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TOPIK II · LEVEL 3

-거든요

-거든요 ends a sentence by giving a reason or background fact the speaker assumes the listener doesn't know yet, like "you see" in English.

이유·원인Reason & cause

Han: -거든요 is not a connector like -아서; it closes the sentence, so the reason comes after the statement it explains.

Examples

제가 어제 명동에 갔거든요. 그런데 거기서 고등학교 친구를 만났어요.So, I went to Myeongdong yesterday. And there I ran into a friend from high school.
오늘은 일찍 가야 해요. 내일 시험이 있거든요.I have to leave early today. I have an exam tomorrow, you see.
A: 왜 커피를 안 마셔요? B: 커피를 마시면 밤에 잠을 못 자거든요.A: Why don't you drink coffee? B: If I drink coffee, I can't sleep at night, you see.
A: 한국어를 정말 잘하시네요. B: 한국에서 5년 동안 살았거든요.A: Your Korean is really good! B: Well, I lived in Korea for five years.

Don’t mix up

-거든요vs-잖아요-잖아요 reminds the listener of a reason they already know; -거든요 gives a reason that is new to them. 비가 오잖아요 (you can see it's raining) vs 비가 오거든요 (it's raining, you see — you didn't know).
-거든요vs-아서/어서, -(으)니까These connect a reason clause to a result in one sentence; -거든요 ends the sentence and adds the reason afterwards. 시험이 있어서 일찍 가요 vs 일찍 가요. 시험이 있거든요.
-거든요vs-기 때문이에요-기 때문이에요 states a reason neutrally and suits formal or written contexts; -거든요 is conversational and personal. 길이 막혔기 때문입니다 (report) vs 길이 막혔거든요 (chat).

How to build it

V/A+거든요 (past: V/A + 았/었거든요), N+(이)거든요

바쁘다 → 바쁘거든요, 살다 → 살았거든요, 학생 → 학생이거든요

  1. It is sentence-final: the reason usually comes in its own sentence after the main statement or as an answer. It cannot link two clauses like -아서/어서.
  2. It is not used in questions, commands or suggestions; it only explains.
  3. It belongs to spoken language. In writing or formal speeches use -기 때문입니다 instead. With a superior it can sound a bit like an excuse, so use it with a soft tone.
  4. It can also set up background before continuing a story (제가 어제 명동에 갔거든요. 그런데…), inviting the listener to keep listening.

Classic mistake

Wrong: 어제 늦게 잤거든요 피곤해요.

Right: 피곤해요. 어제 늦게 잤거든요.

-거든요 is not a connector like -아서; it closes the sentence, so the reason comes after the statement it explains.

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More level 3 grammar

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