3 · Sentence endings that add a stance
You see: giving the reason with -거든요
the explaining ending
-거든요 adds a reason or background the listener did not know: “you see, …”.
-거든요 goes straight onto the stem, with no vowel to choose: 바쁘거든요, 있거든요, 왔거든요. After a noun it is 이거든요 after a consonant, and after a vowel usually just 거든요: 시험이거든요, 친구거든요. It belongs to conversation; you will not find it in an essay.
The ending supplies a reason after the fact. You say what is going on, then add why: 오늘은 못 가요. 일이 많거든요, “I can't come today. I've got a lot of work, you see.” It is the natural answer to 왜요?, “why?”. English uses “you see”, “because”, “the thing is”, or just a second sentence; -아서/어서 would put the same reason in front, inside one sentence.
It also sets up a story. 제가 어제 시장에 갔거든요 — “I went to the market yesterday, right?” — gives the background and tells the listener that the point is still to come. Said like this, the voice stays up at the end and the listener answers 네 and waits.
Two things to watch. The information must be new to the listener; for something they already know, the ending is -잖아요. And it ends a sentence — it is not a conjunction, so it cannot stand before a main clause the way “because” can. Among friends it is -거든.
The form
| after a vowel | 바쁘다 → 바쁘거든요 |
| after a consonant | 있다 → 있거든요 |
| past | 먹다 → 먹었거든요 |
| after a noun | 시험이거든요 / 친구거든요 |
| among friends | 바쁘거든. |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is aboutThe word that calls for it
It comes after the statement it explains, as a sentence of its own.
오늘은 못 가요. 일이 좀 많거든요.I can't come today. I've got a lot of work, you see.
It is the natural answer to “why?”, with something the listener did not know.
아까 점심을 늦게 먹었거든요.I had a late lunch earlier, you see.
It can set up a story: the background first, the point after.
제가 어제 시장에 갔거든요. 그런데 거기서 선생님을 만났어요.I went to the market yesterday, right? And I ran into my teacher there.
The listener must not know it already; shared knowledge takes -잖아요.
저 다음 달에 결혼하거든요.I'm getting married next month, you see.
A closer look
Why it can sound like an excuse
Because -거든요 brings the reason in afterwards, it often sounds like justifying yourself. Once in a conversation that is natural; after every sentence it starts to sound defensive.
With a manager or a customer, the reason is usually built into the sentence instead: 일이 많아서 오늘은 어렵습니다. -거든요 is at home among colleagues, acquaintances and friends.
How to spot it
- -거든요
- -았거든요
- 왜요?
- 그런데
Example sentences
죄송해요, 오늘은 일찍 가야 돼요. 약속이 있거든요.Sorry, I have to leave early today. I've got plans, you see.
저는 커피를 안 마셔요. 마시면 잠을 못 자거든요.I don't drink coffee. If I do, I can't sleep.
이 식당 꼭 가 보세요. 음식이 정말 맛있거든요.You must try this restaurant. The food is really good, you see.
한국어를 배우고 있어요. 내년에 서울로 이사 가거든요.I'm learning Korean. I'm moving to Seoul next year, you see.
제가 지난주에 제주도에 갔거든요. 그런데 일주일 내내 비가 왔어요.I went to Jeju last week, right? And it rained the whole week.
어제 전화 못 받아서 미안해요. 회의 중이었거든요.Sorry I couldn't answer your call yesterday. I was in a meeting.
7 more example sentences
오늘 우산 꼭 챙기세요. 오후에 비가 온다고 했거든요.Make sure you take an umbrella today. They said it'll rain in the afternoon.
저 오늘 좀 피곤해요. 어제 늦게까지 일했거든요.I'm a bit tired today. I worked late last night.
이 노래 정말 좋아해요. 대학교 때 자주 들었거든요.I love this song. I listened to it a lot at university.
그 가게는 지금 문을 안 열었을 거예요. 일요일에는 쉬거든요.That shop won't be open now. It's closed on Sundays, you see.
저 사실 매운 걸 잘 못 먹거든요.Actually, I'm not very good with spicy food.
제가 요즘 운동을 시작했거든요. 그래서 아침에 일찍 일어나요.I've started exercising lately, you see. So I get up early.
내일은 제가 운전할게요. 길을 잘 알거든요.I'll drive tomorrow. I know the way well.
Worth knowing (1)
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Among friends
Without 요, -거든 is intimate. It also has a sharper use: 아니거든, “it is not, actually”, contradicts somebody flatly and can sound cheeky.
나 오늘 바쁘거든. 내일 보자.I'm busy today, you see. Let's meet tomorrow.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
-거든요 ends a sentence; it is not “because” joining two clauses. Say the main point first and give the reason after it — or, to put the reason first, use -아서/어서: 일이 많아서 오늘은 못 가요.
Say what is going on first, then add the reason with -geodeunyo.
Your turn
8 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.