책은 μ±…μž₯에 꽂아 λ‘μ—ˆμ–΄μš”.I've put this book on the shelf (and left it).

The contraction of 놓아 is 놔: μ—΄μ–΄ λ†”μš”, 써 λ†”μš”.

-κ³  μžˆλ‹€ against -μ•„/μ–΄ μžˆλ‹€

Both are translated "is …ing" or "is …ed" in English, but they describe different things. -κ³  μžˆλ‹€ shows an action in progress; -μ•„/μ–΄ μžˆλ‹€ shows the state that remains after an action.

-κ³  μžˆλ‹€ (action in progress)-μ•„/μ–΄ μžˆλ‹€ (resulting state)
Used withmost verbs, especially transitiveintransitive verbs of change of position or state
Sit앉고 μžˆμ–΄μš”. (in the act of sitting down)앉아 μžˆμ–΄μš”. (is seated)
Door문을 μ—΄κ³  μžˆμ–΄μš”. (is opening the door)문이 μ—΄λ € μžˆμ–΄μš”. (the door is open)
Clothesμ˜·μ„ μž…κ³  μžˆμ–΄μš”. (is wearing / putting on clothes)β€”
LightλΆˆμ„ 켜고 μžˆμ–΄μš”. (is switching the light on)뢈이 켜져 μžˆμ–΄μš”. (the light is on)
Watch out: μž…κ³  μžˆλ‹€ means "wearing" With verbs of putting on (μž…λ‹€, μ“°λ‹€, μ‹ λ‹€, 끼닀), -κ³  μžˆλ‹€ usually describes the state of wearing, not only the act: νŒŒλž€ λͺ¨μžλ₯Ό μ“°κ³  μžˆμ–΄μš” "he is wearing a blue hat". Do not say μž…μ–΄ μžˆλ‹€; -μ•„/μ–΄ μžˆλ‹€ is used only with verbs that have no object.
Watch out: state against event 문이 μ—΄λ Έμ–΄μš” means "the door opened" (an event); 문이 μ—΄λ € μžˆμ–΄μš” means "the door is open" (a state). This is the standard way to describe what you see now. For honorific, use -κ³  κ³„μ‹œλ‹€ and -μ•„/μ–΄ κ³„μ‹œλ‹€: μ„ μƒλ‹˜μ΄ 앉아 κ³„μ„Έμš”.

Spacing, negation and tense

  • Spacing: standard orthography writes the main verb and the auxiliary as two words (λ¨Ήμ–΄ 보닀), and also allows joining them in many cases (먹어보닀). Many textbooks use the spaced form, and so does this course.
  • Tense and honorific go on the auxiliary: 써 λ†“μœΌμ…¨μ–΄μš”, λ¨Ήμ–΄ λ΄€μ–΄μš”.
  • Negation: put μ•ˆ before the main verb or the auxiliary phrase, or use -지 μ•Šλ‹€: μ•ˆ λ¨Ήμ–΄ λ΄€μ–΄μš” or λ¨Ήμ–΄ 보지 μ•Šμ•˜μ–΄μš” "I haven't tried it".

πŸ—£οΈ In Use β€” μ‹€μ œ 예문

Three exchanges with auxiliary verbs.

β‘  Trying food (-μ•„/μ–΄ 보닀)

A: 이 μŒμ‹ λ“œμ…” λ³΄μ…¨μ–΄μš”? Have you tried this dish?
B: μ•„λ‹ˆμš”, ν•œλ²ˆ λ¨Ήμ–΄ λ³Όκ²Œμš”. No, I'll give it a try.

β‘‘ A favour (-μ•„/μ–΄ μ£Όλ‹€)

A: 사진 μ’€ 찍어 μ£Όμ‹œκ² μ–΄μš”? Could you take a photo for me?
B: λ„€, μ œκ°€ 찍어 λ“œλ¦΄κ²Œμš”. Sure, I'll take it for you.

β‘’ A state (-μ•„/μ–΄ μžˆλ‹€)

A: μ™œ μ΄λ ‡κ²Œ μΆ”μ›Œμš”? Why is it so cold?
B: 창문이 μ—΄λ € μžˆμ–΄μš”. λ‹«μ„κ²Œμš”. The window is open. I'll close it.

πŸ“‹ Quick Reference β€” μš”μ•½ν‘œ

PatternMeaningExample
-μ•„/μ–΄ 보닀try, experienceλ¨Ήμ–΄ λ³΄μ„Έμš”
-μ•„/μ–΄ μ£Όλ‹€ / λ“œλ¦¬λ‹€do for someone (humble: λ“œλ¦¬λ‹€)도와 μ£Όμ„Έμš” Β· 도와 λ“œλ¦΄κ²Œμš”
-μ•„/μ–΄ 놓닀do and leave in placeμ—΄μ–΄ 놓닀
-μ•„/μ–΄ 두닀do in advance, keep for laterλ©”λͺ¨ν•΄ 두닀
-κ³  μžˆλ‹€action in progress; wearing읽고 μžˆμ–΄μš” Β· μž…κ³  μžˆμ–΄μš”
-μ•„/μ–΄ μžˆλ‹€resulting state (intransitive verbs)앉아 μžˆμ–΄μš” Β· μ—΄λ € μžˆμ–΄μš”

✏️ Try It Yourself β€” μ—°μŠ΅

Work out the answer first, then click to check.

1. Say "Please try this tea."

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이 μ°¨λ₯Ό λ§ˆμ…” λ³΄μ„Έμš”.

2. Say "I have visited Jeju before."

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μ œμ£Όλ„μ— κ°€ λ³Έ 적이 μžˆμ–΄μš”.

3. You offer to carry a senior's bag. What do you say?

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μ œκ°€ λ“€μ–΄ λ“œλ¦΄κ²Œμš”. (λ“œλ¦¬λ‹€, because the beneficiary is a senior.)

4. Say "I bought the tickets in advance" with -μ•„/μ–΄ 놓닀.

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ν‘œλ₯Ό 미리 사 λ†“μ•˜μ–΄μš”.

5. What is the difference between 앉고 μžˆμ–΄μš” and 앉아 μžˆμ–΄μš”?

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앉고 μžˆμ–΄μš”: in the act of sitting down. 앉아 μžˆμ–΄μš”: is seated (a state).

6. Say "The door is open" and "He is wearing glasses".

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문이 μ—΄λ € μžˆμ–΄μš”. Β· μ•ˆκ²½μ„ μ“°κ³  μžˆμ–΄μš”.

7. Put the honorific in the right place: "Did the teacher try this?"

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μ„ μƒλ‹˜μ΄ 이것을 ν•΄ λ³΄μ…¨μ–΄μš”? (-μ‹œ- on the auxiliary 보닀.)

8. Contract: ν•΄ λ³΄μ•„μš”, μ—΄μ–΄ λ†“μ•„μš”, 도와 μ£Όμ–΄μš”.

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ν•΄ λ΄μš” Β· μ—΄μ–΄ λ†”μš” Β· 도와 μ€˜μš”

9. Why is ν‚€κ°€ 컀 λ΄μš” wrong for "try being tall"?

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-μ•„/μ–΄ 보닀 needs a deliberate action; 크닀 is a state you cannot try.

Coming up in Chapter 6: Auxiliary Verbs II: Completion, Direction and Regret. You will learn -μ•„/μ–΄ 버리닀 and -κ³  말닀 (completion and regret), -μ•„/μ–΄ κ°€λ‹€ and μ˜€λ‹€ (gradual change), -μ•„/μ–΄ λ‚΄λ‹€ and -μ•„/μ–΄ λŒ€λ‹€, and how to tell completion from regret.