군요/구나 Lesson

One of the most common colloquial “sentence enders” is ~ 는군요/구나/~군요.

This is used when you are realizing something, and (potentially) surprised by that information.

There’s no real direct translation in English. It could be a mix of “oh, I see” to “I didn‘t realize.”

Adjectives/Descriptive Verbs

It’s attached directly to the stem of adjectives

i.e. 어렵다 —> 어렵 —> 어렵구나

This includes 이다, 있다, 없다, and is also very commonly used with 그렇다.

Examples:

예민이 되게 똑똑하구나.

Wow, Yemin is pretty smart then, huh.

와, 이 카페 진짜 분위기 좋구나. 공부하기 딱 좋겠다.

Wow, this café has a really nice atmosphere. Perfect for studying.

날씨가 오늘은 정말 춥구나. 코트 안 입었으면 큰일 날 뻔했네.

Wow, it’s really cold today. If I hadn’t worn a coat, I would’ve been in trouble.

오늘 샴푸 없구나. 어제 머리 감았어야지.

Oh, we’re out of shampoo today? I should have washed my hair yesterday.

그렇구나/그렇군요

Oh, I see

Action Verbs

In the present tense, 는구나 \ 는군요 are attached to the stem.

가다 —> 가 —> 가는구나

Examples:

네 동생은 노래를 잘 하는구나

Oh, I didn’t realize your little sister could sing so well

영국에서 비가 이렇게 많이 오는군요.

Oh, I didn’t realize that it rains this much in England.

아, 여기서 살고 있군요. 생각보다 조용한 동네네요.

Oh, you live here. It’s a quieter neighborhood than I expected

현금으로만 받는구나.

Oh, I didn’t realize you only get paid in cash.

Nouns

In the present tense - (이)구나/ (이)군요

Examples:

한국 사람이구나.

Oh, she’s Korean.

민석은 의사이구나

Oh, I didn’t know Minseok is a doctor.

아, 한국 사람이 아니군?! 한국어 정말 잘하시네!

Oh, you’re not Korean. Your Korean is really good.

Past Tense

For both descriptive and active verbs in the past tense, attach 구나 / 군요 to the regular past tense stem of 았 / 었

먹었다 --> 먹었 --> 먹었구나

Examples:

벌써 밥을 다 먹었구나. 나는 아직 안 먹었는데.

Oh, you already finished eating. I haven’t eaten yet.

우리는 같은 학교를 다녔군요.

Oh I didn’t realize we went to the same school.

어제 정말 재미있었구나. 다들 웃는 이유가 있었네.

It was really fun yesterday. No wonder everyone was laughing.

어제 갔었군요.

Oh, you went yesterday.

네 생일은 지난 주말이었구나. (Noun)

Oh I didn’t realize your birthday was last weekend.

이미 드르마가 끝났구나.

Oh, the drama already finished.

그 영화 생각보다 별로였구나. 사람들이 왜 안 좋다고 했는지 알겠다.

That movie wasn’t as good as expected. Now I understand why people said it was bad.

NOTE: There isn’t a future tense form for 군/군요/구나

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PRACTICE SECTION

translate each sentence

You can view the answers at the very end :)

1).

Oh, so that’s why you were so tired yesterday. You studied all night?

밤새 - all night

2).

Oh, you’re going hiking tomorrow. Do you think the weather will be okay?

3).

Oh, you’re going to meet a friend. Have fun!

4).

Wow, the coffee here is really good. I should come again next time.

5).

translate to English

한국에 온 지 벌써 1년이 넘었구나. 시간이 정말 빨리 가네.

6).

오늘 비가 오는구나. 우산을 가져와야 했는데.

7).

Driving in Korea is harder than I thought.

8).

The work finished faster than expected. What should we do now?

9).

Oh, there’s an exam today. That’s why there were many students.

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ANSWER SECTION:

어 어젠 너무 피곤하군요. 밤새 공부했어요?

내일 등산하러 가는군요. 날씨가 괜찮을까요?

오늘 친구를 만나러 가는구나. 재미있게 놀아요.

벌써 집에 가는구나? 조금 더 있고 가면 안 돼?

이 카페는 커피가 정말 맛있군요. 다음에 또 와야 돼요.

Wow, it’s already been over a year since I came to Korea. Time goes really fast.

한국에서 운전하는 게 생각보다 어렵군요.

생각보다 일이 빨리 끝났군요. 이제 뭐 할까요?

오늘 시험이 있는구나. 그래서 학생들이 많았네요.