LESSON 32

Infinitive + seo = “And So”

When the particle seo follows the infinitive, the meaning is something like does and so, is and so or just does and, is and:

Don-i eopseoseo mot gayo.

돈이 없어서 못가요.

I have no money so I can’t go.

This could be broken up into two shorter sentences with the connective expression geuraeseo:

Don-i eopseoyo. Geuraeseo mot gayo.

돈이 없어요. 그래서 못가요.

I don’t have money. So I can’t go.

For the past—did and so, was and so—you usually just use the plain infinitive plus seo, since the final verb shows that the meaning is past. There is a past infinitive (-eosseo, -asseo etc.) which can be used to make the pastness explicit^*:

Bae-ga gopasseo bap meogeureo gasseoyo.

배가 고팠서 밥 먹으러 갔어요.

I was hungry so I went into the restaurant.

*However, this is almost never used.

(Bae = stomach. Bae gopayo = is hungry. The base of gopayo is gopeu-.)

Mok-i mallaseo mul-eul masyoesseoyo.

목이 말라서 물을 마셨어요.

I was thirsty so I drank some water.

(Mok = throat, Mallayo = gets dry, is dry. Drinks is either meogeoyo or masyeoyo; the base of masyeoyo is masi-.)

Here are some more examples:

Hanguk yeoksa-reul gongbu hago sipeoseo Seoul Daehak-e danigo isseoyo.

한국 역사를 공부하고 싶어서 서울 대학에 다니고 있어요.

I want to study Korea’s history, so I am going to Seoul University.

(Danyeoyo = goes regularly, goes back and forth, keeps going. Base is dani-.)

Jigeum jip-e gaya haeseo taeksi-reul japko isseoyo.

지금집에 가야 해서 택시를 잡고 있어요.

I have to go home now, so I am looking for a taxi.

Kkoch-eul joahaeseo nal-mada gongwon-e sanchaekgayo.

꽃을 좋아해서 날마다 공원에 산책가요.

I like flowers, so I take a walk in the park every day.

Hakgyo-ga meoreoseo georeogal su eopseoyo.

학교가 멀어서 걸어갈 수 없어요.

My school is far away so I can’t walk.

Hakgyo-ga jip-eseo gakkawoseo georeo danyeoyo.

학교가 집에서 가까워서 걸어 다녀요.

My school is near (from) the house, so I can walk.

(Georeogayo = walks, goes on foot. Georeowayo = walks, comes on foot.)

Gongwon-i gakkapji anaseo, jeoncheol-lo gaya haeyo.

공원이 가깝지 않아서 전철로 가야해요.

The park isn’t near, so I have to go by subway.

Uri jip-i jeonggeojang-eseo meolji anaseo, georeowado dweyo.

우리집이 정거장에서 멀지 않아서 걸어와도 되요.

Our house isn’t far from the station, so I can come from there on foot.

The infinitive plus seo means does and in expressions using verbs of motion like goes and does or comes and does:

Gage-e gaseo gwail-eul sasseoyo.

가게에 가서 과일을 샀어요.

He went to the store and bought some fruit.

Oneul achim-e doseogwan-e gaseo, chaek-eul billil geo eyo.

오늘 아침에 도서관에 가서, 책을 빌릴 거에요.

This morning I’m going to the library (building) and will borrow a book.