Constructions #

~ㄹ/을 수 있/없다 is used to create the meaning of “one can…” or “one cannot…”

~고 있다 is attached to verbs to give it a meaning of “I am ___ing.”

~(으)면 is used to create the meaning of “when” or “if.”

~ㄹ/을수록 is attached to verbs, adjectives and 이다 to indicate that, as one situation changes to some degree, another situation is affected and also changes to that degree.

~스럽다 can be added to some nouns to change them into an adjective.

~아/어도 되다 is used to express that there is no problem with the action being done.

~(으)면 안 되다 is used to express the meaning of “one must not…” When used as a question, one is asking if there will be a problem if the action occurs.

~잖아요 is used to create a meaning that loosely translates to “as you know/you know/don’t forget that…”

~(으)ㄴ 적이 있다/없다 is used to express having or not having a particular experience in the past. It corresponds to “have done/had” in English.

~을 때 indicates a specific moment in which something happens. It corresponds to “when/while” in English. When used in present tense, the preceding verb/adjective is not conjugated, but when used in past tense, we do conjugate.

Adj + ~아/어지다 changes the meaning of adjective from “be (adjective)” to “get/become (adjective).”

Verb + ~게 되다 can be translated to the phrase “to end up.” Using this form indicates that the events that occured happened out of one’s control, almost by change or fate.