Complex Sentences

Complex sentences combine multiple clauses, embedded sentences, and various grammatical patterns to express sophisticated ideas. Mastering these structures allows for natural, nuanced Korean communication.

Building Complex Sentences

Combining Multiple Patterns

Strategy: Layer coordination, subordination, and embedding

Basic sentence:

• 친구를 만났어요 (I met a friend)

Adding time:

• 어제 친구를 만났어요 (I met a friend yesterday)

Adding purpose:

• 영화를 보러 친구를 만났어요 (I met a friend to watch a movie)

Adding result:

• 영화를 보러 친구를 만났는데 재미있었어요 (I met a friend to watch a movie and it was fun)

Adding embedded clause:

• 제가 좋아하는 영화를 보러 친구를 만났는데 정말 재미있었어요 (I met a friend to watch a movie I like and it was really fun)

Multi-Clause Sentences

Pattern: Clause 1 + Connector + Clause 2 + Connector + Clause 3

Example building:

1. 밥을 먹었어요 (I ate)
2. 밥을 먹고 산책했어요 (I ate and took a walk)
3. 밥을 먹고 산책하고 집에 왔어요 (I ate, took a walk, and came home)
4. 밥을 먹고 공원에서 산책하고 친구를 만나서 집에 왔어요 (I ate, walked in the park, met a friend, and came home)

Sentence Patterns by Complexity

Level 1: Simple Addition

Using -고 (and):

• 아침을 먹고 학교에 갔어요 (Ate breakfast and went to school)
• 키가 크고 똑똑해요 (Tall and smart)
• 한국어를 공부하고 일본어도 배워요 (Study Korean and also learn Japanese)

Level 2: Time Relationships

Using time connectors:

Before/After:

• 자기 전에 책을 읽고 나서 잤어요 (After reading a book before sleeping, I slept)
• 아침을 먹은 후에 운동하고 샤워했어요 (After eating breakfast, I exercised and showered)

While/During:

• 공부하는 동안 음악을 들으면서 커피를 마셨어요 (While studying, I listened to music and drank coffee)

Level 3: Cause and Effect

Using reason connectors:

Sequential reasoning:

• 비가 와서 우산을 가져갔는데 길이 미끄러워서 조심했어요 (It was raining so I took an umbrella, but the road was slippery so I was careful)

Multiple reasons:

• 피곤하고 배고파서 집에 가려고 하는데 일이 많아서 못 가요 (I'm tired and hungry so I want to go home, but I have a lot of work so I can't)

Level 4: Embedded Descriptions

Using relative clauses:

Single embedding:

• 어제 산 책을 읽어요 (I'm reading the book I bought yesterday)

Multiple embeddings:

• 친구가 추천한 식당에서 먹은 음식이 맛있었어요 (The food I ate at the restaurant my friend recommended was delicious)

Nested embeddings:

• 제가 좋아하는 가수가 부르는 노래를 듣고 있어요 (I'm listening to a song sung by a singer I like)

Level 5: Conditional Complexity

Using conditionals with other patterns:

If-then with purpose:

• 시간이 있으면 친구를 만나러 서울에 갈 건데 바빠서 못 갈 것 같아요 (If I have time, I'll go to Seoul to meet a friend, but I'm busy so I probably can't go)

Conditional with embedded clauses:

• 제가 원하는 대학교에 가려면 지금 공부하는 과목들을 잘해야 해요 (To go to the university I want, I must do well in the subjects I'm studying now)

Advanced Patterns

Indirect Quotations in Complex Sentences

Pattern: [Quote] + -다고/라고/냐고/자고 + [Main clause]

Examples:

• 친구가 같이 가자고 해서 영화를 보러 갔는데 재미있었어요 (My friend suggested we go together, so we went to see a movie and it was interesting)
• 선생님이 숙제를 내일까지 내라고 하셨는데 아직 못 했어요 (The teacher said to submit homework by tomorrow, but I haven't done it yet)

Passive and Causative in Complex Structures

Passive:

• 친구한테 선물을 받았는데 제가 좋아하는 책이어서 기뻤어요 (I received a gift from a friend, and since it was a book I like, I was happy)

Causative:

• 동생에게 숙제를 시키고 나서 저도 제 일을 했어요 (After making my younger sibling do homework, I also did my work)

Nominalization in Long Sentences

Using -기 and -(으)ㄴ/는 것:

-기 pattern:

• 한국어를 공부하기 위해 한국에 온 것이 제 인생 최고의 결정이었어요 (Coming to Korea to study Korean was the best decision of my life)

-(으)ㄴ/는 것 pattern:

• 제가 어제 본 것은 친구가 추천한 영화였는데 생각보다 재미없었어요 (What I watched yesterday was a movie my friend recommended, but it was less interesting than I thought)

Topic-Comment Complex Structures

Using -는 for topic marking

Pattern: [Topic]-는 + [Complex comment]

Examples:

• 한국어는 배우면 배울수록 어려워지는데 그래도 재미있어요 (The more you learn Korean, the more difficult it gets, but it's still fun)
• 저는 아침에 일찍 일어나서 운동하고 샤워한 후에 출근해요 (As for me, I wake up early in the morning, exercise, shower, and then go to work)

Multiple topics

Layered topics:

• 한국 음식은 김치가 제일 유명한데 저는 비빔밥을 더 좋아해요 (As for Korean food, kimchi is most famous, but I prefer bibimbap)

Perspective Shifts in Complex Sentences

Changing subjects mid-sentence

Pattern: [Subject 1] clause + connector + [Subject 2] clause

Examples:

