Verbs have a SEQUENTIAL FORM, which is made by attaching the ending -(으)니까 to them: -으니까 after consonants, -니까 after vowels. The ending may also be attached to past bases to make past-tense forms (-었으니까), and to the Probable Future in -(으)ㄹ거에요 : -(으)ㄹ거니까 (see section 13.4 in this lesson for more on the Probable Future). For example:
| 하니까 | as [he] does. . . | 먹으니까 | as [he] eats. . . |
| 했으니까 | as [he] did. . . | 먹었으니까 | as [he] ate. . . |
| 할거니까 | as [he] will do. . . | 먹을거니까 | as [he] will eat. . . |
The sequential form in -(으)니까 is called the EXTENDED sequential, and is widely used in colloquial speech. It can also be heard as -(으)니깐 or -(으)니까는 with the particle 은/는 or its abbreviation.
There is also a SHORT SEQUENTIAL form, which is obtained by dropping the -까 (-까는, -깐), i.e., -(으)니. This SHORT SEQUENTIAL form is bookish or literary/poetic, and does not occur much in colloquial Korean.
13.1.1. -(으)니(까):As. . ., Since. . ., Because. . .
The sequential ending -(으)니(까) can mean as or since or because or in view of the fact that; in this usage, the second clause often contains a suggestion or a command. Here are some examples:
- 시간이 늦었으니까 빨리 갑시다.
It has become late, so let’s hurry. - 너무 작으니까 버립시다.
It’s too small — let’s throw it away. - 오늘은 좀 바쁘니까 그 일은 내일 합시다.
I’m rather busy today, so let’s take care of that matter tomorrow. - 오늘 저녁은 박선생님 댁에서 먹을거니까 많이 잡수시지 마세요.
We’re going to have lots to eat at Mr. Pak’s house tonight, so don’t eat much [now]. - 버스에 사람이 많으니까, 걸어갑시다.
There are too many people on the bus, so let’s walk. - 일이 끝났으니까, 맥주나 한잔 할까요?
Since the work is finished, shall we have a beer or something? - 시간이 다 됐으니까, 빨리 끝냅시다.
Time is up, so let’s finish quickly. - 한국말을 잘 모르니까, 천천히 말씀하세요.
I don’t know Korean very well, so please speak slowly.
13.1.2. -(으)니(까): When. . ., [I realized. . ./I discovered. . .]
Both sequential forms, but particularly the extended sequential, also have the meaning when in the past [something happened], then [I found/realized/discovered]. . ., indicating a close sequence of actions. In this usage, the sequential ending canNOT appear on a past base. In addition, the subject of the -(으)니까 clause is usually the speaker (I), and the subject of the following clause is something or someone different. Here are some examples:
- 전화를 하니까, 받지 않았어요.
When I telephoned, they didn’t [receive it=] answer. - 내가 가니까 그 사람이 신문을 보고 있었어요.
When I went [to see him], he was reading the newspaper. - 멀리서 보니깐 학교 같습니다.
When you look at it from a distance, it looks like a school. - 방에 들어 가니까, 장인어른이 신문을 보고 계셨어요.
When I entered the room, [I found that] my father-in-law was reading the newspaper. - 한국말을 공부하니까, 너무 재미 있어요.
Now that I study Korean, I find it is incredibly fun. - 한국사람을 사랑하니까, 한국음식도 맛이 있어요.
Now that I [am in] love [with] a Korean, Korean food tastes good, too. - 영국에 오니까, 날씨가 너무 안 좋아요.
Now that I’m here in England, I find that the weather is really not very good.