Lesson 16
This lesson is about the different ways to use the ending -게. The ending -게 can be used to (1) convert a descriptive verb or adjective into an adverb, or (2) indicate the purpose or aim of an action. We will first take a look at both usages, and then explore the second one more in depth.
Making adverbs
To make an adjective, take the verb stem of a descriptive verb and add -ㄴ or -은.
Ex)
작다 (to be small) [verb] → 작은 (small) [adjective]
빠르다 (to be fast) [verb] → 빠른 (fast) [adjective]
To make an adverb, instead of -ㄴ or -은, add -게 to the verb stem.
Ex)
작다 (to be small) [verb] → 작게 (in a small amount/on a small scale) [adverb]
빠르다 (to be quick) [verb] → 빠르게 (quickly, at a fast speed) [adverb]
Let us look at some more examples of adverbs ending with -게.
Ex)
이상하다 (to be strange) → 이상하게 = strangely
맛있다 (to be tasty) → 맛있게 = in a tasty way
느리다 (to be slow) → 느리게 = slowly
싸다 (to be cheap) → 싸게 = cheaply, inexpensively, at a cheap price
부드럽다 (to be soft) → 부드럽게 = softly, in a soft manner
The usage of -게 as an adverb ending is easy to understand and can be seen commonly in Korean sentences. However, not every word that ends with -게 is the adverb form of a descriptive verb. There is also another way that -게 can be used.
Indicating the purpose or aim of an action
When you see -게 attached to the end of an action verb, it is not being used as an adverb, but rather as an adverbial phrase. In these instances, -게 shows the purpose, aim, or end goal of an action and is often translated to "so that (one can)..." or "in order to".
The difference between an adverb and an adverbial phrase is that adverbs can be used on their own in diverse contexts, whereas adverbial phrases are made specifically for the sentence they are used in.
For example, the verb for "to be slow" is 느리다, and the adverb form of the verb is 느리게. The word 느리게 can be used on its own in diverse contexts. However, let us take a look at the action verb 잡다, which means to catch or to hold. Changing 잡다 to 잡게 does not make it into a pre-existing adverb. Rather, 잡게 can only be used in the specific sentence it was created for. Out of context, 잡게 does not make sense. Please note this difference when using -게 with action verbs.
Basic form
Simply put -게 after a verb stem, and then add a following clause about what needs to be done for the purpose to be achieved.
Sample Sentences
수업을 시작하게 여기로 모이세요.
= Gather here so that we can start the class.
저녁 같이 먹게 빨리 오세요.
= Come here quickly so that we can have dinner together.
일찍 도착하게 서둘러 주세요.
= Please hurry up so that we can arrive early.
People sometimes say what needs to be done first before adding the -게 phrase after to talk about the purpose.
Ex)
여기로 모이세요, 수업을 시작하게.
빨리 오세요, 저녁 같이 먹게.
서둘러 주세요, 일찍 도착하게.
Negative form + -게
You can use 안, 못, or -지 않게 to mean "so that you do not" or "in order not to".
Sample Sentences
비 안 맞게 조심하세요.
= Be careful not to get rained on.
애들이 못 만지게 높은 데에 두세요.
= Put it in a high place so that kids cannot touch it.
넘어지지 않게 조심하세요.
= Be careful not to fall down.
-(으)ㄹ 수 있게
Since -게 has the meaning of "so that..." or "in order to", it is often used in conjunction with -을 수 있다 to make the structure -(으)ㄹ 수 있게.
Sample Sentences
마감 기한을 지킬 수 있게 미리 준비해 주세요.
= Prepare in advance so that you can meet the deadline.
멀리서도 볼 수 있게 크게 써 주세요.
Write it in big letters so that you can see it even from far away.
모두 다 들을 수 있게 큰 소리로 말해 주세요.
Say it out loud so that everybody can hear you.
Alternative expressions
There are two other ways you can express "in order to": -도록 and -기 위해서.
In most of the sentences introduced in this lesson, -게 can be replaced with -도록. Using -도록 instead of -게 makes the sentence sound more formal.
Ex)
모두 다 들을 수 있게
= 모두 다 들을 수 있도록
= so that everybody can hear you
-기 위해서, however, is a very formal expression and cannot replace -게 in many of the sentences used in this lesson. You can only use -기 위해서 when the subject of the first clause and the second clause is the same.
Ex)
모두 다 들을 수 있기 위해서 큰 소리로 말해 주세요. (X)
모두 다 들을 수 있도록 큰 소리로 말해 주세요. (O)