Learning Korean reported speech is key for effective communication. One commonly used expression for reporting direct and indirect commands is ‘(으)라고 하다’. This structure helps speakers convey what someone else has said, whether as a command or instruction. In this guide, we’ll cover its meaning, structure, usage, and provide examples and exercises to help you master this important grammar point.
Contents
1. Definition
‘(으)라고 하다’ is a reported speech pattern used when conveying commands or requests. In English, it is equivalent to “told (someone) to (do something)” or “said to (do something).”
2. Form (Structure)
The basic structure is:
- Verb stem + (으)라고 하다
- If the verb stem ends in a consonant → -으라고 하다
- If the verb stem ends in a vowel → -라고 하다
In everyday conversation, Koreans often use a shortened version of ‘(으)라고 하다,’ which is typically expressed as ‘(으)래요/래요.’ This contracted form is very common in casual speech.
To learn more about this shortened form and how to use it effectively,
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Here’s a table to help you understand the structure better:
| Base Verb | Ending | Command Form |
| 먹다 (to eat) | Consonant | 먹으라고 하다 (=먹으래요) (Someone) told (someone) to eat |
| 읽다 (to read) | Consonant | 읽으라고 하다 (=읽으래요) (Someone) told (someone) to read |
| 가다 (to go) | Vowel | 가라고 하다 (= 가래요) (Someone) told (someone) to go |
| 오다 (to come) | Vowel | 오라고 하다 (= 오래요) (Someone) told (someone) to come |
3. Meaning & Usage
The structure (으)라고 하다 is used when conveying an order or instruction that someone else gave. It is often used in reported speech to explain what others have told or asked us to do.
Here are 20 example sentences demonstrating how this structure works in different contexts:
- 어머니: 밥 다 먹어.
→ 어머니께서 밥을 다 먹으라고 하셨어요.
(Mom told me to finish my meal.) - 선생님: 조용히 해.
→ 선생님께서 조용히 하라고 하셨어요.
(The teacher told us to be quiet.) - 그 사람: 내일 아침 일찍 와.
→ 그 사람이 내일 아침 일찍 오라고 했어요.
(He told me to come early tomorrow morning.) - 친구: 같이 가자.
→ 친구가 같이 가자고 했어요.
(My friend suggested we go together.) - 경찰관: 차 좀 세워주세요.
→ 경찰관이 차를 세우라고 했어요.
(The police officer told me to stop the car.) - 어머니: 방 좀 치워.
→ 어머니께서 방을 치우라고 하셨어요.
(Mom told me to clean my room.) - 의사: 물 많이 드세요.
→ 의사 선생님께서 물을 많이 마시라고 하셨어요.
(The doctor told me to drink a lot of water.) - 아버지: 책 좀 읽어라.
→ 아버지께서 책 좀 읽으라고 하셨어요.
(Dad told me to read a book.) - 동생: 문 좀 닫아줘.
→ 동생이 문 좀 닫아달라고 했어요.
(My younger sibling asked me to close the door.) - 사장님: 내일까지 보고서 제출해 주세요.
→ 사장님께서 내일까지 보고서를 제출하라고 하셨어요.
(The boss told me to submit the report by tomorrow.) - 여자: 조심해요.
→ 그녀가 조심하라고 했어요.
(She told me to be careful.) - 코치: 좀 더 열심히 해.
→ 코치님께서 좀 더 열심히 하라고 하셨어요.
(The coach told the players to try harder.) - 부모님: 일찍 들어와.
→ 부모님께서 일찍 들어오라고 하셨어요.
(My parents told me to come home early.) - 선배: 열심히 공부해.
→ 선배가 열심히 공부하라고 했어요.
(The senior told me to study hard.) - 의사: 담배 끊으세요.
→ 의사 선생님께서 담배를 끊으라고 하셨어요.
(The doctor told the patient to quit smoking.) - 선생님: 숙제 꼭 해오세요.
→ 선생님께서 숙제를 꼭 해오라고 하셨어요.
(The teacher told the students to make sure to do their homework.) - 매니저: 회의에 참석해 주세요.
→ 매니저님가 회의에 참석하라고 했어요.
(The manager told the employees to attend the meeting.) - 어머니: 장난감 정리해.
→ 어머니께서 장난감을 정리하라고 하셨어요.
(Mom told the children to tidy up their toys.) - 교수님: 논문 다시 써오세요.
→ 교수님께서 논문을 다시 써오라고 하셨어요.
