Lesson 68 · Describing How: Adjective + -게
Hyeju Language Lab · Beginner · Lesson 68 · Grammar
Describing How: Adjective + -게
Learn the form, compare its meaning, and practice with six examples and six questions.
BeginnerEnglishIntroduction
Use an adjective stem plus -게 to describe the way an action is done. 크게 말해요 means speak loudly; 깨끗하게 청소해요 means clean thoroughly or make something clean. This is a useful way to move from describing an object to describing an action.
Romanization is an approximate reading aid. Read the Korean spelling first.
Form & Meaning
- Remove 다 and add 게: 예쁘다 → 예쁘게; 크다 → 크게; 짧다 → 짧게. There is no 아/어 vowel choice.
- 하다 adjectives become 하게: 편하다 → 편하게; 깨끗하다 → 깨끗하게. Keep the rest of the sentence in a suitable tense: 청소해요 → 청소했어요.
- Learn natural pairings: 크게 말하다, 편하게 앉다, 재미있게 보내다. Some common adverbs have their own familiar forms, such as 많이, 잘, and 빨리.
Examples
Enjoy your meal.
You are dressed nicely today!
Have a fun weekend.
I cleaned the room thoroughly.
Please speak loudly.
Please make yourself comfortable.
Compare with similar grammar
LESSON 48
A-(으)ㄴ N
큰 목소리로 말해요.-(으)ㄴ describes a noun (a loud voice). -게 describes how an action is done (speak loudly).
Review Lesson 48 →LESSON 76
-아/어지다
날씨가 따뜻해졌어요.-아/어지다 is a change in a state. -게 is the manner of an action.
Look ahead: Lesson 76 →LESSON 82
-게 (so that)
뒤에서도 잘 들리게 크게 말해 주세요.Lesson 82: -게 can also mean “so that…”.
Look ahead: Lesson 82 →| Pattern | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A-게 | how an action is done | 크게 말해요 |
| A-(으)ㄴ N | what a noun is like | 큰 목소리 |
| -게 (purpose) | so that… | 잘 보이게 |
| N처럼 | like N | 아이처럼 |
Hyeju’s Note
English does not always use an -ly word where Korean uses -게. 맛있게 드세요 is a meal-time wish, usually translated as “Enjoy your meal.” It is not an instruction about tasting food in a particular manner. 예쁘게 and 깨끗하게 both sometimes translate as “nicely,” but the first concerns appearance and the second cleanliness.
Common mistakes
예쁘다 입어요 → 예쁘게 입어요. Use the adverb form to describe how someone dresses.
빨리 is already an adverb, so don’t add -게. (빠르게 is the -게 form of 빠르다.)
To describe how someone speaks, use -게.
Attach -게 straight to the stem: 재미있게.
즐겁다 → 즐겁 + 게. Don’t add 하.
Say It, Then Write It
Choose one example that fits your day. Say it aloud, change one detail, and write the new sentence. Check both the connecting form and the final tense.
Mini practice · six questions
All sentences below are new. Try each one before opening the answer.
- Fill in the blank할머니가 만든 음식을 ______ 먹었어요. (맛있다)
Check answer
할머니가 만든 음식을 맛있게 먹었어요.
How you ate → 맛있게.
- Fill in the blank글씨를 좀 더 ______ 써 주세요. (크다)
Check answer
글씨를 좀 더 크게 써 주세요.
크 + 게 → 크게.
- Choose the correct form아이가 (조용하게 / 조용한) 자고 있어요.
Check answer
조용하게
Describes how the child sleeps → -게.
- Choose the correct form저는 (짧은 / 짧게) 머리를 좋아해요.
Check answer
짧은
Describes the noun 머리 → -(으)ㄴ.
- Find and fix the mistake오늘은 추우니까 따뜻한 입으세요.
Check answer
오늘은 추우니까 따뜻하게 입으세요.
How to dress → 따뜻하게.
- Say it in KoreanHave a fun weekend!
Check answer
주말 즐겁게 보내세요!
즐겁 + 게 → 즐겁게 보내다 (spend it happily).
Today’s Key Point
Remove 다 and add 게: 예쁘다 → 예쁘게; 크다 → 크게; 짧다 → 짧게. There is no 아/어 vowel choice. Keep the meaning and the context together when you choose the form.
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