Understanding -(으)ㄹ수록 is a key aspect of mastering more advanced Korean language skills. This construction combines the verb stem with -(으)ㄹ수록 to create a comparative meaning, allowing you to express the idea of “the more (verb), the more (result).” It provides a nuanced way to describe increasing degrees, intensities, or causal relationships between actions, qualities, or situations.
In this blog post, we will guide you through the various facets of -(으)ㄹ수록, starting with an explanation of its construction and how it creates a comparative sense. We will delve into the usage of -(으)ㄹ수록 to express increasing comparison, exploring its application in different verb tenses and reinforcing your understanding through practice exercises.
Throughout the blog post, we will provide examples and practice exercises to help solidify your comprehension and usage of -(으)ㄹ수록. By the end of this blog post, you will have gained a comprehensive understanding of -(으)ㄹ수록 and its usage in Korean. You will be equipped with the skills to express increasing comparisons and conditional relationships with finesse and accuracy, adding depth to your Korean language proficiency.
Conjugation
- Take a verb i.e. 가다
- Drop “다” i.e. 가
- Add the appropriate ending based on the following rules:
- If the verb ends in a vowel, add ㄹ수록
- If the verb ends in a consonant, add 을수록
- If the verb ends in a consonant “ㄹ” add 수록
In this case, the verb 가다 ends with a vowel so we add ㄹ수록 –> 갈수록
- 먹다 –> 먹 + 을수록 –> 먹을수록 (The more you eat)
- 보다 –> 보 + ㄹ수록 –> 볼수록 (The more you see)
- 하다 –> 하 + ㄹ수록 –> 할수록 (The more you do)
- 놀다 –> 놀 + ㄹ수록 –> 놀수록 (The more you play)
Understanding the meaning
In the Korean language, the construction -(으)ㄹ 수록 holds a significant role in expressing comparative meanings. By combining the verb stem with 수록, this construction conveys the idea of “the more (verb), the more (result).” Understanding the nuanced meaning of -(으)ㄹ 수록 is crucial for effectively expressing increasing comparisons and describing the relationship between actions, qualities, or situations.
To better understand its meaning, let’s look at few examples.
- 노력할수록 성과가 더 좋아요. – The more you make an effort, the better the results will be.
- 먹을수록 더 배 불러요. – The more you eat, the more you are full.
- 잘수록 더 피곤해요. – The more you sleep, the more tired you are.
Fixed expression
When the verb 가다 is combined with -(으)ㄹ 수록 it creates a fixed expression. 갈수록 means “the more you go” but it is also used to refer to the flow of time and therefore can also mean “as time goes by”.
- 갈수록 기억이 잘 안 나요. – As time goes by, I can’t remember very well.
- 갈수록 한국어를 잘 해요.- As time goes by, I can speak better Korean.
- 갈수록 좀 더워요. – As time goes by, it’s hotter.
Looking at the previous examples, we can summarise the usage of -(으)ㄹ 수록 as:
Comparative intensity
-(으)ㄹ 수록 indicates an increasing intensity or degree of the verb’s action. It suggests that as the verb action occurs more or intensifies, the corresponding result or outcome becomes more pronounced – the more (this), the more (that). This construction emphasizes the relationship between the verb and its result, highlighting the impact of increased action.
Gradual progression
-(으)ㄹ 수록 implies a gradual progression or change over time. It reflects the idea that as the action continues or increases, the result becomes more prominent or significant. This construction allows for a descriptive and dynamic portrayal of the evolving relationship between the verb and its outcome.
Cause and effect
-(으)ㄹ 수록 also expresses a cause-and-effect relationship, indicating that the first action leads to a subsequent result. It suggests that the more the action occurs, the more likely or expected the result becomes. This usage enables the speaker to articulate conditional statements and depict the consequences of increased action.
Examples
- 걸을수록 다리가 아파요. – The more I walk, the more my legs hurt.
- 이 책을 읽을수록 더 재미있어요. – The more I read this book, the more interesting it is.
- 공부할수록 더 이해할 수 있어요. – The more I study, the more I am able to understand.
- 알수록 괜찮은 사람인 거 같아요. – The more I know you, the more you seem like a okay person.
- 소주 마실수록 더 취해요. – The more I drink soju, the more drunk I get.
- 이 노래 들을수록 더 좋아요. – The more I listen to this song the more I like it.
- 걱정할수록 더 불안해요. – The more I worry the more anxious I get.
PLEASE NOTE: Although “더” is included in the above sentences, it is ok to drop it. The meaning is already implied by using -(으)ㄹ 수록 and so the meaning of the sentence does not change even if we do not include it.
-(으)ㄹ 수록 and -아/어지다
If the final word is an adjective, we can also conjugate it using the -아/어지다 verb ending to emphasise something is getting (something). Let’s look at few examples:
- 갈수록 날씨가 더 추워요. – As time goes by, the weather is colder.
- 갈수록 날씨가 더 추워져요. – As time goes by, the weather gets colder.
In the above sentences, the essential meaning is the same. It’s just a slightly different way of saying something but the meaning does not change. So, it is ok to not use the -아/어지다 conjugation.
- 공부할수록 똑똑해요. – The more I study, the more smarter I am.
- 공부할수록 똑똑해져요. -The more I study, the more smarter I get.
Again, in this example, the nuance is slightly different but in essence the message I want to convey does not change much. Therefore, just think of it being the same difference as in English.
Activity 1
- ___________ 마음이 급해져요. – The more I wait, the more impatient I get.
- ___________ 좋은 생각인 것 같아요. – The more I think, the more it seems like a good though.
- 여기 _________ 더 좋아요. – The more I am here, the more I like it.
- 한국어를 _________ 더 많이 이해해요. – The more I learn Korean, the more I understand.
- ___________ 건강이 더 좋아져요. – The more I exercise, the better my health gets.
Activity 1 Answers
- 기다릴수록 마음이 급해져요. – The more I wait, the more impatient I get.
- 생각할수록 좋은 생각인 것 같아요. – The more I think, the more it seems like a good though.
- 여기 있을수록 더 좋아요. – The more I am here, the more I like it.
- 한국어를 배울수록 더 많이 이해해요. – The more I learn Korean, the more I understand.
- 운동할수록 건강이 더 좋아져요. – The more I exercise, the better my health gets.