Lesson 9
In this lesson, we will take a look at the verb ending -느라고, which is used to link two verbs or actions as a reason for a result. There are other expressions in Korean that you can use, but -느라고 is specifically for when the result is somewhat negative, and you want to mention an excuse or reason.
Structure
Action + -느라고 + Action/State
The verb that comes before -느라고 should be an action.
(ex. 먹다, 잡다, 읽다, 일하다, etc.)
The verb that comes after -느라고, however, can be either an action or a state.
Ex)
일하다 + -느라고 + 못 가다
(work) + -느라고 + (cannot go)
일하느라고 못 갔어요.
= I could not go because I was working.
= I was working so I could not go.
* Here, 일하다 is your excuse/reason for not being able to go somewhere.
-느라고 is usually associated with negative or undesirable results, but you can sometimes use it in a more neutral sense to mention a goal or an objective.
Ex)
시험 준비(를) 하느라고 바빠요.
= I am busy preparing for an exam.
먹을 것을 찾느라고 잠깐 냉장고를 열었어요.
= I opened the refrigerator for a little bit to look for something to eat.
The tense of the entire sentence is expressed through the second verb, so you can only use -느라고 with the verb stem of the first verb.
Ex)
준비(를) 했느라고 (x)
준비(를) 하느라고 (o)
가겠느라고 (x)
가느라고 (o)
Sample Sentences
운동하느라고 전화 온 줄 몰랐어요.
= I was working out, so I did not know that you had called.
= I was working out, so I did not know I received a phone call.
청소하느라고 계속 집에 있었어요.
= I was cleaning so I stayed home all day.
= I stayed home all day because I was cleaning.
뭐 하느라고 이렇게 늦었어요?
= What were you doing to be so late?
= Why are you so late?
* “뭐 하느라고” is a fixed expression.
뭐 하느라고 전화를 안 받아요?
= What were you doing to not answer my calls?
그때 아마 일하느라고 바쁠 거예요. 그래도 연락해 보세요.
= At that time, I will probably be busy working. But still try calling me.
학비를 내느라고 돈을 다 썼어요.
= I spent all the money paying my tuition fees.
Instead of the full -느라고, you can also use -느라.
Ex)
운동하느라 전화 온 줄 몰랐어요.
청소하느라 계속 집에 있었어요.
뭐 하느라 이렇게 늦었어요?
뭐 하느라 전화를 안 받아요?
그때 아마 일하느라 바쁠 거예요. 그래도 연락해 보세요.
학비를 내느라 돈을 다 썼어요.
Two More Things to Remember:
1. The subject of the two verbs should be the same when you use -느라고.
Ex)
친구가 일하느라, 저는 여기 있었어요. (x)
친구가 일해서, 저는 여기 있었어요. (o)
2. You cannot make an imperative or a “let’s” sentence using -느라고.
Ex)
지금 쇼핑하느라, 같이 가자. (x)
지금 쇼핑할 거니까, 같이 가자. (o)