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If Connector: -(으)면, -다면, -(으)려면

Quick Reference

-(으)면: General conditional "if/when" -다면: Hypothetical "if it were the case that..." -(으)려면: "If you intend to/in order to" Formation: Based on verb stem ending (vowel vs consonant)

Detailed Explanation

Korean has several conditional forms, each with distinct uses. The most common is -(으)면, while -다면 and -(으)려면 add specific nuances about hypothetical situations and intentions.

Formation Rules

-(으)면

Based on final consonant:

  1. Stem ends in vowel or ㄹ → 면
  2. 가다 → 가면
  3. 만들다 → 만들면 (ㄹ stays)

  4. 살다 → 살면

  5. Stem ends in consonant → 으면

  6. 먹다 → 먹으면
  7. 읽다 → 읽으면

  8. 좋다 → 좋으면

  9. 하다 verbs → 하면

  10. 공부하다 → 공부하면

-다면

Used with verb stems to add hypothetical nuance:

  1. All verbs/adjectives: Stem + 다면
  2. 가다 → 간다면
  3. 먹다 → 먹는다면

  4. 비싸다 → 비싸다면

  5. For nouns: Noun + (이)라면

  6. 학생 → 학생이라면
  7. 의사 → 의사라면

-(으)려면

Based on final consonant (only with action verbs):

  1. Stem ends in vowel or ㄹ → 려면
  2. 가다 → 가려면

  3. 만들다 → 만들려면

  4. Stem ends in consonant → 으려면

  5. 먹다 → 먹으려면
  6. 읽다 → 읽으려면

Note: Cannot be used with adjectives or descriptive verbs

Detailed Usage

1. -(으)면: General Conditional

The most common and versatile conditional form. Used for:

A. Real Conditions (if/when something happens)

  1. 비가 오면 집에 있을 거예요. If it rains, I'll stay home.

  2. 시간이 있으면 전화하세요. If you have time, please call.

  3. 한국에 가면 한국 음식을 먹고 싶어요. When I go to Korea, I want to eat Korean food.

B. Habitual Conditions (whenever)

  1. 피곤하면 항상 커피를 마셔요. Whenever I'm tired, I always drink coffee.

  2. 주말이면 친구들을 만나요. Whenever it's the weekend, I meet friends.

C. Polite Suggestions/Offers

  1. 괜찮으면 같이 갈까요? If it's okay, shall we go together?

D. With Past Tense (았/었으면)

For wishes or regrets:

  1. 시간이 있었으면 좋겠어요. I wish I had time. (lit: If I had time, it would be good)

2. -다면: Hypothetical Conditional

Used for hypothetical, imaginary, or contrary-to-fact situations. More speculative than -(으)면.

A. Hypothetical Situations

  1. 내가 새라면 하늘을 날 수 있을 텐데. If I were a bird, I could fly.

  2. 돈이 많다면 세계 여행을 하고 싶어요. If I had a lot of money (hypothetically), I'd want to travel the world.

B. Supposing/Imagining

  1. 만약 그 사람이 온다면 어떻게 할 거예요? If (supposing) that person comes, what will you do?

  2. 내일 비가 온다면 소풍을 못 갈 거예요. If (supposing) it rains tomorrow, we won't be able to go on the picnic.

C. Asking Opinions About Hypotheticals

  1. 당신이라면 어떻게 할까요? What would you do if you were me?

  2. 한국 사람이라면 다 알 거예요. If they're Korean (hypothetically speaking), they would all know.

3. -(으)려면: Intention/Purpose Conditional

Used specifically when the subject intends to do something. Means "if you intend to" or "in order to."

A. Necessary Conditions for Intentions

  1. 한국어를 잘하려면 매일 공부해야 해요. If you want to speak Korean well, you must study every day. In order to speak Korean well, you must study every day.

  2. 의사가 되려면 열심히 공부해야 해요. If you want to become a doctor, you must study hard.

B. Time Required for Intentions

  1. 서울에 가려면 얼마나 걸려요? If you're going to Seoul/To go to Seoul, how long does it take?

