haru Korean › Grammar › Level 3A › A/V-거든(요)
A/V-거든(요) — …, you see · because … — adding a reason the listener didn't know
…, you see · because … — adding a reason the listener didn't know. Korean grammar for intermediate learners — Level 3A, lesson 6: 일요일에는 아무 약속도 없어요 (No plans at all on Sunday — places, plans and things that just happen).
What it means
-거든요 gives the reason for what you have just said — a reason the listener didn't know. Say the answer or the news first and add the reason after it: 토요일에는 못 가요. 아르바이트가 있거든요 (I can't go on Saturday — I have work, you see). It is the usual way to answer 왜요?: 왜 안 먹어요? — 아까 먹었거든요. The form never changes: add -거든요 to any verb or adjective stem, with or without a 받침 (가거든요, 먹거든요, 바쁘거든요, 있거든요, 멀거든요). Nouns take 이거든요 after a 받침 and 거든요 after a vowel (생일이거든요, 친구거든요). For the past, put -았/었- in front: 갔거든요, 바빴거든요, 학생이었거든요. It belongs to spoken Korean — never in writing or with -습니다 — and in 반말 you drop 요: 바쁘거든. Use it gently with a teacher or a boss: a reason that comes too fast can sound like an excuse, so apologise first (늦어서 죄송합니다).
Forms
| Pattern | When | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -거든요 | 받침 무관 · 동사 · 형용사 · 있다/없다 · N(이)거든요 | 가다 + 거든요 → 가거든요 |
Key points
- A/V-거든요 = …, you see · because …: the answer comes first, and -거든요 adds the reason the listener didn't know — 못 가요. 약속이 있거든요.
- One form after every stem: 가거든요 · 바쁘거든요 · 있거든요 · 갔거든요 · N(이)거든요 (생일이거든요 · 친구거든요). Friendly and spoken — with a teacher or a boss, use it gently.
Examples
- 「-거든요」는 듣는 사람이 모르는 이유를 말할 때 써요.
- 대답을 먼저 하고 이유는 뒤에: 내일은 못 가요. 약속이 있거든요.
- 명사는 (이)거든요: 오늘이 동생 생일이거든요. · 제 고향이 부산이거든요.
- 과거는 -았/었거든요: 어제 잠을 못 잤거든요.
- 친구하고 말할 때 많이 써요. 선생님께는 조금 조심해서 쓰세요.
Where university textbooks teach it
This point also appears in: Seoul National University Korean 3A, lesson 6; Yonsei University Korean 3-1, lesson 10; Ewha Womans University Korean 2-1, lesson 5; Hongik University Korean 2A, lesson 5; Hanyang University Korean 3-1, lesson 4.
Also in this lesson
- 아무 N도 — no … at all · nobody, nothing, nowhere — 아무 with a negative (and 아무 N(이)나: any … at all)
- 피동 -이/히/리/기 — passive verbs — things that happen by themselves (a first look: ten common ones)
- N만 아니면 — as long as it isn't … · any … but … — saying yes with one condition