Lesson 11
In this lesson, you will learn how to use -(으)ㄹ 텐데 to express an assumption about a certain situation. When using this grammar point, your assumption is always accompanied by a suggestion, doubt, or question.
The construction of -(으)ㄹ 텐데
-(으)ㄹ 텐데 is the shortened form of -(으)ㄹ 터인데.
The key element here is 터, which originally means a "place" or a "spot". It is not commonly used on its own, but you can find it in many compound words and idiomatic expressions.
놀이터 = playground for kids
쉼터 = rest area
공터 = vacant lot
전쟁터 = battlefield
낚시터 = fishing spot
터를 잡다 = to pick out a location
터를 닦다 = to establish the foundation
Translated literally, -(으)ㄹ 터 means "a place to do" something or "a place where something will happen". The actual meaning of 터 in real-life sentences is "situation". So you can think of -(으)ㄹ 터 as a "situation", "context", or "circumstance" in which something will happen.
So all together, -(으)ㄹ 텐데 has the meaning of, "looking at the situation, I can see that A will happen or is happening" or, "judging from the circumstances, it must be like this".
Sample Sentences
바쁠 텐데 나중에 이야기해요. (suggestion)
= You must be busy. Let's talk later.
피곤할 텐데 앉아서 좀 쉬어요. (suggestion)
= You must be tired. Take a seat and get some rest.
제 전화번호 알 텐데 왜 전화를 안 했을까요? (question)
= I'm sure he knows my number. I wonder why he did not call me?.
밖에 추울 텐데 괜찮을까요? (doubt)
= It must be cold outside. Will it be okay?
Omitting the following clause
When a sentence ends with -(으)ㄹ 텐데 and is not followed by another statement, you can assume that a suggestion, doubt, or question exists but has been omitted.
이거 비쌀 텐데…
= This must be expensive.
= 이거 비쌀 텐데 (왜 샀어요?)
아닐 텐데…
= That cannot be true.
= 아닐 텐데 (왜 그렇게 말하는 거예요?)
피자 곧 올 텐데.
= The pizza will be delivered soon.
= 피자 곧 올 텐데 (어디 가요?)
Do not use -(으)ㄹ 텐데 for a fact that everybody knows
-(으)ㄹ 텐데 can only be used to express an assumption. If you do not know the time and are just guessing, you can say, “벌써 세 시 거의 다 됐을 텐데요 (= It must be close to 3 o'clock).” However, if you can actually see the clock on the wall, using -(으)ㄹ 텐데 in a sentence sounds unnatural.
-(으)면 -(으)ㄹ 텐데
-(으)ㄹ 텐데 is often used with -(으)면 to express the speaker’s hopes or wishes.
Sample Sentence
너도 같이 가면 좋을 텐데.
= It would be nice if you were also coming with us.
친구랑 같이 살면 재밌을 텐데.
= It would be fun if I lived together with my friend.
조금 덜 더우면 좋을 텐데.
= It would be nice if it was a bit less hot.
-았/었/였으면 -았/었/였을 텐데
You can use the past tense suffix -았/었/였- with -(으)면 -(으)ㄹ 텐데 to express that you wish a situation that is contrary to reality would happen, or to wish that something in the past had happened differently.
Sample Sentences
여름이었으면 야외 수영장에서 수영했을 텐데.
= If it had been summer, we would have swum in the outdoor swimming pool.
거기에 그 사람이 올 줄 알았으면 나도 갔을 텐데.
= If I had known that he would be there, I also would have gone.
공부 열심히 했으면 시험 더 잘 봤을 텐데.
= If I had studied hard, I would have done better on the exam.