  2. 저기에 가려면 지하철로 가는 게 빨라요. If you're going there/To go there, taking the subway is faster.

C. Requirements and Prerequisites

  1. 이 일을 하려면 경험이 필요해요. To do this work, experience is necessary.

Comparison Chart

Feature -(으)면 -다면 -(으)려면
Reality Real/possible Hypothetical Real intention
Use General conditions Imaginary situations Purpose/goal
Formality Neutral Slightly formal Neutral
With adjectives ✓ Yes ✓ Yes ✗ No (action verbs only)
Meaning if/when if it were/supposing in order to/if you intend

Examples by Type

Real Conditions (-(으)면)

  1. 날씨가 좋으면 산책하러 가요. If the weather is nice, I'll go for a walk.

  2. 모르면 질문하세요. If you don't know, please ask.

Hypothetical (-다면)

  1. 시간을 되돌릴 수 있다면 더 열심히 공부할 거예요. If I could turn back time, I would study harder.

  2. 내가 부자라면 큰 집을 살 텐데. If I were rich, I would buy a big house.

Intention/Purpose (-(으)려면)

  1. 살을 빼려면 운동을 해야 해요. If you want to lose weight, you must exercise.

  2. 그 사람을 만나려면 전화를 먼저 해야 해요. If you want to meet that person, you must call first.

Practice

  1. Fill in the blank: 시간이 있___ 같이 영화를 볼까요? (using -(으)면)

  2. Connect using -다면: 당신이다 + 어떻게 할 거예요?

  3. Connect using -(으)려면: 한국에 유학을 가다 + 돈을 많이 모아야 해요.

  4. Choose the correct form: If it's expensive, I won't buy it. (비싸다, 사지 않다) a) 비싸면 b) 비싸다면 c) 비싸려면

  5. Translate: If you want to learn Korean well, you must practice speaking. (잘 배우다, 말하기를 연습하다)

  6. Which conditional expresses a hypothetical?: 내가 너___ 안 갈 거야.

  7. Create a sentence with -(으)면 showing a habitual condition (배고프다, 라면을 먹다)

  8. Fix the error: 좋으려면 같이 가요. (Why is this wrong?)

  9. Translate using -다면: If I were you, I would apologize. (너, 사과하다)

  10. Connect using -(으)려면: 건강하다 (be healthy - but think of the verb!) + 야채를 많이 먹어야 해요.

Show Answers 1. 시간이 있**으면** 같이 영화를 볼까요? *If you have time, shall we watch a movie together?* 2. 당신이라면 어떻게 할 거예요? *What would you do if you were me?* (Note: 당신이다 → 당신이라면 for nouns) 3. 한국에 유학을 가려면 돈을 많이 모아야 해요. *If you want to study abroad in Korea, you must save a lot of money.* 4. **a) 비싸면** 사지 않을 거예요. *If it's expensive, I won't buy it.* (Explanation: Real condition about price, so -(으)면 is correct) 5. 한국어를 잘 배우려면 말하기를 연습해야 해요. *If you want to learn Korean well, you must practice speaking.* 6. 내가 너**라면** 안 갈 거야. *If I were you, I wouldn't go.* (Explanation: Hypothetical situation needs -다면/-라면) 7. 배고프면 (항상) 라면을 먹어요. *Whenever I'm hungry, I (always) eat ramen.* 8. **Error explanation**: 좋다 is an adjective, so it cannot use -(으)려면 (which requires action verbs). **Correction**: 좋으면 같이 가요. *If it's good/okay, let's go together.* 9. 내가 너라면 사과할 거야. / 제가 당신이라면 사과할 거예요. *If I were you, I would apologize.* 10. **Tricky!** 건강하다 is an adjective. To use -(으)려면, you need the action verb: 건강해지려면 야채를 많이 먹어야 해요. *In order to become healthy, you must eat a lot of vegetables.* (건강해지다 = to become healthy, an action verb)