(The professor told the students to rewrite their papers.) - 친구: 비밀 지켜줘.
→ 친구가 비밀을 지켜달라고 했어요.
(My friend asked me to keep a secret.)
These examples show the versatility of the (으)라고 하다 structure in different situations. It can be used to report commands, requests, or suggestions, depending on the context.
4. Key Points to Remember
- Use (으)라고 하다 to report someone’s command or request.
- It is often used in reported speech when telling someone what another person said.
- The verb stem may change depending on whether the verb ends in a vowel or a consonant.
- Verb ending in a vowel: 라고 하다
- Verb ending in a consonant: 으라고 하다
- When quoting indirect requests, use -라고 하다 for statements or suggestions, and -달라고 하다 for polite requests.
5. Practice Exercises
Complete the following sentences using ‘(으)라고 하다’.
- 할머니: 약 먹어라. -> 할머니께서 __________________.
(Grandmother told me to take the medicine.) - 상사: 이메일 확인해 주세요. -> 상사가 __________________.
(The boss told me to check the email.) - 의사: 운동 좀 하세요. -> 의사 선생님께서 __________________.
(The doctor told me to exercise.) - 엄마: 방 청소 좀 해. -> 엄마께서 __________________.
(Mom told me to clean my room.) - 선생님: 숙제 내일까지 제출하세요. -> 선생님께서 __________________.
(The teacher told us to submit the homework by tomorrow.) - 친구: 내일 일찍 만나자. -> 친구가 __________________.
(My friend suggested meeting early tomorrow.) - 아빠: 휴대폰 그만 봐라. -> 아빠께서 __________________.
(Dad told me to stop looking at my phone.) - 코치: 더 빨리 뛰세요. -> 코치님께서 __________________.
(The coach told us to run faster.) - 동생: 게임 같이 하자. -> 동생이 __________________.
(My younger sibling suggested playing a game together.) - 선배: 열심히 준비해. -> 선배가 __________________.
(The senior told me to prepare hard.)
6. Answers
- 할머니께서 약을 먹으라고 하셨어요.
- 상사가 이메일을 확인해 달라고 했어요.
- 의사 선생님께서 운동을 하라고 하셨어요.
- 엄마께서 방 청소를 하라고 하셨어요.
- 선생님께서 숙제를 내일까지 제출하라고 하셨어요.
- 친구가 내일 일찍 만나자고 했어요.
- 아빠께서 휴대폰을 그만 보라고 하셨어요.
- 코치님께서 더 빨리 뛰라고 하셨어요.
- 동생이 게임을 같이 하자고 했어요.
- 선배가 열심히 준비하라고 했어요.
7. Common Mistakes and Tips
⚠️ Mistake 1: Using the wrong level of politeness with (으)라고 하다
- Incorrect: 할머니가 밥을 먹으라고 했어요 ❌
(Not polite enough when talking about elders) - Correct: 할머니께서 밥을 드시라고 하셨어요 ✅
(Polite form for elders) - Correct: 친구가 밥을 먹으라고 했어요 ✅
(Appropriate for friends or younger people) - 💡 Tip: Match the politeness level to the person you’re talking about. Use honorific forms for elders or respected individuals.
⚠️ Mistake 2: Confusing direct commands with reported speech
- Incorrect: 선생님이 숙제하세요라고 했어요 ❌
(Mixing direct command with reported speech) - Correct: 선생님께서 숙제하라고 하셨어요 ✅
(Correct way to report a command) - 💡 Tip: When reporting commands, change direct command endings (like -세요) to -라고/-으라고.
⚠️ Mistake 3: Using (으)라고 하다 for suggestions
- Incorrect/Situational: 친구가 영화 보라고 했어요 ⚠️
(Can be correct in some contexts, but may sound like a command rather than a suggestion) - Correct: 친구가 영화 보자고 했어요 ✅
(Clear way to report a suggestion) - 💡 Tip:
- Use -자고 하다 for reporting suggestions or invitations.
- (으)라고 하다 is typically used for commands or requests, but can be used for strong suggestions in certain contexts.
- Context is key: “영화 보라고 했어요” could be appropriate if the friend was insisting or giving advice, not just making a casual suggestion.
In summary, the structure ‘(으)라고 하다’ is used to report someone else’s command or request. It is important to adjust the verb form based on the level of politeness and familiarity with the person. Avoid using this structure for suggestions or direct commands to others. With practice, you’ll be able to use this structure effectively to relay orders and instructions in everyday conversations.