Lesson 29
By using the Korean structure -게 되다, you can say things like “to gradually get to do”, “to eventually find oneself doing”, or “to end up doing”.
In order to fully understand and use this structure confidently, let’s first take a look at what -게 and 되다 mean separately:
-게 = in such a way that... / so that...
되다 = to become
Meanings of -게 + 되다
= things happen in a way in which someone gets to do something
= to get into a state where someone does something
Conjugation
Verb stem + -게 되다
Examples
(1)
하다 (= to do) + -게 되다 = 하게 되다
[present tense] 하게 돼요.
[past tense] 하게 됐어요.
[future tense] 하게 될 거예요.
(2)
알다 (= to know) + -게 되다 = 알게 되다
[present tense] 알게 돼요.
[past tense] 알게 됐어요.
[future tense] 알게 될 거예요.
Usages of -게 되다
-게 되다 has various usages:
- When you want to express that a situation has changed or happened due to an external influence, usually when you did not want, expect, or intend to do something, but you ended up doing it.
경은 씨랑 같이 일하게 됐어요.
= I got to work with Kyeong-eun.
A: 경화 씨, 미국으로 이사 가요? = Are you moving to the U.S., Kyung-hwa?
B: 네, 그렇게 됐어요. = Yes, it so happens that I am.
If you would like to mention what the external influence is, you can use -아/어/여서.
남편이 미국 회사에 다녀서 그렇게 됐어요.
= It happened because my husband works at an American company.
- When you want to talk about a result that you intended, but in a humble way.
좋은 회사에 들어가게 됐어요.
= I ended up getting into a good company.
This person must have intended to go into a good company and put in a lot of effort to achieve it. However, this person is saying it this way because they are shy to talk about the good news or they do not want to sound like they are bragging.
- When you want to say that you (or someone else) will eventually do something in the future whether or not you (or he/she) want(s) to.
그렇게 하게 될 거예요.
= You will eventually end up doing it that way.
오게 될 거예요.
= He will eventually come here.
By using -게 될 거예요, you express confidence about what is going to happen in the future.
Sample Sentences
내일 알게 될 거예요.
= You will find out tomorrow.
다 사게 됐어요.
= I ended up buying everything.
다시 학교에 다니게 됐어요.
= (Things have happened so that) now I am going back to school again.
어떻게 여기에 오게 됐어요?
= How did you get to come here?
만나게 되면 말해 주세요.
= If you get to meet him, tell me.