Lesson 82 · So That Something Can Happen: -게
Hyeju’s Beginner Korean · Lesson 82 · Grammar
So That Something Can Happen: -게
Learn So That Something Can Happen: -게 with form rules, natural examples, common mistakes, romanization, and six practice questions with answers.
Introduction / Review
In this lesson, V-게 introduces a desired result or purpose: do something so that another situation becomes possible. Compare it with adjective -게, which often describes how an action is done.
N = noun; V = action verb; A = descriptive verb. Romanization is a reading aid.
Today’s Grammar / Explanation
- Attach 게 to the stem: 보이다 → 보이게; 들리다 → 들리게; 자다 → 자게. Keep stems before ㄱ.
- Desired result comes first: 잘 보이게 크게 써 주세요 (“Write it large so it can be seen clearly”). The main action helps create that result.
- Adjective -게 describes manner: 크게 (in a large way/largely), 조용하게 (quietly), 쉽게 (easily). Some sentences contain both uses.
Examples
잘 보이게 크게 써 주세요.
jal boige keuge sseo juseyo
Please write it large so it is easy to see.
잘 들리게 크게 말해 주세요.
jal deullige keuge malhae juseyo
Please speak loudly so it can be heard clearly.
아이가 잘 자게 조용히 해 주세요.
aiga jal jage joyonghi hae juseyo
Please be quiet so the child can sleep well.
늦지 않게 일찍 출발해요.
neutji anke iljjik chulbalhaeyo
I leave early so I won’t be late.
먹기 좋게 잘라 주세요.
meokgi joke jalla juseyo
Please cut it into pieces that are easy to eat.
잊지 않게 공책에 써요.
itji anke gongchaege sseoyo
I write it in a notebook so I won’t forget.
Compare with similar grammar
LESSON 68
A-게 (how)
글씨를 크게 써 주세요.Lesson 68’s -게 describes how something is done. Today’s -게 means “so that…”.
Review Lesson 68 →LESSON 79
-기 위해(서)
시험에 합격하기 위해서 공부해요.-기 위해서 is your own goal (formal). -게 is often “so that someone or something else can…”.
Review Lesson 79 →LESSON 33
-(으)려고
일찍 일어나려고 알람을 맞췄어요.Your own intention. -게 focuses on the result you want.
Review Lesson 33 →RELATED PATTERN
-도록
늦지 않도록 일찍 출발하세요.A more formal “so that”.
| Pattern | Typical use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -게 | so that (often someone else can…) | 아이가 잘 수 있게 조용히 해요 |
| -기 위해서 | in order to (your own goal, formal) | 합격하기 위해서 공부해요 |
| -(으)려고 | intending to (your own goal) | 합격하려고 공부해요 |
| -도록 | so that (formal) | 늦지 않도록 출발하세요 |
Common mistakes
보이다 and 들리다 mean “be visible” and “be audible” here. They are different from 보다 and 듣다. 잘 보이게 크게 써 주세요 uses 보이게 for the intended result and 크게 for how to write. Do not label every 게 as purpose.
-게 attaches straight to the stem: 있게.
The goal is for others (모두) to see, so -게 is natural.
-지 않 + 게 → 않게.
Don’t combine -게 with 위해서.
Mini practice · six questions
All sentences below are new. Try each one before opening the answer.
- Fill in the blank뒤에 있는 사람도 ______ 크게 말해 주세요. (들을 수 있다)
Check answer
뒤에 있는 사람도 들을 수 있게 크게 말해 주세요.
So that others can hear → 들을 수 있게.
- Fill in the blank감기에 ______ 따뜻하게 입으세요. (안 걸리다)
Check answer
감기에 안 걸리게 따뜻하게 입으세요.
안 걸리 + 게 → 안 걸리게.
- Choose the better form아기가 (깨지 않게 / 깨지 않기 위해서) 조용히 들어왔어요.
Check answer
깨지 않게
So that the baby (someone else) doesn’t wake → -게.
- Choose the better form저는 시험에 (합격하기 위해서 / 합격하게) 열심히 공부해요.
Check answer
합격하기 위해서
Your own goal → -기 위해서.
- Find and fix the mistake잊어버리지 않는게 메모해 두세요.
Check answer
잊어버리지 않게 메모해 두세요.
않 + 게 → 않게.
- Say it in KoreanPlease speak slowly so that I can understand.
Check answer
제가 이해할 수 있게 천천히 말해 주세요.
이해할 수 있 + 게 → 이해할 수 있게.
Today’s Key Point
V-게 can set up a desired result; A-게 often describes manner; distinguish 보이다/들리다 from 보다/듣다.
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