A/V-(으)ㄹ까 봐 = I’m worried that / I’m afraid that

안녕하세요 여러분! Koreanstudyjunkie입니다. I hope you all are well!

Today, I’m going to walk through an intermediate level grammar structure that you can use in the middle of and at the end of your sentences.

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A/V-ㄹ/을까 봐

= be worried/ afraid that someone/something would

Usage:

Express the speaker’s corresponding action in the 2nd sentence in fear/worry that the 1st sentence situation will occur or has occurred.

Rule:

Future tense cannot be used in the 2nd clause.

(으)ㄹ까 봐 can also be used in form of - (으)ㄹ까 봐서 without meaning change.

Example Sentences:

가: 눈이 오는데 등산 가려고요?

A: Are planning to climb mountain while It’s snowing?

나: 아니요, 눈 때문에 길이 미끄러울까 봐 등산화를 신고 나가려고요.

B: No, I wear the climbing boots to go out because I am worried that the road would be slippery.

가: 밍 씨, 시험 잘 봤어요?

A: Minh, did you do your exam well?

나: 아니요, 너무 못 봤어요. 시험에 떨어질까 봐 걱정이에요.

B: No, I didn’t do well at all. I am worried that I would fail the exam.

가: 커피를 많이 드시네요.

A: You sure drink a lot of coffee.

나: 이따 회의 시간에 졸까 봐 마시는 거예요. 졸면 안 되잖아요.

B: I am worried that I get sleepy during the meeting so I drink it. I can‘t get sleepy.

가: 여보세요? 엄마, 대전에 가는 기차를 잘 탔어요.

A: Hello? Mom, I boarded the train to Daejeon.

나: 그래? 다행이다. 길이 막혀서 네가 기차를 놓쳤을까 봐 걱정했거든

B: Really? That’s good. I was worried that you would miss the train because of the heavy traffic.

중요한 일을 잊어버릴까 봐 수첩에 항상 메모해요.

I always write memo because I am afraid that I would forget important things.

수첩 - pocket notebook

살이 찔까 봐 기름진 음식 안 먹어요.

I don‘t eat fatty food since I am worried that I would gain weight.

친구들을 초대했는데 제가 만든 요리가 맛이 없을까 봐 걱정이에요.

I invited my friends, but I‘m worried that the food I cooks won’t taste good.

CONJUGATIONS:

Adjective / Verb + -ㄹ/을까 봐 (Present tense)

사다 -> 살까 봐 (be afraid that he would buy it)

작다 -> 작을까 봐 (be afraid that it would be small)

Noun + -일까 봐 (Present tense)

친구 -> 친구일까 봐

Adjective / Verb + -았/었을까 봐 (Past tense)

비싸다 -> 비쌌을까 봐

Noun + -였을까 봐/-이었을까 봐 (Past tense)

학생 -> 학생이었을까 봐

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Practice Time!

Translate each sentence into Korean/English

1.) I wear a hat to go out since I am afraid that it would be very hot.

2.) 학교에 늦을까 봐 택시를 탔어요.

3.) I was afraid that if I ate a lot of spicy tteokbokki, my stomach would hurt, so I ate only a little bit.

4.) A lot of people are sick these days. I’m worried that I might catch a cold.

5.) 갑자기 배가 아파서 병원에 갈까 봐요.

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Answer Section:

Answers may not match 100% but it doesn’t mean your answer is wrong

1.) 날씨가 너무 더울까 봐(서)모자를 써요

2.) I was worried/afraid I’d be late to school, so I took a taxi.

3.) 매운 떡볶이를 많이 먹으면 배가 아플까 봐(서) 조금만 먹었어.

4.) COMMENT BELOW

5.) I’m worried I might need to go to the hospital because my stomach suddenly hurts.

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That’s all for this lesson! If you learned something new please feel free to comment below.

I have linked 3 lessons below to help you continue on learning - scroll down to check them out~