haru Korean › Grammar › Level 2A › V-(으)려고 (1B 복습·확장)
V-(으)려고 (1B 복습·확장) — 'in order to' — saying your purpose
'in order to' — saying your purpose. Korean grammar for upper beginner learners — Level 2A, lesson 1: 오랜만이에요, 잘 지냈어요? (Long time no see — how have you been?).
What it means
-(으)려고 links your purpose to the action you took for it: 가족을 만나려고 독일에 갔어요 = I went to Germany (in order) to see my family. The person is the same in both halves, and the second half is what you actually did, do, or will do. You already know -(으)러 (공부하러 도서관에 가요) — that one only works before 가다/오다/다니다, while -(으)려고 works before any verb (책을 읽으려고 샀어요, 친구에게 주려고 꽃을 샀어요). One limit: a request or suggestion cannot follow -(으)려고 (no -(으)세요, no -(으)ㅂ시다) — for those keep -(으)러 가요. 받침 → -으려고, no 받침 or ㄹ → -려고.
Forms
| Pattern | When | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -으려고 | 받침 O | 먹다 + 으려고 → 먹으려고 |
| -려고 | 받침 X · ㄹ | 가다 + 려고 → 가려고 |
Key points
- V-(으)려고 — first the purpose (왜?), then what you did for it
- 받침 O → -으려고 (먹으려고 · 읽으려고) · 받침 X / ㄹ → -려고 (가려고 · 살려고)
Examples
- 왜 독일에 갔어요? — 가족을 만나려고 독일에 갔어요.
- 앞 = 왜? 뒤 = 그래서 했어요 · 해요 · 할 거예요.
- 받침 O → -으려고 (먹으려고 · 읽으려고). 받침 X, ㄹ → -려고 (가려고 · 살려고).
- -(으)러 + 가요 · 와요. -(으)려고 + 모든 동사: 책을 읽으려고 도서관에 가요 · 친구에게 주려고 꽃을 샀어요.
Where university textbooks teach it
This point also appears in: Seoul National University Korean 2A, lesson 1; Yonsei University Korean 2-1, lesson 1; Sogang University Korean 2A, lesson 2; Ewha Womans University Korean 2-1, lesson 1; Hongik University Korean 2B, lesson 8; Hanyang University Korean 2-1, lesson 1.