Breakdown of sigani isseumyeon doseogwane gayo.
가다gada
to go
~에~e
destination particle
~이~i
subject particle
도서관doseogwan
library
시간sigan
time
있다issda
to have
~으면~eumyeon
if
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Questions & Answers about sigani isseumyeon doseogwane gayo.
What function does -으면 serve in 시간이 있으면?
-으면 is the conditional ending “if.” You attach it to a verb stem to say “if (something happens/exists).”
- 있다 (to exist/have) → 있으면 = “if (you) have/exist.”
Because 있다 ends in a consonant, you use -으면 rather than -면.
Why is 시간 followed by 이 (시간이) instead of 가?
Both 이 and 가 are subject markers. You use:
- 이 after a noun ending in a consonant (like 시간)
- 가 after a noun ending in a vowel
They both mark 시간 as the subject: “Time exists” → “If time exists.”
What does the particle 에 indicate in 도서관에 가요, and can I use 에서 instead?
In 도서관에 가요, 에 marks the destination (“to the library”).
- 도서관에 가다 = “go to the library.”
By contrast, 도서관에서 marks the location of an action (“at the library”): - 도서관에서 공부해요 = “study at the library.”
So you need 에 to show movement toward a place.
What tense and politeness level is expressed by 가요?
- Tense: Present (it can also express near-future contextually)
- Politeness: Informal polite (often called “–요” style)
So 가요 means “(I/you/we) go” in a friendly but polite register.
How would I express a clear future intention, as in “If I have time, I will go to the library”?
Use the future construction 갈 거예요 in place of 가요:
- 시간이 있으면 도서관에 갈 거예요.
This makes it explicit: “If I have time, I am going to go to the library.”
Can I drop particles and say 시간 있으면 도서관 가요 in casual speech?
Yes, in everyday conversation Koreans often omit 이/가 and 에 when context is clear:
- 시간 있으면 도서관 가요.
It’s more casual and still perfectly understandable.
What changes if I use 갑니다 instead of 가요?
- 갑니다 is formal polite (–습니다 style).
- 가요 is informal polite (–요 style).
So 시간이 있으면 도서관에 갑니다 sounds more formal—suitable for presentations or speaking to strangers in a respectful setting.
How do I turn this into a suggestion, “If you have time, let’s go to the library”?
Use the -ㄹ까요 or -자 form:
- 시간이 있으면 도서관에 갈까요? (“Shall we go to the library if there’s time?”)
- 시간 있으면 도서관 가자. (Casual: “If you have time, let’s go to the library.”)