안녕하세요!
Have you ever tried to express just HOW much or HOW extreme something is? Maybe your love for K-dramas is so intense that you’d call it “K-drama level” if that was a thing. Or perhaps your spicy food tolerance is at “ghost pepper level”. 🔥 Well, today, we’re diving deep into the Korean equivalent of expressing that level of extremeness: welcome to the fascinating world of “-(으)ㄹ 정도로”!
Hold onto your language hats (they’re a thing, right?) and get ready for a ride that’s as thrilling as realizing you’ve got an extra episode of your favourite K-drama to watch! 📺✨
Strap in, and let’s get started! 🎢🎉
Conjugation
VERB STEM + ㄹ/을 정도로
- Take a verb i.e. 가다
- Drop “다” i.e. 가
- Add the appropriate ending based on the below rules (in this case it becomes 갈 정도로)
- If the verb stem ends with a vowel, add ㄹ 정도로
- If the verb stem ends with a consonant, add 을 정도로
- 먹다 –> 먹 + 을 정도로 –> 먹을 정도로
- 보다 –> 보 + ㄹ 정도로 –> 볼 정도로
- 사다 –> 사 + ㄹ 정도로 –> 살 정도로
- 하다 –> 하 + ㄹ 정도로 –> 할 정도로
Understanding ㄹ/을 정도로
“정도” in Korean means ‘degree‘ or ‘extent.’ It’s commonly used to denote the level or magnitude of something. By adding the ending -(으)ㄹ 정도로, you get a structure that implies ‘to the extent of‘ or ‘so much so that.‘
Understanding the background and basics of -(으)ㄹ 정도로 provides the foundational knowledge required to delve deeper into its usage. As we progress through this lesson, we’ll unpack the various contexts and scenarios where this expression shines.
Literal Breakdown:
- 정도: This stands for ‘degree’ or ‘extent’ in English. It indicates the magnitude or level of something.
- -(으)ㄹ: This is a connecting form, linking the adjective or verb with “정도.” The addition of this part gives us the nuance of “to the extent of.”
Expressive Nuance:
When translated, -(으)ㄹ 정도로 can often be understood as “so… that,” “to the extent that,” or “to the point where.” It’s an illustrative way to highlight how pronounced or extreme an aspect of a situation is.
For instance:
- 이게 그렇게 어려울 정도로 보였어요?
(Did it look so difficult?)
Usage Scenarios and Context
Ah, the fabulous world of emphasis! While in English, we might stress a point by raising our voice, in Korean, we have the handy -(으)ㄹ 정도로 to express extremities and show just how serious we are. Let’s explore the common situations where this phrase comes into play.
Expressing Extreme Emotions:
When something is so shocking, heart-breaking, or joyous that words might seem inadequate, -(으)ㄹ 정도로 swoops in for the rescue.
- 그녀가 떠날 정도로 슬펐어요. – (She was so sad to the extent that she left.)
Dramatic Revelations:
For those moments straight out of a drama scene where something is so unbelievable, it needs extra oomph!
- 그 소식을 듣고 못 믿을 정도로 놀랐어요. – (I was so shocked to hear the news that I couldn’t believe it.)
In diverse scenarios, from everyday chats to dramatic K-drama-style exclaims, -(으)ㄹ 정도로 provides that layer of intensity you need. So, whether you’re expressing heartfelt emotions or painting a vivid picture of extremities, this phrase has got your back! 🎭🌋
Sample sentences
- 오늘은 추울 정도로 바람이 많이 불어요.
- Breakdown: Today, the wind is blowing so much that it’s cold.
- 춥다 = to be cold
- 추울 정도로 = to the point/extent that it’s cold
- 그는 노래할 정도로 목소리가 좋아요.
- Breakdown: His voice is so good that he can sing.
- 노래하다 = to sing
- 노래할 정도로 = to the point/extent that he can sing
- 이 커피는 차가울 정도로 오래 기다렸어요.
- Breakdown: I waited so long that this coffee became very cold.
- 차갑다 = to be cold
- 차가울 정도로 = to the extent that it’s cold
- 저는 그 영화를 10번은 볼 정도로 좋아해요.
- Breakdown: I like that movie so much that I’d watch it at least 10 times.
- 보다 = to watch
- 볼 정도로 = to the point/extent that I’d watch
Activity 1
Fill in the blanks.
- 이 음악은 크게 __________ 좋아요. – I like this music so much to the point of listening to it loudly.
- 이 책은 __________ 지루해요 – This book is so boring to the point of not being interesting.
- 그녀는 많이 __________ 슬펐어요. – She was so sad to the point she cried.
- 피곤해서 __________ 많이 돌아다녔어요. – I walked around to the point of almost collapsing from being so tired.
- 다 __________ 그 영화 많이 봤어요. – I watched that movie so much to the point of memorising it all.
Activity 1 Answers
- 이 음악은 크게 들을 정도로 좋아요. – I like this music so much to the point of listening to it loudly.
- 이 책은 재미없을 정도로 지루해요 – This book is so boring to the point of not being interesting.
- 그녀는 많이 울 정도로 슬펐어요. – She was so sad to the point she cried.
- 피곤해서 쓰러질 정도로 많이 돌아다녔어요. – I walked around to the point of almost collapsing from being so tired.
- 다 외울 정도로 그 영화 많이 봤어요. – I watched that movie so much to the point of memorising it all.
Wrap up
Alright, we’ve just taken a fabulous journey through the wondrous world of -(으)ㄹ 정도로. From understanding its core essence to diving deep into how it’s used in various scenarios, we’ve covered a lot today.
Remember, like all things language-related, practice makes perfect. So, sprinkle your conversations with a dash of -(으)ㄹ 정도로 here and there. Before you know it, you’ll be using it effortlessly, to the point (see what I did there? 😉) where your friends might just think you’ve been secretly living in Seoul!
Don’t hesitate to revisit the lesson if ever in doubt, and most importantly, stay curious and keep practicing. Until our next grammar adventure, 화이팅 (Fighting)!
P.S. If you’ve come up with your own glittering sentences using -(으)ㄹ 정도로 or if you have any questions, drop them in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you! 🎤📝💬