haru Korean › Grammar › Level 1A › A/V-(으)면
A/V-(으)면 — if · when — a condition, then what happens
If · when — a condition, then what happens. Korean grammar for beginner learners — Level 1A, lesson 12: 방학에 여행 가고 싶어요 (I want to travel in the holidays — wishes, conditions and plans).
What it means
-(으)면 joins two parts: the first is the condition, the second is what happens — 'if' or 'when'. After a consonant add 으면 (먹으면, 받으면, 좋으면); after a vowel add 면 (가면, 보면). A stem ending in ㄹ just adds 면: 놀면. It works the same for verbs and adjectives: 비가 오면 · 날씨가 좋으면. -(으)면 itself does not change for time — the second part carries it: 내일 비가 오면 영화를 봐요.
Forms
| Pattern | When | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -으면 | 받침 O | 받다 + 으면 → 받으면 |
| -면 | 받침 X · ㄹ 받침 | 가다 + 면 → 가면 |
Key points
- A/V-(으)면 — 으면 after a consonant, 면 after a vowel or ㄹ: 좋으면 · 오면 · 놀면
- The first part is the condition, the second is what happens: 비가 오면 · 영화를 봐요
Examples
- 날씨가 좋으면 산에 가요. 비가 오면 영화를 봐요.
- 받침 O → 으면: 먹으면 · 받으면 · 좋으면.
- 받침 X → 면: 가면 · 보면. ㄹ → 면: 놀면.
- 방학이 되면 제주도에 가고 싶어요.
Where university textbooks teach it
This point also appears in: Seoul National University Korean 1B, lesson 15; Yonsei University Korean 1-2, lesson 17; Sogang University Korean 2A, lesson 4; Ewha Womans University Korean 1-2, lesson 12; Hongik University Korean 1B, lesson 9; Hanyang University Korean 1-1, lesson 5.
Also in this lesson
- V-고 싶다 — wishes — 'I want to …' and 'do you want to …?'
- V-(으)ㄹ 거예요 — plans — 'I'm going to …' · a first look, verbs without 받침 only