-ㄴ/은/는 편이다: I tend to

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안녕하세요 여러분!

Welcome to another exciting Korean language lesson! Today, we’re going to explore a fascinating part of Korean grammar: “-ㄴ/은/는 편이다”.

This grammatical form is interesting because it’s used to express one’s tendencies, habits, or general situations. It’s similar to saying “I tend to…” or “It is usually…” in English. It may sound quite challenging at first, but don’t worry! By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to grasp its meaning, construction, and use it correctly in your conversations.

Just like other grammatical principles, the key to mastering “-ㄴ/은/는 편이다” is consistent practice. We will begin with simple sentences and gradually build our way up to more complex scenarios. With each example, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of how to incorporate this grammar pattern into your everyday conversations. I encourage you to actively participate in the practice exercises and ask questions if something is unclear.

Get ready to unlock a new level of proficiency in your Korean language journey. Let’s dive right in and learn about “-ㄴ/은/는 편이다”!

같이 공부해요! (Let’s study together!)

Conjugation

ACTION VERB STEM + -는 편이다

  1. Take a verb i.e. 가다
  2. Drop 다
  3. Add 는 편이다 i.e. 가는 편이다
  • 먹다 –> 먹 + 는 편이다 –> 먹는 편이다
  • 사다 –> 사 + 는 편이다 –> 사는 편이다
  • 오다 –> 오 + 는 편이다 –> 오는 편이다
  • 하다 –> 하 + 는 편이다 –> 하는 편이다

DESCRIPTIVE VERB STEM + – ㄴ/은 편이다

  1. Take a verb i.e. 예쁘다
  2. Drop 다
  3. Follow the below rules (in this case it becomes 예쁜 편이다)
  • If the verb ends with a vowel, add -ㄴ 편이다
  • If the verb ends with a consonant, add -은 편이다
  • If the verb ends with a consonant “ㅂ”, drop ㅂ and add 운 편이다
  • 작다 –> 작 + 은 편이다 –> 작은 편이다
  • 비싸다 –> 비싸 + ㄴ 편이다 –> 비싼 편이다
  • 춥다 –> 추 + 운 편이다 –> 추운 편이다
  • 무섭다 –> 무서 + 운 편이다 –> 무서운 편이다

Understanding the meaning of -ㄴ/은/는 편이다

The “-ㄴ/은/는 편이다” grammatical pattern is used to describe tendencies, habits, or general characteristics. Its usage is not restricted to people only, but it can also be used for objects, places, and general situations.

편 means side and so these would literally be translated as “on the side of” but are equivalent to the English “I tend to”.

Now, let’s dig deeper into its usage and meaning:

Describing Tendencies or Habits of People

When used to express a personal habit or characteristic, “-ㄴ/은/는 편이다” works similarly to saying “I tend to…” or “He/She usually…” in English.

For example: “저는 일찍 일어나는 편이에요.” This translates to “I tend to wake up early.” Here, you’re using “-ㄴ/은/는 편이다” to describe your own habit or tendency.

Describing General Characteristics

The pattern “-ㄴ/은/는 편이다” can be used to describe general tendencies or characteristics of objects or situations. It’s similar to saying “It is usually…” in English.

For instance: “이 식당은 분위기가 좋은 편이에요.” This translates to “This restaurant usually has a good atmosphere.” In this sentence, “-ㄴ/은/는 편이다” is used to describe a general characteristic of a place, namely the restaurant.

Describing Trends or General Situations

“-ㄴ/은/는 편이다” can also be used to describe broader trends or situations. It can be used to express general observations.

For example: “한국은 겨울에 추운 편이에요.” This translates to “Korea is usually cold in the winter.” Here, “-ㄴ/은/는 편이다” is used to describe a general situation or trend, namely the winter weather in Korea.

Remember, while “-ㄴ/은/는 편이다” is a simple grammatical pattern, it’s an important one for expressing habits, tendencies, and general situations. It provides you with a tool for making nuanced observations and statements in Korean. Practice using “-ㄴ/은/는 편이다” in various contexts and you’ll find it adds great depth to your Korean language skills!

