Korean Grammar: Understanding 고 말다 For Unintended Outcomes

In Korean, the structure V + 고 말다 is used to express unintended and contrasting negative outcomes that result from a previous action.

This construction can be translated as 'I ended up Ving', 'in the end I V-ed', or 'finally I V-ed'.

Some examples in English to illustrate what this looks like:

• I fell asleep on the bus and ended up passing the train station.
• I was so busy that I ended up forgetting my friend's birthday.
• I overslept this morning and ended up missing the bus because I stayed up all night.

To add emphasis, you can include 결국 (also 'in the end') before 고 말다.

Grammar Rule: Verb + 고 말다

고 말다 examples

Let's explore this grammar pattern through practical examples:

Emphasizing with 결국

By adding 결국 before 고 말다, you can emphasize the final unintended outcome:

Conclusion

Understanding the Korean grammar structure 고 말다 is essential for expressing unintended and negative outcomes that result from previous actions.

This construction adds depth to your Korean language skills and allows you to communicate nuanced situations effectively.

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