KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -(으)ㄹ 리가 없다
Korean Grammar “-(으)ㄹ 리가 없다”: How to Use It (TOPIK 3)
How to attach it
Attach the pattern to the verb stem, which is the dictionary form without 다. Compare how each verb below changes depending on its last sound.
| Dictionary form | Meaning | With this pattern | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 보다 | to see, to watch | 볼 리가 없다 | bol riga eopda |
| 읽다 | to read | 읽을 리가 없다 | ilgeul riga eopda |
| 하다 | to do | 할 리가 없다 | hal riga eopda |
| 살다 | to live | 살 리가 없다 | sal riga eopda |
What changes
- After a stem ending in a vowel, ㄹ is added to the last syllable (보 → 볼). After a stem ending in a consonant, 을 is added (읽 → 읽을). A stem ending in ㄹ keeps it (살 → 살), and 하 becomes 할.
Explanation
그렇게 성실한 사람이 약속을 잊을 리가 없어요.
“-(으)ㄹ 리가 없다” means “there is no way that ~ / it can’t be that ~” and shows the speaker’s strong negative conviction. The sentence means “A person that diligent would never forget an appointment.” Unlike “-(으)ㄹ 수 없다” (cannot) or “-지 않을 것이다” (will probably not), it is used when you judge, for some reason, that something is simply impossible.
그렇게 착한 사람이 거짓말을 할 리가 없어요.
“-(으)ㄹ 리가 없다” means “there is no way that … / it can’t be that …,” a strong negative conjecture by the speaker. The sentence means “There’s no way such a kind person would lie.” Be careful not to confuse it with “-(으)ㄹ 수 없다” (cannot do), which is about ability or possibility.
그렇게 성실한 사람이 약속을 어길 리가 없어요.
“-(으)ㄹ 리가 없다” means “there is no way that ~” and is used when the speaker strongly believes something is impossible. Attach “-(으)ㄹ” to a verb or adjective stem. The sentence means “There’s no way such a diligent person would break a promise.” Unlike “-(으)ㄹ 수 없다” (cannot), it is a strong negative guess.
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 그렇게 성실한 사람이 약속을 잊을 리가 없어요.
In natural speech, sounds link and shift across words. The table below reads each word separately, as it sounds when said on its own.
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 그렇게 | ||
| 그 | ㄱ+ㅡ | geu |
| 렇 | ㄹ+ㅓ+ㅎ | [러] reo |
| 게 | ㄱ+ㅔ | [케] ke |
| 성실한 | ||
| 성 | ㅅ+ㅓ+ㅇ | seong |
| 실 | ㅅ+ㅣ+ㄹ | sil |
| 한 | ㅎ+ㅏ+ㄴ | han |
| 사람이 | ||
| 사 | ㅅ+ㅏ | sa |
| 람 | ㄹ+ㅏ+ㅁ | [라] ra |
| 이 | ㅇ+ㅣ | [미] mi |
| 약속을 | ||
| 약 | ㅇ+ㅑ+ㄱ | yak |
| 속 | ㅅ+ㅗ+ㄱ | [쏘] so |
| 을 | ㅇ+ㅡ+ㄹ | [글] geul |
| 잊을 | ||
| 잊 | ㅇ+ㅣ+ㅈ | [이] i |
| 을 | ㅇ+ㅡ+ㄹ | [즐] jeul |
| 리가 | ||
| 리 | ㄹ+ㅣ | ri |
| 가 | ㄱ+ㅏ | ga |
| 없어요 | ||
| 없 | ㅇ+ㅓ+ㅄ | [업] eop |
| 어 | ㅇ+ㅓ | [써] seo |
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.
Sound changes in this phrase
- Aspiration: ㅎ next to ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ or ㅈ blends with it into ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ or ㅊ. 렇게 → [러케]
- Linking: when a syllable ending in a consonant (patchim) is followed by a syllable that starts with a vowel, the consonant moves over to the next syllable. 람이 → [라미]
- Tensing: after a final ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ sound, ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ and ㅈ become tense (ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ). 약속을 → [약쏘글]
Politeness level of the example
Ends in -요. The everyday polite style, and a safe choice with shop staff, colleagues, strangers and anyone older than you.
Words in the example sentence
These words from the TOPIK vocabulary lists appear in the phrase (shown in dictionary form).
| Korean | Part of speech | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 성실하다 | adjective | conscientious, sincere | TOPIK level 3 |
| 없다 | adjective | to not exist, to not have | TOPIK level 1 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 그렇게 성실한 사람이 약속을 잊을 ____ 없어요.
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Answer: 그렇게 성실한 사람이 약속을 잊을 리가 없어요.
Question 2 Choose the word that fits the blank: 그렇게 착한 사람이 거짓말을 할 ____ 없어요.
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Answer: 그렇게 착한 사람이 거짓말을 할 리가 없어요.
Question 3 Which is the correct form of 보다 + -(으)ㄹ 리가 없다?
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Answer: 볼 리가 없다
Question 4 Which is the correct form of 읽다 + -(으)ㄹ 리가 없다?
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Answer: 읽을 리가 없다
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