gyeolguk baedari neujeoseo gyehoegeul bakkwosseo.

In the end, the delivery was late, so we changed the plan.

Breakdown of gyeolguk baedari neujeoseo gyehoegeul bakkwosseo.

• ~이: subject particle
• ~을: object particle
• 늦다: late
• ~어서: so
• 계획: plan
• 결국: in the end
• 배달: delivery
• 바꾸다: to change

Questions & Answers about gyeolguk baedari neujeoseo gyehoegeul bakkwosseo.

What speech level is this, and how would I say it more politely or formally?

The sentence ends with -었어, which is casual/informal (plain intimate). Use it with friends or people younger/close to you.

• Polite: 결국 배달이 늦어서 계획을 바꿨어요.
• Formal: 결국 배달이 늦어서 계획을 바꿨습니다.
• Plain written/narrative: 결국 배달이 늦어서 계획을 바꿨다.

Why is there no subject like “I”? How do I add it if I need to?

Korean often drops obvious subjects. Here, the speaker is implied (usually I or we).

• If needed: 나는/저는 결국 배달이 늦어서 계획을 바꿨어(요).
• For “we”: 우리는/저희는 결국 배달이 늦어서 계획을 바꿨어(요).

Why is 이 used after 배달? Could I use 는 instead?

이/가 marks the grammatical subject; 배달이 is the subject of 늦다 (to be late). 은/는 makes it a topic or contrast:

• Neutral/factual: 배달이 늦어서…
• Contrast/emphasis: 배달은 늦어서… (As for the delivery, it was late, so…)

What exactly does -아서/어서 mean here? How is it different from -니까 or -기 때문에?

-아서/어서 links a natural cause to a result: “because/so.” It sounds matter‑of‑fact.

• -니까 often conveys the speaker’s reasoning/judgment and is preferred before commands/requests/suggestions.
• -기 때문에 is more explicit/weighty or formal (“due to/because of”). Examples:
• 배달이 늦어서 계획을 바꿨어요. (simple cause-effect)
• 배달이 늦으니까 계획을 바꿔요. (so let’s/so we will; good with suggestions)
• 배달이 늦었기 때문에 계획을 변경했습니다. (formal/explicit)

Why is it 늦어서 and not past 늦었어서 if the delivery was already late?

In reason clauses, Korean typically uses the non-past stem with -아서/어서 even for past causes. 늦어서 naturally means “because it was late.” 늦었어서 is generally awkward and avoided. If you need an explicitly past-looking reason, use:

• 늦었기 때문에, 늦은 탓에, 늦는 바람에 (all sound fine).

What nuance does 결국 add? Is it the same as 드디어/마침내?

결국 means “in the end/as a result,” often after some process; it’s neutral or slightly resigned.
드디어/마침내 mean “at last/finally,” usually for a long‑awaited, often positive result.

• 결국 계획을 바꿨어. (We ended up changing the plan.)
• 드디어 시험에 합격했어! (I finally passed!)

Where can I place 결국 in the sentence?

Common placements:

• 결국 배달이 늦어서 계획을 바꿨어. (overall summary adverb at the start)
• 배달이 늦어서 결국 계획을 바꿨어. (signals the result was “in the end”)
• 배달이 결국 늦어서 계획을 바꿨어. (focuses “in the end, the delivery was late”) Avoid over-inserting it; place it where you want the “in the end” focus.

What’s the difference between 바꾸다 and 바뀌다 here?

• 바꾸다 = to change something (active; you are the agent): 계획을 바꿨어.
• 바뀌다 = to be changed/get changed (passive): 계획이 바뀌었어. Both are possible; choose based on whether you stress the doer (you) or the fact of change itself.

Why is it spelled 바꿨어 and not 바꾸었어?

It’s a standard contraction: 바꾸다 + 었어 → 바꾸었어 → 바꿨어 (ㅜ + 었 → 웠).
Similar patterns: 주었어 → 줬어, 배우었어 → 배웠어.

Is 배달 the right word? When would I use 배송 instead?

• 배달: delivery in general, especially food/courier coming to you.
• 배송: shipping/fulfillment/logistics (e.g., online shopping). If you’re talking about a shipped item, 배송이 늦어서 feels more natural; for food or a courier being late, 배달이 늦어서 is perfect.

Can I drop some particles in casual speech?

Yes, in very casual speech you might hear:

• 배달 늦어서 계획 바꿨어. But in writing or careful speech, keep 이/가, 을/를.

Could I say 늦게 와서 instead of 늦어서?

Yes, with a slight nuance difference:

• 배달이 늦어서… = the delivery was late/delayed (state).
• 배달이 늦게 와서… = the delivery came late (late arrival as an action). Both are natural; choose based on what you want to highlight.

Can I make the object a topic, like 계획은?

You can, to contrast or foreground the plan:

• 계획은 바꿨어. (As for the plan, I changed it.) More neutral is 계획을 바꿨어. Use 은/는 when you’re contrasting with something else (e.g., “The plan we changed, but the venue we kept”).

How can I better express “we ended up having to change the plan”?

Use -게 되다 to stress an outcome beyond your control:

• 결국 계획을 바꾸게 됐어(요).

Can I split it into two sentences or switch clause order?

Yes, both are natural in conversation:

• 배달이 늦어서, 결국 계획을 바꿨어.
• 결국 계획을 바꿨어. 배달이 늦어서. (afterthought reason) Korean typically puts the reason first, but splitting is common for emphasis.

How would I say this in a more formal/work context?

• 결국 배송이 지연되어 계획을 변경했습니다.
• Even more formal: 결국 배송 지연으로 인해 계획을 변경했습니다.

Any gotchas about using -아서/어서 with commands or requests?

Yes. For commands/requests/suggestions, -니까 is generally preferred:

• More natural: 배달이 늦으니까 계획을 바꾸자/바꾸세요. Using -아서/어서 before imperatives can sound awkward or be discouraged in standard grammar.