KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -(으)ㄹ 텐데
Korean Grammar “-(으)ㄹ 텐데”: Meaning and Usage (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 텐데 | bol tende |
| 읽다 | to read | 읽을 텐데 | ilgeul tende |
| 하다 | to do | 할 텐데 | hal tende |
| 살다 | to live | 살 텐데 | sal tende |
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
지금 출발하면 늦지 않을 텐데 왜 아직 안 가요?
“-(으)ㄹ 텐데” states the speaker’s supposition (“it should be ~, but…”) and leads into a contrasting situation, a suggestion, or a question. The sentence means “If you leave now, you won’t be late, so why haven’t you gone yet?” Compared with a plain “-(으)ㄹ 것이다,” it carries a stronger sense of contrast with, or consideration toward, what follows.
많이 바쁠 텐데 이렇게 와 주셔서 감사합니다.
“-(으)ㄹ 텐데” means “I suppose ~, and yet / although I imagine ~” and gives the speaker’s assumption, then continues with a contrasting fact or a considerate remark to the listener. Attach “-(으)ㄹ” to a verb or adjective stem. The sentence means “You must be very busy, but thank you for coming like this.”
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 지금 출발하면 늦지 않을 텐데 왜 아직 안 가요?
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 지금 | ||
| 지 | ㅈ+ㅣ | ji |
| 금 | ㄱ+ㅡ+ㅁ | geum |
| 출발하면 | ||
| 출 | ㅊ+ㅜ+ㄹ | chul |
| 발 | ㅂ+ㅏ+ㄹ | bal |
| 하 | ㅎ+ㅏ | ha |
| 면 | ㅁ+ㅕ+ㄴ | myeon |
| 늦지 | ||
| 늦 | ㄴ+ㅡ+ㅈ | [늗] neut |
| 지 | ㅈ+ㅣ | [찌] ji |
| 않을 | ||
| 않 | ㅇ+ㅏ+ㄶ | [아] a |
| 을 | ㅇ+ㅡ+ㄹ | [늘] neul |
| 텐데 | ||
| 텐 | ㅌ+ㅔ+ㄴ | ten |
| 데 | ㄷ+ㅔ | de |
| 왜 | ㅇ+ㅙ | wae |
| 아직 | ||
| 아 | ㅇ+ㅏ | a |
| 직 | ㅈ+ㅣ+ㄱ | jik |
| 안 | ㅇ+ㅏ+ㄴ | an |
| 가요 | ||
| 가 | ㄱ+ㅏ | ga |
| 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
- Tensing: after a final ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ sound, ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ and ㅈ become tense (ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ). 늦지 → [늗찌]
- Silent ㅎ: a final ㅎ (including the ㅎ inside ㄶ and ㅀ) is not pronounced before a vowel. 않을 → [아늘]
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 지금 | noun | now | TOPIK level 1 |
| 아직 | adverb | still, yet | TOPIK level 2 |
| 안 | adverb | not (negation) | TOPIK level 1 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 지금 출발하면 늦지 않을 ____ 왜 아직 안 가요?
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Answer: 지금 출발하면 늦지 않을 텐데 왜 아직 안 가요?
Question 2 Choose the word that fits the blank: 많이 바쁠 ____ 이렇게 와 주셔서 감사합니다.
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Answer: 많이 바쁠 텐데 이렇게 와 주셔서 감사합니다.
Question 3 Which is the correct form of 보다 + -(으)ㄹ 텐데?
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Answer: 볼 텐데
Question 4 Which is the correct form of 읽다 + -(으)ㄹ 텐데?
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Answer: 읽을 텐데
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