sigani isseumyeon doseogwane gayo.

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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 (시간이) instead of ?

Both and are subject markers. You use:

  • after a noun ending in a consonant (like 시간)
  • after a noun ending in a vowel
    They both mark 시간 as the subject: “Time exists” → “If time exists.”
What does the particle indicate in 도서관에 가요, and can I use 에서 instead?

In 도서관에 가요, 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 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 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:

  1. 시간이 있으면 도서관에 갈까요? (“Shall we go to the library if there’s time?”)
  2. 시간 있으면 도서관 가자. (Casual: “If you have time, let’s go to the library.”)