-(으)면

-(으)면 attaches to a verb or adjective to set a condition: "if X happens or is true, then Y," and it can also mean "whenever X" for things that regularly happen.

조건·가정Conditions & what-ifs

Han: This is one specific past event that you discovered, not a condition, so -(으)니까 is needed instead of -(으)면.

Examples

이 약을 먹으면 금방 괜찮아질 거예요.If you take this medicine, you'll feel better soon.

돈을 많이 벌면 부모님께 집을 사 드리고 싶어요.If I earn a lot of money, I want to buy my parents a house.

봄이 되면 공원에 꽃이 많이 피어요.When spring comes, a lot of flowers bloom in the park.

시간이 있으면 같이 영화 보러 가요.If you have time, let's go see a movie together.

Don’t mix up

-(으)면vs-(으)ㄹ 때-(으)ㄹ 때 simply marks the time something happens, including real past events; -(으)면 sets a condition. 한국에 갈 때 비행기를 탔어요 is fine, but 한국에 가면 비행기를 탔어요 is not.-(으)면vs-(으)니까-(으)니까 gives a reason based on a real situation; -(으)면 talks about a possible one. 비가 오니까 우산을 가져가세요 (it is raining now) vs 비가 오면 우산을 가져가세요 (in case it rains).

How to build it

V/A (vowel or ㄹ stem)+면

V/A (consonant stem)+으면

N+(이)면

가다 → 가면, 먹다 → 먹으면, 살다 → 살면, 학생이다 → 학생이면

ㄹ-stem verbs take 면 directly without 으: 살다 → 살면, 만들다 → 만들면 (not 살으면).
For a future condition, use the plain form before -(으)면; do not add 겠: 내일 비가 오면 (not 오겠으면).
For one specific past event (e.g. what you found when you did something), use -(으)니까 or -았/었더니, not -(으)면; past -(으)면 is used for repeated habits: 어렸을 때 비가 오면 집에서 놀았어요.

Classic mistake

Wrong: ~~어제 집에 가면 동생이 자고 있었어요.~~

Right: 어제 집에 가니까 동생이 자고 있었어요.

This is one specific past event that you discovered, not a condition, so -(으)니까 is needed instead of -(으)면.

Practise -(으)면 on real TOPIK questions

Hannim plans each day up to your exam date: questions on this pattern, reviews, full mock papers and graded writing. 7 days free, no card.

Start 7-day free trial

More level 2 grammar

All TOPIK grammar