2 · Linking clauses, first steps
If and when: -(으)면
the conditional connective
-(으)면 turns the first clause into a condition: if it rains, when spring comes.
After a vowel the ending is -면 (가면, 비싸면), after a consonant -으면 (먹으면, 작으면). Stems ending in l count as if they ended in a vowel and take plain -면: 살면, 만들면, 멀면. Irregular stems change as they do before any ending with 으: 들으면, 추우면. With a noun: 학생이면, 친구면.
-(으)면 covers both English “if” and “when”, as long as the event lies ahead or happens again and again: 시간이 있으면 같이 가요, “if you have time, let’s go together”; 봄이 되면 꽃이 피어요, “when spring comes, the flowers bloom”. 만약 at the start of the sentence makes the “if” explicit.
The condition stays in the present even when it refers to the future: 내일 비가 오면 집에 있을 거예요. The future belongs to the main clause. And the main clause can be anything — a statement, a question, a request: 모르면 물어보세요.
The trap for English speakers is a single “when” in the past. -(으)면 looks forward or speaks of habits, so “when I came home yesterday, it was raining” cannot use it; Korean says 어제 집에 올 때 or 집에 왔을 때. Finally, -았/었으면 좋겠어요, literally “if it had …, it would be good”, is the everyday way to say “I hope” or “I wish”.
The form
| after a vowel | 가다 → 가면 |
| after a consonant | 먹다 → 먹으면 |
| stem ending in l | 살다 → 살면 |
| with a noun and 이다 | 학생이면, 친구면 |
| a wish | 왔으면 좋겠어요 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is aboutThe word that calls for it
-면 after a vowel or l, -으면 after any other consonant.
시간이 있으면 같이 영화 봐요.If you have time, let's watch a film together.
The condition stays in the present even when it lies in the future.
만약 내일 비가 오면 집에 있을 거예요.If it rains tomorrow, I will stay at home.
The main clause may be a request or a question.
모르면 선생님께 물어보세요.If you do not know, ask the teacher.
-(으)면 also says what always happens when something occurs.
봄이 되면 꽃이 피어요.When spring comes, the flowers bloom.
-았/었으면 좋겠어요 expresses a hope or a wish.
주말에 날씨가 좋았으면 좋겠어요.I hope the weather is nice at the weekend.
A closer look
Hypothetical and past conditions
만약 or the more formal 만일 at the start of a sentence announces a hypothesis, and the hearer knows from the first word that a -(으)면 is coming. They are optional: the ending alone already says “if”.
A condition that did not come true takes -았/었으면, usually with a guess at the end: 일찍 출발했으면 안 늦었을 거예요, “if we had left early, we would not have been late”. Several patterns are built from -(으)면 as well, such as -(으)면 안 되다, “must not”.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
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the stem ends in l, as in 살다, 만들다 or 멀다
the ending is -면, never -으면: 살면, 만들면, 멀면.
집이 학교에서 멀면 버스를 타세요.If your home is far from school, take the bus.
A stem in l never takes the linking vowel 으; the same happens with -(으)러 and -(으)려고.
How to spot it
- -(으)면
- 만약
- 만일
- -았/었으면 좋겠다
Example sentences
이 버튼을 누르면 문이 열려요.If you press this button, the door opens.
피곤하면 좀 쉬세요.If you are tired, have a rest.
돈이 많으면 세계 여행을 하고 싶어요.If I had a lot of money, I would like to travel round the world.
집에 도착하면 전화해 주세요.Please ring me when you get home.
만약 버스가 안 오면 택시를 탈 거예요.If the bus does not come, I will take a taxi.
음악을 들으면 기분이 좋아져요.When I listen to music, I feel better.
8 more example sentences
날씨가 추우면 따뜻한 차를 마셔요.When it is cold, I drink hot tea.
이 약을 먹으면 금방 나을 거예요.If you take this medicine, you will soon get better.
질문이 있으면 언제든지 물어보세요.If you have a question, ask at any time.
저는 시간이 나면 책을 읽어요.When I have some spare time, I read.
여기에서 오른쪽으로 가면 은행이 있어요.If you go right from here, there is a bank.
창문을 열면 시원할 거예요.If you open the window, it will be cooler.
학생이면 입장료가 무료예요.If you are a student, admission is free.
내일 시간이 있었으면 좋겠어요.I hope I have time tomorrow.
Worth knowing (1)
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Wishing with -았/었으면 좋겠어요
The past form inside the condition does not refer to the past here: it makes the wish sound less certain and more polite. -(으)면 좋겠어요 without the past is also heard, but -았/었으면 좋겠어요 is the usual form.
빨리 방학이 왔으면 좋겠어요.I wish the holidays would come soon.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
-(으)면 is for conditions, for what lies ahead and for what happens repeatedly. For one particular moment in the past, English “when” is 올 때 or 왔을 때 in Korean.
Myeon is "if" and "whenever"; for one past "when", use ttae.
Your turn
10 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.