haru Korean › Grammar › Level 3A › A/V-(으)니
A/V-(으)니 — because … (written) — the reason on notices, signs and in announcements
Because … (written) — the reason on notices, signs and in announcements. Korean grammar for intermediate learners — Level 3A, lesson 4: 먹어 보니까 맛있던데요 (I tried it and it was good — tasting and recalling).
What it means
-(으)니 gives a reason, just like -(으)니까 (Lesson 2A-5): it is the same ending without 까, and it sounds written and formal. You see it on notices, signs, menus and posters, and hear it in announcements and speeches: 주차장이 없으니 지하철을 이용해 주십시오. The rules are those of -(으)니까: after a 받침, 으니 (좁으니, 없으니); after a vowel or ㄹ, 니 — and the ㄹ drops (끝나니, 바쁘니, 팔다 → 파니, 멀다 → 머니). ㅂ and ㄷ verbs change as usual: 뜨겁다 → 뜨거우니, 듣다 → 들으니. Nouns take 이니 (무료이니, 휴일이니), and the past is -았/었으니: 시간이 되었으니 시작하겠습니다. What follows is usually a request or advice, often with -(으)십시오 or -아/어 주십시오 — something -아/어서 cannot do. When you pass a notice on to a friend, switch back to -(으)니까: 주차장이 없으니까 지하철로 가요. Older people sometimes use -(으)니 when they speak, too.
Forms
| Pattern | When | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -으니 | 받침 O | 좁다 + 으니 → 좁으니 |
| -니 | 받침 X · ㄹ (ㄹ 탈락) | 끝나다 + 니 → 끝나니 |
Key points
- A/V-(으)니 = because … (in writing and formal talk): 받침 → 으니 (좁으니 · 없으니) · no 받침 or ㄹ → 니 (끝나니 · 파니) · N(이)니 (무료이니 · 휴일이니)
- It is -(으)니까 (Lesson 2A-5) without 까 — the same rules, a more formal sound. After it usually comes a request: -(으)십시오 · -아/어 주십시오.
Examples
- -(으)니까와 뜻이 같아요. 안내문이나 발표에서 많이 써요.
- 받침 O → 으니: 좁으니 · 없으니 · 많으니. 받침 X · ㄹ → 니: 끝나니 · 바쁘니 · 파니(팔다).
- 불규칙도 -(으)니까와 같아요: 뜨겁다 → 뜨거우니 · 덥다 → 더우니 · 듣다 → 들으니.
- 명사: 무료이니 · 휴일이니. 지난 일: 다 준비했으니 · 시간이 되었으니.
- 뒤에는 보통 부탁이 와요: 음식이 뜨거우니 조심하십시오.
Also in this lesson
- V-아/어 보니(까) — I tried it and found … — what you find out by doing
- A/V-던데(요) — I noticed … · I found … — telling what you saw or tasted yourself
- V-나 보다 — it seems … · they must be … — guessing from what you see or hear (verbs)