HYEJU LANGUAGE LAB · INTERMEDIATE 37 · LESSON 122
-거든요…, you see / it’s because…
-거든요 gives background information the listener doesn’t know yet. Use it to explain a reason (오늘 생일이거든요 — It’s my birthday today, you see) or to set up something you’re about to say (어제 명동에 갔거든요. 그런데… — So I went to Myeongdong yesterday. And…).
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A situation you already know
A coworker notices you’re carrying a big cake to the office.
It’s my younger sibling’s birthday today, you see.
Your coworker didn’t know this. -거든요 explains the reason in a friendly, natural way.
Build the form
- 바쁘다 → 바쁘 + 거든요 → 바쁘거든요Complete expression
- 있다 → 있 + 거든요 → 약속이 있거든요Complete expression
- 가다 (과거) → 갔 + 거든요 → 갔거든요Complete expression
- 생일 → 생일 + 이거든요 → 생일이거든요Complete expression
- 처음 → 처음 + 이거든요 → 처음이거든요Complete expression
- Verb or adjective stem + -거든요: 바쁘거든요, 먹거든요.
- Past: -았/었거든요 → 갔거든요, 먹었거든요. Future guess: -(으)ㄹ 거거든요.
- Nouns: consonant + 이거든요, vowel + (이)거든요 → 생일이거든요, 친구거든요.
- Use 1, reason: answer “why?” with information the listener didn’t know.
- Use 2, setup: mention background first, then continue with 그런데 / 그래서.
- Casual: -거든 → 나 오늘 바쁘거든.
Think in Korean · an English-speaker’s guide
- English “you see” or “it’s just that…” is close in feeling.
- -거든요 closes its sentence. It can’t connect straight to a request (✗ 비가 오거든요 우산 가져가세요). Start a new sentence, or use -(으)니까 instead.
- Don’t use -거든요 for things the listener already knows; that is the job of -잖아요 (Lesson 121).
Six examples in context
A: Why aren’t you eating? B: I ate a lot earlier, you see.
I’m not good at Korean yet. I’ve only been learning for three months.
So I went to Myeongdong yesterday. And I saw an actor there!
The kimchi stew here is really good, you see. Give it a try.
Sorry. I already have plans today.
It’s my first time in Seoul. Could you tell me the way?
Compare with related patterns
-잖아요
선약이 있잖아요.“I have plans, remember?” The listener already knows (Lesson 121).
-아/어서
선약이 있어서 못 가요.“I can’t go because I have plans.” Reason inside one sentence (Lesson 58).
-(으)ㄴ/는데요
선약이 있는데요…“Well, I have plans…” Soft, leaves the sentence open (Lesson 63).
| Pattern | Choose it when… |
|---|---|
| -거든요 | New reason or background, after the fact |
| -잖아요 | Reason the listener already knows |
| -아/어서 | Reason + result in one sentence |
| -(으)ㄴ/는데요 | Soft, hesitant background |
Common mistakes
-거든요 ends the sentence; it doesn’t link to a command.
After a vowel, 이 is usually dropped.
Past reason → -았/었거든요.
Shared knowledge → -잖아요.
Mini practice · six questions
Try each one before opening the answer. Translation answers are models; other natural wording is possible.
- Fill in the blankA: 왜 이렇게 피곤해 보여요? B: 어젯밤에 잠을 못 ______. (자다)
Check answer
어젯밤에 잠을 못 잤거든요.
Past reason → 잤거든요.
- Fill in the blankA: 한국 음식을 잘 만드네요! B: 저희 어머니가 ______. (한국 사람)
Check answer
저희 어머니가 한국 사람이거든요.
Noun with consonant → 이거든요.
- Choose the natural form제가 요즘 요가를 (배우거든요 / 배우잖아요). 그런데 생각보다 어려워요. (처음 하는 이야기)
Check answer
배우거든요
Setting up new information → -거든요.
- Choose the natural formA: 왜 커피 안 마셔요? B: 저 커피 마시면 잠을 못 (자거든요 / 자서요).
Check answer
자거든요
Explaining a reason the listener didn’t know → -거든요 (자서요 is also possible but less natural here).
- Fix the mistake오늘 비가 오거든요 우산을 가져가세요.
Check answer
오늘 비가 오니까 우산을 가져가세요.
Before a command, use -(으)니까, not -거든요.
- Say it in Korean(Why are you happy?) I got a job, you see.
Check answer
취직했거든요.
New reason, past → -았/었거든요.
Today’s key point
-거든요 gives new background: as a reason (“…, you see”) or as a setup before a story. Stem + 거든요, past -았/었거든요, nouns (이)거든요. Not before commands; not for shared facts.
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