Lesson 53 · When You Do Something: -(으)ㄹ 때
Hyeju’s Beginner Korean · Lesson 53 · Grammar
When You Do Something: -(으)ㄹ 때
Learn When You Do Something: -(으)ㄹ 때 with form rules, natural examples, common mistakes, romanization, and six practice questions with answers.
Introduction / Review
Use -(으)ㄹ 때 to describe the time or situation when something happens. It does not automatically mean future time. It can describe a repeated situation: “when I study.”
N = noun; V = action verb; A = descriptive verb. Romanization is a reading aid.
Today’s Grammar / Explanation
- Vowel + ㄹ 때: 가다 → 갈 때; 바쁘다 → 바쁠 때. Consonant + 을 때: 먹다 → 먹을 때. Final ㄹ stays: 살 때.
- Irregulars: 춥다 → 추울 때; 듣다 → 들을 때. Nouns use 일 때: 학생일 때.
- For an explicitly past or completed situation, use -았/었을 때: 한국에 갔을 때. Do not mechanically substitute -(으)ㄴ 때 for every past “when.”
Examples
공부할 때 음악을 들어요.
gongbuhal ttae eumageul deureoyo
I listen to music when I study.
밥을 먹을 때 물을 마셔요.
babeul meogeul ttae mureul masyeoyo
I drink water when I eat.
추울 때 따뜻한 차를 마셔요.
chuul ttae ttatteutan chareul masyeoyo
I drink warm tea when it is cold.
집에 갈 때 빵을 사요.
jibe gal ttae ppangeul sayo
I buy bread when I go home.
한국에 갔을 때 친구를 만났어요.
hanguge gasseul ttae chingureul mannasseoyo
I met a friend when I went to Korea.
바쁠 때는 전화를 못 해요.
bappeul ttaeneun jeonhwareul mot haeyo
When I’m busy, I can’t call.
Compare with similar grammar
LESSON 54
-기 전에 / -(으)ㄴ 후에
자기 전에 이를 닦아요.These put two actions in order. -(으)ㄹ 때 points to the time something happens.
Look ahead: Lesson 54 →LESSON 64
-(으)면
피곤하면 좀 쉬세요.-(으)면 is a condition, “if”. -(으)ㄹ 때 is the time, “when”.
Look ahead: Lesson 64 →| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -(으)ㄹ 때 | when (at that time) | 어릴 때 |
| -았/었을 때 | when (after it had happened) | 한국에 왔을 때 |
| N 때 | at (noun) time | 방학 때 |
| -(으)면 | if / whenever | 시간이 있으면 |
Common mistakes
Both 어릴 때 and 어렸을 때 can refer to childhood in context. The latter makes past realization more explicit. Focus on the time relationship, not an English future translation of ㄹ. Write a space before 때.
이다 attaches to the noun: 학생일 때.
You had already arrived when it felt cold, so use -았/었을 때.
Time nouns take 때 directly: 점심 때.
It’s always -(으)ㄹ 때, never -는 때.
Mini practice · six questions
All sentences below are new. Try each one before opening the answer.
- Fill in the blank저는 ______ 음악을 들어요. (운전하다)
Check answer
저는 운전할 때 음악을 들어요.
운전하 + ㄹ 때 → 운전할 때.
- Fill in the blank______ 자주 감기에 걸렸어요. (어리다)
Check answer
어릴 때 자주 감기에 걸렸어요.
어리 + ㄹ 때 → 어릴 때 (when I was little).
- Choose the correct form지난번에 서울에 (갔을 때 / 갈 때) 친구를 만났어요.
Check answer
갔을 때
You met the friend after arriving in Seoul → -았/었을 때.
- Choose the correct form(크리스마스 때 / 크리스마스일 때) 가족이 모여요.
Check answer
크리스마스 때
A time noun + 때.
- Find and fix the mistake기분이 안 좋은 때 산책을 해요.
Check answer
기분이 안 좋을 때 산책을 해요.
Use -(으)ㄹ 때: 좋을 때.
- Say it in KoreanWhen I’m tired, I drink coffee.
Check answer
피곤할 때 커피를 마셔요.
피곤하 + ㄹ 때 → 피곤할 때.
Today’s Key Point
-(으)ㄹ 때 = when/in that situation; not automatically future; past/completed event: -았/었을 때.
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