KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -(으)러 가다
Korean Grammar “-(으)러 가다”: Meaning and Usage (TOPIK 1)
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 | 보러 가다 | boreo gada |
| 읽다 | to read | 읽으러 가다 | ilgeureo gada |
| 하다 | to do | 하러 가다 | hareo gada |
What changes
- After a stem ending in a vowel, the ending attaches directly (보-). After a stem ending in a consonant, 으 is inserted first (읽으-). A stem ending in ㄹ also takes the ending directly (살-).
Explanation
저는 도서관에 책을 빌리러 가요.
“-(으)러 가다/오다” expresses the purpose of going or coming (“go to do…”). Attach it to a verb stem: “-러” after a vowel or ㄹ, “-으러” after other consonants. “빌리다” ends in a vowel, so it becomes “빌리러,” and the sentence means “I go to the library to borrow books.” It must be followed by a movement verb such as “가요” or “와요.”
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 저는 도서관에 책을 빌리러 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 저는 | ||
| 저 | ㅈ+ㅓ | jeo |
| 는 | ㄴ+ㅡ+ㄴ | neun |
| 도서관에 | ||
| 도 | ㄷ+ㅗ | do |
| 서 | ㅅ+ㅓ | seo |
| 관 | ㄱ+ㅘ+ㄴ | [과] gwa |
| 에 | ㅇ+ㅔ | [네] ne |
| 책을 | ||
| 책 | ㅊ+ㅐ+ㄱ | [채] chae |
| 을 | ㅇ+ㅡ+ㄹ | [글] geul |
| 빌리러 | ||
| 빌 | ㅂ+ㅣ+ㄹ | bil |
| 리 | ㄹ+ㅣ | li |
| 러 | ㄹ+ㅓ | reo |
| 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
- 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. 관에 → [과네]
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.
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 저는 도서관에 책을 빌리____ 가요.
Show the answer
Answer: 저는 도서관에 책을 빌리러 가요.
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