3 Essential Korean Grammar from Lovely Runner(선재 업고 튀어)

Have you heard of of the kdrama Lovely Runner? This sweet and emotional K-drama tells the story of Ryu Seon-Jae, a top star who took his own life, and Lim Sol, his loving fan. She travels back in time to save him from a sad future.

This drama has many touching lines and simple words, making it perfect for learning Korean! In this blog, we’ll explore 3 essential Korean grammar from this line in Lovely Runner:

From Episode 1.

"고마워요. 살아있어줘서.

이렇게 살아준 것만으로도 다행이라고 고맙다고 할 거예요. 곁에 있는 사람은.

그러니까 오늘은 살아봐요. 날이 너무 좋으니까. 내일은 비가 온대요. 그럼 그 비가 그치길 기다리면서 또 살아봐요.

그러다보면 언젠가 사는게 괜찮아질 날이 올지도 모르잖아."

1. Verb + -아/어줘서 (Reason, Cause)

"고마워요. 살아있어줘서."

"Thank you for staying alive."

Grammar Explanation:

The '-아/어줘서' grammar pattern is formed by combining two key grammatical structures:

1. '-아/어주다' – This is used when someone does something for another person, emphasizing an action performed for someone’s benefit.

2. '-아서/어서' – This expresses a reason or cause, explaining why something happens.

   
   

When these two are combined into '-아/어줘서,' it creates a structure that conveys gratitude or a positive outcome resulting from someone's helpful action.

Verb Stem + -아/어줘서:

• Attach -아줘서 to verbs with stems ending in 아 or 오.

• Attach -어줘서 to verbs with stems ending in vowels other than 아 or 오.

• Use -여줘서 for verbs like 하다 (to do).

  
  

Examples:

1. 도와줘서 고마워요. Thank you for helping me.

2. 웃어줘서 기분이 좋아졌어요. Your smile brightened my mood.

3. 기다려줘서 미안해요. I'm sorry for making you wait.

   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Verb + -(으)니까 (Reason, Discovery)

"그러니까 오늘은 살아봐요. 날이 너무 좋으니까."

"So, live today—because the weather is beautiful."

Grammar Explanation

The grammar pattern "-(으)니까" is used to indicate a reason or cause, similar to "because" or "since" in English. It emphasizes the speaker’s subjective reasoning or explanation for an action or situation. Although both "-(으)니까" and "-아서/어서" express reasons, there is a key difference. "-(으)니까" is often used when giving advice, suggestions, or commands. so It frequently appears with "-으세요" (polite commands) and similar structures.

• Use -으니까 if the verb or adjective stem ends in a consonant.

• Use -니까 if the verb or adjective stem ends in a vowel or the consonant ㄹ.

Example Sentences

1. 비가 오니까 우산을 가져가세요. It’s raining, so take an umbrella.

2. 배가 고프니까 밥을 먹읍시다. I’m hungry, so let’s eat.

3. 문을 열어 보니까 안에 아무도 없었어요. I opened the door and saw that no one was inside.

   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Verb + -아/어보다 (Try, Experience)

"그럼 그 비가 그치길 기다리면서 또 살아봐요. "

"Then, as you wait for the rain to stop, keep living."

Grammar Explanation

The grammar pattern -아/어보다 is used to express an attempt or experience of doing something. It can mean "try to" or "have tried" in English, depending on the context. This pattern is commonly used when encouraging someone to try something new or when sharing experiences.

Verb Stem + -아/어보다

• If the verb stem ends in 아 or 오 → -아보다

• If the verb stem ends in other vowels → -어보다

• If the verb is 하다 → 해보다

Example Sentences

1. 이 옷을 한 번 입어 보세요. Try wearing this outfit.

2. 한국 음식을 먹어 봤어요? Have you ever tried Korean food?

3. 이번 주말에 여행을 가 봐요! Try going on a trip this weekend!

   
   
   
   

Learning Korean with the kdramas makes it fun and relatable! These 3 essential Korean grammar from Lovely Runner are great tools to improve your skills while enjoying the story.

Keep practicing, and see you in the next blog! 😊