Mastering Korean Grammar: How to Use 때 and -(으)ㄹ 때 to Express ‘When’

In this blog post, we’ll explore the essential Korean grammar patterns N 때 and A/V-(으)ㄹ 때, which are used to describe “when” or “at the time of” in various situations. These patterns are fundamental for expressing time-related contexts and are commonly used in everyday conversations. By the end of this post, you’ll be able to understand the meaning, usage, and form of these patterns, along with plenty of examples and practice exercises to solidify your understanding.

1. Definition

• “N때”: Indicates a specific time or period
• “A/V-(으)ㄹ 때”: Expresses a future situation or condition
  
  

2. Form (Structure)

N때 Structure

• Noun + 때
• Used for specific time periods
  
  

A/V-(으)ㄹ 때 Structure

• Verb/Adjective + (으)ㄹ 때
• Indicates future actions or conditions
• For verbs/adjectives ending in a consonant: Add -을 때 to the stem.
• For verbs/adjectives ending in a vowel: Add -ㄹ 때 to the stem.
  
  

Structure Table

Type	Structure	Examples
N때	Noun + 때	점심때 (lunchtime) 저녁때 (evening time)
A/V-(으)ㄹ 때	Verb/Adjective + (으)ㄹ 때	먹다 → 먹을 때 (when eating) 공부하다 → 공부할 때 (when studying)

3. Meaning & Usage

N 때:

• Indicates “during” or “at the time of” a specific event or period.
• Examples:
  • 여행 때 사진을 많이 찍었어요. (I took many photos during the trip.)
  • 시험 때 긴장이 많이 됐어요. (I was very nervous during the exam.)
  • 저녁때 산책해요. (I take a walk in the evening.)
    
    

A/V-(으)ㄹ 때:

• Describes an action or situation occurring “when” something happens.
• Examples:
  • 배가 고플 때 간식을 먹어요. (When I’m hungry, I eat a snack.)
  • 친구를 만날 때 기뻐요. (When I meet a friend, I’m happy.)
  • 공부할 때 음악을 들어요. (When studying, I listen to music.)
    

Tense Variations:

• Past: A/V-(았/었을 때)
  • Examples: 학교에 갔을 때 비가 왔어요. (When I went to school, it rained.)
• Present: A/V-(으)ㄹ 때
  • Examples: 비 올 때는 산책을 하지 않아요. (I don’t go for walks when it’s raining.)
• Future: A/V-(으)ㄹ 때
  • Examples: 한국에 갈 때 맛있는 음식을 먹을 거예요. (When I go to Korea, I’ll eat delicious food.)
    
    

4. Examples

1. 밥을 먹을 때 TV를 봐요. (I watch TV when eating.)
   
2. 주말 때 운동을 해요. (I exercise during the weekend.)
   
3. 비가 올 때 우산을 써요. (I use an umbrella when it rains.)
   
4. 학교에 갈 때 지하철을 타요. (I take the subway when going to school.)
   
5. 날씨가 추울 때 옷을 따뜻하게 입으세요. (When the weather is cold, dress warmly.)
   
6. 부모님을 만날 때 선물을 사요. (I buy a gift when meeting my parents.)
   
7. 사람들이 많을 때 대화하기 어려워요. (It’s hard to talk when there are many people.)
   
8. 시험이 끝났을 때 정말 기뻤어요. (I was so happy when the exam ended.)
   
9. 외국에 살 때 새로운 문화를 배웠어요. (When living abroad, I learned a new culture.)
   
10. 비행기를 탈 때 신분증이 필요해요. (You need an ID when boarding a plane.)
    
    

5. Key Points to Remember

• Use N 때 with nouns to describe specific periods.
• Attach -(으)ㄹ 때 to verb/adjective stems to express “when.”
• Be mindful of verb tense to convey past, present, or future events.
  
  

6. Practice Exercises

1. 주말에 뭐 해요? → _____________ 운동을 해요.(When it’s the weekend, I exercise.)
   
   
2. _____________ 우산을 써요. (When it rains, I use an umbrella.)
   
   
3. 친구를 _____________ 기뻐요. (When I meet a friend, I feel happy.)
   
   
4. 날씨가 _____________ 코트를 입으세요. (When the weather is cold, wear a coat.)
   
   
5. 한국에 _____________ 맛있는 음식을 먹고 싶어요. (When I go to Korea, I want to eat delicious food.)
   
   
6. 영화가 _____________ 사람들이 박수를 쳤어요. (When the movie ended, people clapped.)
   
   

7. 시험을 _____________ 긴장이 돼요. (When I take a test, I feel nervous.)
   
   
8. 여행을 _____________ 사진을 많이 찍었어요. (When I traveled, I took many photos.)
   
   
9. 외국에 _____________ 다른 언어를 배웠어요. (When I lived abroad, I learned another language.)
   
   
10. 비행기를 _____________ 여권이 필요해요. (When boarding a plane, you need a passport.)
    
    

7. Answers

1. 주말 때
2. 비가 올 때
3. 만날 때
4. 추울 때
5. 갈 때
6. 끝났을 때
7. 볼 때
8. 했을 때
9. 살았을 때
10. 탈 때
    
    

8. Common Mistakes and Tips:

⚠️ Mistake 1: Using 때 incorrectly with actions.

• Incorrect: 먹을 때 때가 좋았어요. ❌
• Correct: 먹을 때 기분이 좋았어요. ✅ (I felt good when eating.)
  

⚠️ Mistake 2: Forgetting tense consistency.

• Incorrect: 학교에 갔을 때 비가 온다. ❌
• Correct: 학교에 갔을 때 비가 왔어요. ✅ (When I went to school, it rained.)
  

⚠️ Mistake 3: Misplacing 때 in sentences.

• Incorrect: 때 영화 볼 재미있어요. ❌
• Correct: 영화를 볼 때 재미있어요. ✅ (It’s fun when watching a movie.)

The grammar patterns N 때 and A/V-(으)ㄹ 때 are crucial for expressing time-related contexts in Korean. Mastering these structures will enhance your ability to describe events and situations clearly and naturally. Remember to practice regularly and pay attention to tense consistency for fluency.

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