Lesson 64 · If and Whenever: -(으)면
Hyeju’s Beginner Korean · Lesson 64 · Grammar
If and Whenever: -(으)면
Learn If and Whenever: -(으)면 with form rules, natural examples, common mistakes, romanization, and six practice questions with answers.
Introduction / Review
Use -(으)면 to connect a condition with its result. It can mean “if” for a possibility or “when/whenever” for a recurring situation. The main clause tells what follows under that condition.
N = noun; V = action verb; A = descriptive verb. Romanization is a reading aid.
Today’s Grammar / Explanation
- Vowel or final ㄹ + 면: 가다 → 가면; 살다 → 살면. Other consonants + 으면: 먹다 → 먹으면.
- Irregulars: 춥다 → 추우면; 듣다 → 들으면; 걷다 → 걸으면. Nouns use (이)면: 학생이면, 친구면.
- The following clause can state a result, a plan, or advice: 시간이 있으면 오세요. Tense and context determine the meaning.
Examples
비가 오면 집에 있을 거예요.
biga omyeon jibe isseul geoyeyo
If it rains, I’ll stay home.
시간이 있으면 같이 가요.
sigani isseumyeon gachi gayo
If you have time, let’s go together.
추우면 창문을 닫으세요.
chuumyeon changmuneul dadeuseyo
If you’re cold, please close the window.
많이 걸으면 피곤해요.
mani georeumyeon pigonhaeyo
If I walk a lot, I get tired.
학생이면 할인을 받아요.
haksaengimyeon harineul badayo
If you’re a student, you get a discount.
한국에 가면 친구를 만날 거예요.
hanguge gamyeon chingureul mannal geoyeyo
If I go to Korea, I’ll meet a friend.
Compare with similar grammar
LESSON 53
-(으)ㄹ 때
시간이 있을 때 연락하세요.-(으)ㄹ 때 points to a time, “when”. -(으)면 sets a condition, “if”.
Review Lesson 53 →LESSON 59
-(으)니까
비가 오니까 우산을 가져가세요.-(으)니까: it IS raining (a reason). -(으)면: if it rains (a condition).
Review Lesson 59 →RELATED PATTERN
-았/었더라면
조금 일찍 왔더라면 만났을 거예요.Imagining a different past: “if I had…”.
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -(으)면 | if / whenever | 시간이 있으면 와요 |
| -(으)면 안 돼요 | must not | 뛰면 안 돼요 |
| -(으)ㄹ 때 | when (time) | 시간이 있을 때 |
| -(으)니까 | because, since | 시간이 있으니까 |
Common mistakes
For a straightforward future condition, use 내일 비가 오면, not a word-for-word future form copied from English. -(으)면 does not assert that the condition is already true. A completed past report often needs a different connector or time expression.
오 ends in a vowel → 면.
Stems ending in ㄹ just add 면: 열면.
For “if”, use -(으)면. -(으)니까 means it really is raining.
ㅂ-irregular: 덥다 → 더우면.
Mini practice · six questions
All sentences below are new. Try each one before opening the answer.
- Fill in the blank주말에 시간이 ______ 같이 영화 봐요. (있다)
Check answer
주말에 시간이 있으면 같이 영화 봐요.
있 ends in a consonant → 으면.
- Fill in the blank이 버튼을 ______ 문이 열려요. (누르다)
Check answer
이 버튼을 누르면 문이 열려요.
누르 ends in a vowel → 면.
- Choose the correct form만약 내일 날씨가 (좋으면 / 좋으니까) 소풍 갈 거예요.
Check answer
좋으면
만약 (if) → -(으)면.
- Choose the correct form도서관에서 큰 소리로 (이야기하면 / 이야기해서) 안 돼요.
Check answer
이야기하면
“Must not” → -(으)면 안 돼요.
- Find and fix the mistake집에 도착하으면 문자 주세요.
Check answer
집에 도착하면 문자 주세요.
하 ends in a vowel → 면: 도착하면.
- Say it in KoreanIf you have any questions, please ask me.
Check answer
질문이 있으면 저한테 물어보세요.
있 + 으면 → 있으면.
Today’s Key Point
V/A-(으)면 = if/when; keep final ㄹ; conditions can lead to statements, plans, or advice.
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