KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -(으)ㄹ지도 모르다
Korean Grammar “-(으)ㄹ지도 모르다”: 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 | 볼지도 모르다 | boljido moreuda |
| 읽다 | to read | 읽을지도 모르다 | ilgeuljido moreuda |
| 하다 | to do | 할지도 모르다 | haljido moreuda |
| 살다 | to live | 살지도 모르다 | saljido moreuda |
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
오늘은 구름이 많아서 저녁에 비가 올지도 몰라요.
“-(으)ㄹ지도 모르다” expresses an uncertain guess: “might / may ~.” The sentence means “It’s cloudy today, so it might rain this evening.” The form is “올지도 몰라요.” “-(으)ㄹ 수도 있다” has almost the same meaning, but when 모르다 follows, you must use “-(으)ㄹ지도”; “수도 몰라요” is not possible.
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 오늘은 구름이 많아서 저녁에 비가 올지도 몰라요.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 오늘은 | ||
| 오 | ㅇ+ㅗ | o |
| 늘 | ㄴ+ㅡ+ㄹ | [느] neu |
| 은 | ㅇ+ㅡ+ㄴ | [른] reun |
| 구름이 | ||
| 구 | ㄱ+ㅜ | gu |
| 름 | ㄹ+ㅡ+ㅁ | [르] reu |
| 이 | ㅇ+ㅣ | [미] mi |
| 많아서 | ||
| 많 | ㅁ+ㅏ+ㄶ | [마] ma |
| 아 | ㅇ+ㅏ | [나] na |
| 서 | ㅅ+ㅓ | seo |
| 저녁에 | ||
| 저 | ㅈ+ㅓ | jeo |
| 녁 | ㄴ+ㅕ+ㄱ | [녀] nyeo |
| 에 | ㅇ+ㅔ | [게] ge |
| 비가 | ||
| 비 | ㅂ+ㅣ | bi |
| 가 | ㄱ+ㅏ | ga |
| 올지도 | ||
| 올 | ㅇ+ㅗ+ㄹ | ol |
| 지 | ㅈ+ㅣ | ji |
| 도 | ㄷ+ㅗ | do |
| 몰라요 | ||
| 몰 | ㅁ+ㅗ+ㄹ | mol |
| 라 | ㄹ+ㅏ | la |
| 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
- 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. 늘은 → [느른]
- Silent ㅎ: a final ㅎ (including the ㅎ inside ㄶ and ㅀ) is not pronounced before a vowel. 많아 → [마나]
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 구름 | noun | cloud | TOPIK level 3 |
| 많다 | adjective | many, much | TOPIK level 1 |
| 비 | noun | rain | TOPIK level 1 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 오늘은 구름이 많아서 저녁에 비가 올____ 몰라요.
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Answer: 오늘은 구름이 많아서 저녁에 비가 올지도 몰라요.
Question 2 Which is the correct form of 보다 + -(으)ㄹ지도 모르다?
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Answer: 볼지도 모르다
Question 3 Which is the correct form of 읽다 + -(으)ㄹ지도 모르다?
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Answer: 읽을지도 모르다
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