Examples

  • 저는 일찍 자는 편이에요. – I tend to go to bed early.
  • 그 친구는 말을 많이 하는 편이에요. – That friend tends to talk a lot.
  • 이 카페는 음료가 맛있는 편이에요. – The drinks at this cafe are usually tasty.
  • 저는 영화를 보는 것을 좋아하는 편이에요. – I tend to enjoy watching movies.
  • 이 도시는 비가 많이 오는 편이에요. – This city tends to get a lot of rain.

Negative sentences with ㄴ/은/는 편이다

There are two ways to form negative sentences with this structure.

안 + VERB STEM + -ㄴ/은/는 편이다

You can just add 안 in front of the verb.

  • 저는 일찍 안 자는 편이에요. – I tend not to go to bed early.
  • 그 친구는 말을 많이 안 하는 편이에요. – That friend tends to not talk a lot.
  • 저는 영화를 보는 것을 안 좋아하는 편이에요. – I don’t tend to enjoy watching movies.
  • 이 도시는 비가 많이 안 오는 편이에요. – This city doesn’t tend to get a lot of rain.

VERB STEM + 지 않 + 은 편이다

  • Place “지 않는” before “편이다”. For example, “먹다” (to eat) becomes “먹지 않은 편이다” (tend not to eat).
  • 저는 아침을 먹지 않은 편이에요.” – I tend not to eat breakfast.
  • 저는 커피를 마시지 않은 편이에요. – I tend not to drink coffee.
  • 이 공원은 사람들이 많지 않은 편이에요. – This park is usually not crowded.
  • 이 핸드폰은 빠르지 않은 편이에요. – This phone is not usually fast.

Activity 1

Fill in the blanks.

  1. 저는 보통 많이 ______ 편이에요. – I tend to eat a lot.
  2. 저는 사람들을 ______ 편이에요. – I tend to trust people.
  3. 이 집은 가격이 ______ 편이에요. – This house is on the expensive side.
  4. 민주는 일찍 ______ 편이에요. – Min-ju tends to wake up early.
  5. 서하 신발을 많이 ______ 편이에요. – Seo-ha tends to buy a lot of shoes.

Activity 2

Translate these sentences into Korean.

  1. I tend to read a lot of books.
  2. Jun-ho usually goes to bed late.
  3. This restaurant tends to be expensive.
  4. Hana tends to study hard.
  5. We usually play soccer on the weekends.

Activity 1 Answers

  1. 저는 보통 많이 먹는 편이에요. – I tend to eat a lot.
  2. 저는 사람들을 믿는 편이에요. – I tend to trust people.
  3. 이 집은 가격이 비싼 편이에요. – This house is on the expensive side.
  4. 민주는 일찍 일어나는 편이에요. – Min-ju tends to wake up early.
  5. 서하 신발을 많이 사는 편이에요. – Seo-ha tends to buy a lot of shoes.

Activity 2 Answers

  1. I tend to read a lot of books. – 저는 책을 많이 읽는 편이에요.
  2. Jun-ho usually goes to bed late. – 준호는 늦게 자는 편이에요.
  3. This restaurant tends to be expensive. – 이 식당은 비싼 편이에요.
  4. Hana tends to study hard. – 하나는 공부를 열심히 하는 편이에요.
  5. We usually play soccer on the weekends. – 우리는 주말에 축구를 하는 편이에요.

Wrap up

Great job on making it through this lesson on the Korean grammar pattern “-ㄴ/은/는 편이다”! Understanding this grammar form is crucial for being able to express tendencies or habits, or to describe general characteristics and situations. With diligent practice, you’ll soon find it’s a valuable tool in your Korean language repertoire.

We’ve learned how to construct sentences using “-ㄴ/은/는 편이다” with both positive and negative statements, and we’ve looked at numerous examples to see how it’s used in various contexts. We also had some practice exercises to help reinforce your understanding.

However, mastering a language goes beyond the classroom and requires continuous application. I encourage you to use this grammar pattern in your daily conversations, writing exercises, or even while thinking to yourself in Korean!

Don’t forget, every new grammar point you learn opens up countless new ways for you to express yourself in Korean. The journey of language learning is an exciting one, and you’re making great strides!

Please feel free to leave a comment with any questions or thoughts you have on this lesson. How did you find the explanations and examples? Were the exercises helpful? Do you feel more confident in using “-ㄴ/은/는 편이다” now? We’re always here to help and would love to hear from you!

Keep practicing and continue your journey towards mastering the Korean language! 화이팅!

그럼 다음에 또 봐요!

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