형용사/동사 으면/면 (Adjective/verb -으면 / 면 grammar) expresses conditions and assumptions and it attaches after the adjective/verb stem. 면, 으면 is the connective ending which expresses conditions and assumptions. (It corresponds to ‘if, when’ or ‘once’ in English.)
It is used to assume an uncertain fact. Or it is used when stating a condition about obvious facts. And also, it is used when the preceding statement becomes the condition of the following statement. For example,
돈을 많이 벌면 무엇을 하고 싶어요?” If you earn a lot of money, what do you want to do?”
저는 돈을 많이 벌면 유럽 여행을 하고 싶어요. If I earn a lot of money, I want to travel to Europe.
‘돈을 많이 벌면 유럽 여행을 가고 싶어요.’ If I earn a lot of money, I want to travel to Europe. ‘벌면’ is the expression made by adding ‘면’ to ‘벌다 (to earn). It expresses the speaker’s expectations.
In what situation, can you travel? Under what conditions can you travel?
= If you earn a lot of money; when you’re in a situation where you earn a lot of money. The first clause ‘돈을 많이 벌면’ is the assumption.
When do we use 으면 / 면 Grammar?
Adjective/verb-으면/면 is used to express ‘assumptions’ or ‘conditions.’
When the adjective/verb stem has the final consonant, ‘으면’ is used.
For example, when you remove ‘다’ from the verb ‘먹다 (to eat), there is the final consonant ‘ ㄱ.’ So ‘으면’ is attached after that, it becomes ‘먹으면.’
When the adjective/verb stem does not have the final consonant, ‘면’ is used.
If you remove ‘다’ from the verb ‘오다 (to come),’ 오 has no final consonant in the stem. So ‘면’ is attached after that, it becomes ‘오면.’
When the adjective/verb stem ends in ‘ㄹ’, ‘면’ is attached.
For example, when you remove ‘다’ from the verb ‘사다 (to live), the final consonant in the stem is ‘ㄹ.’ Then ‘면’ is attached, so it becomes 살면.’
‘상한 계란을 먹으면 배탈이 나요.’ When you eat rotten egg, you have a stomachache.
먹다 (to eat) + 으면 = 먹으면
Under what condition, do you have a stomachache?
When you eat rotten eggs, you have a stomachache. The first clause becomes the condition of the second clause.
으면 / 면 Grammar example
멕시코에 가면 치킨을 드셔보세요. When you go to Mexico, try to eat fried chicken.
가다 (to go) + 면= 가면
소주‘먹으면’ 기분이 좋아져요. When I take soju (alcohol), I feel better.
먹다 ( To take/ have / eat) +으면 = 먹으면
‘아이스크림을 먹으면 기분이 좋아져요.’ When I have ice-cream, I feel better.
문제 ‘있으면’ 연락 주세요. When you have a problem, please contact me.
있다 (to have, to be) + 으면 = 있으면
날씨가 좋으면 산으로 갈 거예요.” If the weather is good, I’m going to a mountain.
좋다 (to be good) + 으면 = 좋으면
만약에 로또 당첨되면 무엇을 하고 싶어요? If you win the lottery, what do you want to do?
당첨되다 (to win) + ‘으면 = 당첨되면
If you win the lottery, what do you want to do? Please make your own sentence. My answer is 복권에 당첨되면 세계 여행을 가고 싶어요. What about you? Try making sentences using 면 으면.
으면 / 면 Grammar summary
‘으면/면’ attaches after the adjective/verb stem. It is the connective ending which expresses conditions and assumptions. (It corresponds to ‘if, when’ or ‘once’ in English.) It is used to assume an uncertain fact. Or it is used when stating a condition about obvious facts. And also, it is used when the preceding statement becomes the condition of the following statement. For example,
When the adjective/verb stem has the final consonant, ‘으면’ is used. So, 먹다 becomes ‘먹으면.’
when the adjective/verb stem does not have the final consonant, or when the final consonant is ‘ㄹ’ – 면’ is used.
So, ‘오다’ becomes ‘오면’
‘멀다’ becomes ‘멀면.’
There is one thing you need to be careful of.
If the subjects of the first clause and the second clause are different, the subject particles ‘이/가’ should be used in the subject of the first clause. For example
‘경주가 말하면 사람들이 웃어요.’ When kyongju speaks, people laugh
The subject of the first clause is ‘경주 (kyongju).’ And the subject of the second clause is ‘사람들 (people).’
The subjects are different. In this case, ‘가’ should be used after ‘경주’ which is the subject of the first clause.
If you use ‘는’, it is wrong. But, you can use ‘이’ or ‘은’ after the subject of the second clause.
There are some differences in meaning, but it is not the wrong expression.
경주가 말하면 사람들이 웃어요’ is the correct expression.
경주는 말하면 사람들이 웃어요. is the wrong expression.
‘민조 씨가 오면 나은 씨는 갈 거예요.’ ‘When Minjo comes, Naun will go’
The subject of the first clause is ‘민조 씨 (Min and second clause is ‘나은 씨 (Naun).’ The subjects are different.
In this case, ‘가’ should be used after ‘민조 씨’ which is the subject of the first clause. If you use ‘는’ after ‘민조 씨’, it is wrong. But, you can use ‘이’ or ‘은’ after ‘나은 씨.’
‘민조 씨가 오면 나은 씨는 갈 거예요.’ is the correct express
IN one sentence (으)면 means When/ if in English.
