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KOREAN CAUSE & EFFECT
The structure -아/어서 links two clauses, where one explains a reason or cause, and the other describes the result or effect.
It is similar to “because” or “so” in English (e.g., “I was tired, so I went to bed”).
BASIC STRUCTURE
Use -아/어서 to connect two clauses where the first explains the reason or cause, and the second states the result or effect. This is the most common and straightforward use of -아/어서.
PATTERN
Verb/Adjective Stem + -아/어서 + Result Clause
| 밥을 많이 먹어서 배가 불러요. | I ate a lot, so I am full. |
| 길이 막혀서 늦었어요. | The road was congested, so I was late. |
| 시험을 잘 봐서 기분이 좋아요. | I did well on the test, so I feel good. |
View More Examples:
| 비가 와서 우산을 썼어요. | It rained, so I used an umbrella. |
| 아이가 울어서 달래주었어요. | The child cried, so I comforted them. |
| 피곤해서 집에서 쉬었어요. | I was tired, so I rested at home. |
NEGATIVE VERSION
To describe situations where either the cause or the effect is negative, use -아/어서 with negation markers.
This adds depth to your expressions and allows for a wider range of conversational use.
PATTERN
Negative Statement + -아/어서 + Result Clause
| 돈이 없어서 여행을 가지 못했어요. | I didn’t have money, so I couldn’t travel. |
| 시간이 없어서 숙제를 못 했어요. | I didn’t have time, so I couldn’t do my homework. |
| 몸이 아파서 출근하지 않았어요. | I was sick, so I didn’t go to work. |
View More Examples:
| 차가 고장 나서 친구를 만나지 못했어요. | My car broke down, so I couldn’t meet my friend. |
| 날씨가 나빠서 등산을 가지 않았어요. | The weather was bad, so I didn’t go hiking. |
| 버스를 놓쳐서 수업에 늦었어요 | I missed the bus, so I was late to class. |
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FAQs
What does -아/어서 mean?
-아/어서 is a Korean grammar structure used to indicate cause-and-effect relationships, meaning “because,” “so,” or “since.”
What is the difference with -아/어서 and -기 때문에?
-아/어서 is more commonly used in spoken Korean and cannot be used in imperative or propositive sentences.
-기 때문에 is more formal and can be used in all sentence types.
Can -아/어서 be used in past tense?
The past tense is not applied directly to -아/어서.
Instead, the tense appears in the final verb of the sentence. For example:
비가 와서 집에 있었어요. (“Because it rained, I stayed home.”)
Can -아/어서 be used for reasons and sequences?
Yes, it can indicate both reasons (“because”) and sequences (“and then”), but it is mostly used to show cause and effect.
Is -아/어서 interchangeable with -고?
No, -고 is used to simply list actions (“and”), while -아/어서 shows that one action caused another.
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