Lesson 24
When you want to emphasize an action or state in English, you either do it by adding more stress to the verb in the intonation, or by adding the word “do” in front of the verb.
Example #1
A: It is not easy.
B: No, it IS easy!
Example #2
A: Why did not you go there?
B: I DID go, but I came back early.
Example #3
A: Do you think you can do it?
B: Well, I COULD do it, but I do not want to do it.
In this lesson, let’s take a look at how to express this emphasis in Korean.
The simplest way to do this is by changing the intonation.
A: 왜 안 했어요? = Why did not you do it?
B: 했어요! = I DID do it!
This example is when you are simply disagreeing with the other person and presenting a different fact.
If you want to add some conditions or premises to your sentence and say, “I did do it, but...” or “I do like it, but...”, you need to use a different verb ending.
Example #1
A: So you did not even do it?
B: I did!! I DID do it, but I had some help.
Example #2
A: Can you do it?
B: I COULD do it, but I do not want to do it.
Now let’s look at how to express these in Korean.
The key is -기는. This is the noun form -기 plus the topic marker -는. The topic marker is used to show contrast.
Example #1
갔어요. = I went (there).
→ 가기는 갔어요. = I DID go (there) but…
If you do not want to repeat the 가다 verb, you can change it to 하다.
→ 가기는 했어요. = I DID go (there) but...
→ 가기는 갔는데, 일찍 왔어요. = I DID go there, but I came back early.
→ 가기는 갈 거예요. = I WILL go, but... (+ other premises)
Example #2
봤어요. = I saw (it).
→ 보기는 봤어요. = I DID see (it) but...
→ 보기는 했어요. = I DID see (it) but...
→ 보기는 봤는데 기억이 안 나요. = I DID see it, but I do not remember.
“봤어요. 그런데...” is changed to 봤는데.
How to Say “I COULD do it but...”
To say that you can do something, you use the structure -(으)ㄹ 수 있다. Here, -(으)ㄹ 수 is a Noun Group that literally means “a method for doing something” or “possibility/ability”. Therefore, you can JUST use the topic marker without having to change it again into the noun form. It is already a noun.
Example
할 수 있어요. = I can do (it).
→ 할 수는 있어요. = I COULD do it, but...
→ 할 수는 있는데, 안 하고 싶어요. = I COULD do it, but I do not want to.
→ 할 수는 있는데, 안 해 줄 거예요. = I COULD do it, but I am not going to do it for you.
→ 할 수는 있는데, 조건이 있어요. = I COULD do it, but there is a condition.
→ 할 수는 있는데, 시간이 걸려요. = I COULD do it, but it will take some time.
Sample Sentences
어제 친구를 만나기는 했는데, 금방 헤어졌어요.
= I DID meet a friend yesterday, but we parted soon after.
* “어제 친구를 만났는데, 금방 헤어졌어요” means that you are not upset and are just stating the facts. If you say the one above, though, you are showing that you are upset.
시간 맞춰서 도착하기는 했는데, 준비를 못 했어요.
= I DID manage to get there on time, but I could not prepare (it).
* Again, with this phrase you are showing emphasis that you got there on time but just could not prepare for something in a timely manner.
읽기는 읽었는데 이해가 안 돼요.
= I DID read it, but I do not understand it.
좋기는 좋은데, 너무 비싸요.
= It IS good, but it is too expensive.
맛있기는 맛있는데, 좀 짜요.
= It IS delicious, but it is a bit salty.