-게
-ly (Adverbial Form)
Turns adjectives into adverbs, similar to adding '-ly' in English (e.g., 예쁘다 'pretty' → 예쁘게 'prettily').
How It Works
The -게 ending is one of the most common ways to form adverbs in Korean. It functions much like the '-ly' suffix in English (e.g., quick → quickly).
How to form:
Simply attach -게 to the stem of an adjective.
- 예쁘다 (to be pretty) → 예쁘 + 게 → 예쁘게 (prettily)
- 크다 (to be big) → 크 + 게 → 크게 (largely, loudly)
- 조용하다 (to be quiet) → 조용하 + 게 → 조용하게 (quietly)
- 맛있다 (to be delicious) → 맛있 + 게 → 맛있게 (deliciously)
Usage in Sentences:
The adverb formed with -게 modifies the verb that follows it. It describes the manner, state, or degree of the action.
For example: '글씨를 예쁘게 써요.' (She writes the letters prettily.) Here, 예쁘게 describes how she writes (써요).
Important Combined Patterns:
-게 is also a key component in other important grammar patterns:
1. -게 되다: This pattern means 'to become' or 'to end up' in a certain state. For example, '날씨가 따뜻하게 됐어요.' (The weather became warm.)
2. -게 하다: This is a causative pattern meaning 'to make someone/something do' or 'to make someone/something be' a certain way. For example, '엄마가 아이를 행복하게 했어요.' (The mom made the child happy.)
While -게 primarily attaches to adjectives, you will also see it used with some verbs in the combined patterns mentioned above. Unlike some other grammar endings, -게 is regular and attaches the same way regardless of whether the stem ends in a vowel or a consonant. Most irregular adjectives (like ㅂ irregulars) are conjugated regularly with -게.
Examples (5)
- 음식을 맛있게 만들었어요.
I made the food deliciously.
Word by Word: Food deliciously made.
맛있다 (delicious) becomes 맛있게 (deliciously) to describe how the food was made (만들었어요).
- 글씨를 크게 써 주세요.
Please write the letters big.
Word by Word: Letters big please write.
크다 (big) becomes 크게 (largely/big) to modify the verb 써 주세요 (please write).
- 아이들이 공원에서 즐겁게 놀고 있어요.
The children are playing happily in the park.
Word by Word: Children at the park happily are playing.
즐겁다 (joyful/happy) becomes 즐겁게 (happily) to describe the manner of playing (놀고 있어요).
- 연습해서 한국어 발음이 좋게 됐어요.
By practicing, my Korean pronunciation became good.
Word by Word: Practicing so Korean pronunciation good became.
This example shows the -게 되다 pattern. 좋다 (to be good) becomes 좋게 to describe the state that resulted from the change ('became good').
- 선생님은 학생들을 조용하게 했어요.
The teacher made the students be quiet.
Word by Word: Teacher students (object) quietly made.
This example uses the -게 하다 pattern. 조용하다 (to be quiet) is used with -게 하다 to mean 'to make (them) be quiet'.
Common Mistakes
Using an adjective form instead of an adverb to modify a verb.
Not Quite음악을 조용한 들어요.Better음악을 조용하게 들어요.To describe how you listen (들어요), you need an adverb (조용하게 - quietly). The adjective form 조용한 can only modify nouns (e.g., 조용한 음악 - quiet music).
Adding -게 to words that are already adverbs.
Not Quite빨리게 오세요.Better빨리 오세요.빨리 is the native adverb for 'quickly' (from 빠르다). It doesn't need -게. Other common native adverbs include 많이 (a lot) and 일찍 (early).
Learn This First
To turn adjectives into adverbs, you need to understand adjective stems.
Related Patterns
- -게 되다Become, End Up
-게 is the core component of -게 되다, which means 'to become' or 'end up' in a certain state. It describes the state that results.
- -게 하다Make Someone Do, Cause
-게 is the core component of the causative pattern -게 하다, which means 'to make someone/something' be a certain way. It describes the state being caused.
- -ㄴ/은Adjective Noun Modifier
This is a key contrast. -게 turns an adjective into an adverb to modify a verb (e.g., 예쁘게 웃다 - to smile prettily), while -ㄴ/은 modifies a noun (e.g., 예쁜 사람 - a pretty person).
- -도록So That, In Order to
-도록 can sometimes be used similarly to -게 to mean 'to the extent that' or 'so that'. For example, '목이 아프게/아프도록 소리쳤다' (I shouted so much that my throat hurt). However, -도록 often carries a stronger sense of purpose or result.
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.