-거든요 Korean Grammar – EPS-TOPIK Chapter 33-2 (because / you see)

Chapter 33-2

Verb / Adjective Stem + -거든요

Because … / You see … (Kasi …)

🎯 This page’s goal: I can explain the reason for something (-거든요).
🇵🇭 Kaya kong ipaliwanag ang dahilan ng isang bagay (-거든요).

🛑 WAIT! Grammar is way easier once you know the words — if you haven’t studied Chapter 33-2 Vocabulary (Colleague Relationships) yet, go memorize them first! Today we’ll learn -거든요 to explain a reason the listener doesn’t know yet — very useful when talking with coworkers.

🇵🇭 Teka muna! Mas madali ang grammar kapag alam mo na ang mga salita — kung hindi mo pa naaral ang Chapter 33-2 Vocabulary (Colleague Relationships), i-memorize muna ito! Ngayon, aralin natin ang -거든요 para ipaliwanag ang dahilang hindi pa alam ng kausap — napakagamit sa pakikipag-usap sa katrabaho.

👉 Go to Vocabulary Ch 33-2 First

📌 1. What is -거든요?

-거든요 is attached to a verb or adjective when you explain a reason, or share a fact the listener doesn’t know yet — like “…, you see” or “because …” in English.
🇵🇭 Idinidikit ang -거든요 sa pandiwa o pang-uri kapag ipinapaliwanag mo ang dahilan, o nagbabahagi ng bagay na hindi pa alam ng kausap — parang “… kasi” sa Tagalog.

[Basic pattern]
✅ Present: Stem + 거든요 👉 (e.g., 좋다 → 좋거든요, 바쁘다 → 바쁘거든요)
✅ Past: Stem + 았/었거든요 👉 (e.g., 하다 → 했거든요, 오해하다 → 오해했거든요)
✅ Noun: Noun + 이거든요 / 거든요 👉 (e.g., 특별한 날 → 날이거든요, 휴가 → 휴가거든요)

💡 TIP: Use it AFTER the main sentence!
-거든요 usually comes after you say something first: “약을 먹어야 해요. 감기에 걸렸거든요.” (I have to take medicine. I caught a cold, you see.) It is a perfect answer to “왜요?” (Why?). Listen to the sound: 좋거든요 sounds [조커든뇨], 있거든요 sounds [읻꺼든뇨].
🇵🇭 Karaniwang sinasabi ang -거든요 PAGKATAPOS ng unang pangungusap. Perpektong sagot ito sa “왜요?” (Bakit?). Tunog: 좋거든요 [조커든뇨], 있거든요 [읻꺼든뇨].
Compare: 감기에 걸려서 약을 먹어요. (I take medicine because I caught a cold.) vs 약을 먹어요. 감기에 걸렸거든요. (I take medicine. I caught a cold, you see.)

💡 Remember: “Stem” means removing -다 first! Full explanation in Chapter 4-1.
🇵🇭 Tandaan: tinatanggal muna ang -다 para makuha ang “stem”! Buong paliwanag sa Chapter 4-1.

📖 2. Example Sentences

Korean	Meaning (English / Tagalog)
이 식당은 인기가 많아요. 음식이 싸고 맛있거든요.	🇺🇸 This restaurant is popular. The food is cheap and tasty, you see. 🇵🇭 Sikat ang kainang ito. Mura kasi at masarap ang pagkain.
동료들이 모두 아궁 씨를 좋아해요. 아궁 씨가 성격이 좋거든요.	🇺🇸 All the coworkers like Agung. He has a good personality, you see. 🇵🇭 Gusto ng lahat ng katrabaho si Agung. Mabait kasi siya.
방이 깨끗하네요. 아침에 청소를 했거든요.	🇺🇸 The room is clean. I cleaned it this morning, you see. 🇵🇭 Malinis ang kuwarto. Naglinis kasi ako kaninang umaga.
저는 우리 회사가 좋아요. 분위기가 좋거든요.	🇺🇸 I like my company. The atmosphere is good, you see. 🇵🇭 Gusto ko ang kompanya namin. Maganda kasi ang samahan.
약을 먹어야 해요. 감기에 걸렸거든요.	🇺🇸 I have to take medicine. I caught a cold, you see. 🇵🇭 Kailangan kong uminom ng gamot. Nagkasipon kasi ako.
친구에게 줄 꽃을 샀어요. 오늘은 특별한 날이거든요.	🇺🇸 I bought flowers for my friend. Today is a special day, you see. 🇵🇭 Bumili ako ng bulaklak para sa kaibigan ko. Espesyal kasi ang araw na ito.
저는 제 동료들을 믿거든요.	🇺🇸 I trust my coworkers, you see. 🇵🇭 Nagtitiwala kasi ako sa mga katrabaho ko.
한국에서는 친한 사람에게 반말을 할 수도 있거든요.	🇺🇸 In Korea, people may use casual speech with close friends, you see. 🇵🇭 Sa Korea kasi, puwedeng gumamit ng impormal na pananalita sa malalapit na kaibigan.

💡 Quick tip: When someone asks “왜요?” (Why?), answer with -거든요! “왜 사과했어요?” — “제가 오해했거든요.” (Why did you apologize? — Because I misunderstood.)

🎧 Final Step: Practice the Real Sound with Nova Player!

Learn with your ears, NOT your eyes! Listen and repeat again and again until it feels natural to you! 👇

✅ Can you do it now?
Can you explain the reason in Korean? Try: 오늘은 일찍 퇴근해요. 약속이 있거든요.

👉 [VOCA] Ch 33-2
👉 [GRAMMAR] Ch 34-1
👉 [CONVERSATION] Ch 33-2

Source: HRD Korea Standard Textbook for EPS-TOPIK, rearranged by Teacher Nova for easier learning.
Pinagmulan: HRD Korea Standard Textbook para sa EPS-TOPIK, inayos ni Teacher Nova para sa mas madaling pag-aaral.