Learn Hardcore Korean: jeomwoni seomyeongeul hwaginhaneura jogeum neujeosseoyo. - The clerk was a bit late because they were checking the signature.

-느라 means “because (someone) was busy doing/occupied with …,” often leading to a negative or undesired result (being late, missing something, not doing something).
It implies the two actions overlapped in time: while checking the signature, the lateness resulted.
Typical restrictions:
- Same subject in both clauses: the doer of 확인하느라 and the one who 늦었어요 must be the same.
- Usually not used with commands/suggestions in the main clause.
- No tense or honorific marker appears before -느라 (you don’t say 확인했느라 or 확인하시느라 in this sentence type; see below).
Very common in excuses/apologies: e.g., 전화하느라 못 들었어요 (I didn’t hear because I was on the phone).

Can I replace -느라 with -아서/어서 or -기 때문에? What changes?

-아서/어서 (e.g., 확인해서): neutral “because/so,” no special nuance of being tied up. Fine, but less “I was caught up in it.”
-기 때문에 (e.g., 확인했기 때문에): rather formal, explicit cause-and-effect. Sounds more matter-of-fact.
-느라 specifically conveys “was occupied doing,” and the result tends to be inconvenient/negative. For this sentence, -느라 is the most idiomatic.

Can I say -느라고 instead of -느라?

Yes. -느라고 is a very common colloquial variant. Here, 점원이 서명을 확인하느라고 조금 늦었어요 is fully natural. There’s no real difference in meaning; -느라고 can sound a bit more conversational.

Why isn’t it 확인했느라 (with past tense) or 확인하시느라 (with honorific)?

With this connective, the verb in the -느라 clause appears in a tenseless, non-honorific form: V-느라(고). So:

Use 확인하느라, not 확인했느라.
Use 확인하느라, not 확인하시느라. If you need tense/honorifics in the cause, switch to a different connector (e.g., 확인하셔서, 확인하셨기 때문에).

Do both clauses have to share the same subject?

Yes. The subject of the -느라 clause and the main clause should be the same.

Your sentence works because the implied subject of 확인하느라 is the same 점원 who 늦었어요.
If you want to say “I was late because the clerk was checking,” don’t use -느라; use a different connector:
- 점원이 서명을 확인해서 제가 조금 늦었어요.
- 점원이 서명을 확인하는 바람에 제가 조금 늦었어요. (carries a stronger “unfortunate result” nuance)

Can I drop particles like -이 or -을 here?

Object marker: 서명을 확인하느라 → colloquially, 서명 확인하느라 is fine.
Subject marker: 점원이 → in casual speech, you might hear 점원 (no particle), but 점원이 is clearer.
You can also omit the whole subject if obvious from context: 서명을 확인하느라 조금 늦었어요.

Why 점원이 (subject) and not 점원은 (topic)? What’s the nuance?

점원이 simply marks “the clerk” as the subject; it presents new or neutral information.
점원은 makes “the clerk” the topic, often with a contrastive or “as for the clerk” feel. For example, 점원은 서명을 확인하느라 조금 늦었어요 could imply contrast with someone else who wasn’t late.

Is 조금 the same as 좀 or 약간?

조금: neutral “a little.”
좀: contraction of 조금; very common and a bit more casual/softer. 좀 늦었어요 is extremely natural in speech.
약간: slightly more formal or “technical,” often used for degree or description. Here, 약간 늦었어요 also works but sounds less conversational.
In casual speech, you’ll often hear 조금 pronounced closer to 쪼끔.

Why 늦었어요 and not 늦게 왔어요? What’s the difference?

늦었어요 = “(someone) was late.” It treats “being late” as the main predicate.
늦게 왔어요 = “(someone) came late.” It modifies a specific action (came) with the adverb 늦게. Both can describe lateness, but the focus differs. Your sentence talks about the clerk “being late” in general, so 늦었어요 fits well.

Is 서명 the right word, or should I use 사인/싸인?

서명 is the standard/official word for “signature,” especially in formal or business contexts.
사인/싸인 is widely used in everyday speech, but can also mean “autograph.” In a store/checkout context, many people say 사인; in writing or formal speech, prefer 서명. Your sentence with 서명 sounds properly standard.

Why use 확인하다? Are there natural alternatives?

확인하다 = “to check/verify/confirm” (standard and broadly appropriate).
Alternatives:
- 체크하다 (Konglish loan; casual, common in speech).
- 검토하다 (to review/examine; more formal, often for documents). In this context, 확인하다 is safest and most natural.

What level of politeness is 늦었어요? Should I use honorifics for the clerk?

-어요 style = polite but neutral. 늦었어요 is fine for general narration.
Honorific subject marker -시- would be 늦으셨어요. Use this if you’re directly addressing or respectfully referring to the person who was late. For a random store clerk you’re describing to someone else, you don’t need honorifics, though using them isn’t “wrong”—it just elevates the subject.

How is the sentence pronounced? Can I see a romanization?

Romanization: Jeomwon-i seomyeong-eul hwaginhaneura jogeum neujeosseoyo.
Pronunciation tips:
- 확인 → [화긴] (the ㄱ links forward).
- 늦었어요 → roughly [느저써요].
- 조금 often sounds like [쪼끔] in casual speech.
- Liaison gives 점원이 ≈ [저뭔이/저mwʌni] (smooth n→i link).

Can the word order change?

The -느라 clause typically comes before the result: (서명을) 확인하느라 조금 늦었어요.
You can put the subject first, then the -느라 clause, as in the original: 점원이 서명을 확인하느라 조금 늦었어요.
Putting the -느라 clause after the main clause is generally unnatural.

Is there a more formal or softer way to apologize with the same idea?

More formal: 서명을 확인하느라 조금 늦었습니다. 죄송합니다.
Businesslike alternative: 서명 확인 중이라 조금 늦었습니다. Both sound appropriate in customer-facing settings.

Can -느라 be used with adjectives?

It primarily attaches to action verbs, but some descriptive words that behave like “states you’re tied up in” are common:

바쁘느라 전화를 못 받았어요 (I couldn’t answer because I was busy).
피곤하느라 일찍 잤어요 is heard, though many prefer a different connector here. When in doubt with adjectives, -아서/어서 or 때문에
is safer.

How would I specify gender or make the clerk more respectful?

Gender: 남자 점원이, 여자 점원이 (only if truly relevant).
Respectful: 점원분이 or 직원분이 adds respect; 직원 is a broader “staff member/employee.”