• 제가 전화했는데 친구는 받지 않았어요 (I called but my friend didn't answer)
• 아침에 비가 왔는데 오후에는 날씨가 좋아졌어요 (It rained in the morning but the weather got better in the afternoon)

Implied subject changes

Context-dependent:

• 집에 와서 씻고 밥을 먹었어요 (Came home, washed up, and ate)
  • All same subject (implied "I")

With different subjects:

• 제가 요리했는데 동생이 다 먹었어요 (I cooked but my younger sibling ate it all)

Common Complex Sentence Patterns

Explanation Patterns

Pattern: [Situation] + -는데 + [Explanation/Question]

Examples:

• 한국어를 공부하고 있는데 문법이 너무 어려워요 (I'm studying Korean, but the grammar is too difficult)
• 내일 시험이 있는데 아직 준비를 못 했어요 (I have an exam tomorrow, but I haven't prepared yet)

Contrast Patterns

Pattern: [Statement 1] + -지만 + [Contrasting statement]

Examples:

• 비싸지만 품질이 좋아서 샀어요 (It's expensive, but I bought it because the quality is good)
• 피곤하지만 일을 끝내야 해서 계속 일했어요 (I'm tired, but I had to finish work so I kept working)

Sequential Action Patterns

Pattern: [Action 1] + -고 + [Action 2] + -고 나서 + [Action 3]

Examples:

• 집에 와서 손을 씻고 옷을 갈아입고 나서 쉬었어요 (Came home, washed hands, changed clothes, and then rested)
• 아침을 먹고 양치하고 준비하고 나서 출근했어요 (Ate breakfast, brushed teeth, got ready, and then went to work)

Formal vs. Casual Complex Sentences

Formal Style

Characteristics:

• Longer sentences
• More subordination
• Formal endings (-습니다, -ㅂ니다)
• Formal connectors (-며, -으나)

Example:

• 본 회의는 오전 10시에 시작하며, 참석자들은 미리 준비한 자료를 제출해야 하므로 늦지 않도록 주의하시기 바랍니다
  • (This meeting starts at 10 AM, and since participants must submit prepared materials, please be careful not to be late)

Casual Style

Characteristics:

• Shorter clauses
• More coordination
• Casual endings (-어요, -아요)
• Casual connectors (-고, -는데)

Example:

• 회의가 10시에 시작하는데 자료 준비해야 해서 일찍 와야 해요
  • (The meeting starts at 10, and since we need to prepare materials, we should come early)

Building Complexity Step-by-Step

Example Progression

Level 1 - Simple:

• 밥을 먹었어요 (I ate)

Level 2 - Add time:

• 어제 밥을 먹었어요 (I ate yesterday)

Level 3 - Add location:

• 어제 식당에서 밥을 먹었어요 (I ate at a restaurant yesterday)

Level 4 - Add companion:

• 어제 친구와 식당에서 밥을 먹었어요 (I ate at a restaurant with a friend yesterday)

Level 5 - Add description:

• 어제 친구와 새로 생긴 식당에서 밥을 먹었어요 (I ate at a newly opened restaurant with a friend yesterday)

Level 6 - Add result:

• 어제 친구와 새로 생긴 식당에서 밥을 먹었는데 정말 맛있었어요 (I ate at a newly opened restaurant with a friend yesterday and it was really delicious)

Level 7 - Add purpose/reason:

• 어제 친구 생일이어서 친구와 새로 생긴 식당에서 밥을 먹었는데 정말 맛있었어요 (Since it was my friend's birthday yesterday, we ate at a newly opened restaurant and it was really delicious)

Level 8 - Add embedded clause:

• 어제 친구 생일이어서 친구가 전부터 가고 싶어 했던 새로 생긴 식당에서 밥을 먹었는데 정말 맛있었어요 (Since it was my friend's birthday yesterday, we ate at a newly opened restaurant that my friend had wanted to go to for a while, and it was really delicious)

Common Mistakes

❌ Incorrect: Too many clauses without clear connection

오늘 일어나고 밥을 먹고 학교에 가고 공부하고 점심을 먹고 집에 왔어요

Too monotonous and unclear

✅ Correct: Vary connectors and group logically

오늘 일어나서 밥을 먹고 학교에 갔어요. 공부한 후에 점심을 먹고 집에 왔어요

Clearer grouping

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❌ Incorrect: Mixing incompatible tenses

어제 학교에 가는데 친구를 만났어요

-는데 is present tense, but 어제 is past

✅ Correct: Match tenses properly

어제 학교에 갔는데 친구를 만났어요

Past tense -았/었는데

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❌ Incorrect: Subject confusion in long sentences

제가 전화했는데 안 받았어요

Unclear who didn't answer

✅ Correct: Clarify different subjects

제가 전화했는데 친구가 안 받았어요

Clear subject for each clause

Tips for Natural Complex Sentences

Balance and Rhythm

Don't make sentences too long:

• Break very long thoughts into 2-3 sentences
• Use periods for major thought breaks
• Reserve complexity for necessary detail

Vary Sentence Structure

Mix simple and complex:

• Not every sentence needs to be complex
• Simple sentences for emphasis
• Complex sentences for nuance

Use Appropriate Connectors

Match connector to relationship:

• Time: -을 때, -고 나서, -기 전에
• Reason: -아/어서, -(으)니까
• Contrast: -지만, -는데
• Purpose: -(으)려고, -기 위해

Practice Patterns

Common useful patterns:

• [Embedded clause] + 것 + 이다
• [Reason] + -아/어서 + [Result]
• [Condition] + -(으)면 + [Consequence]
• [Action 1] + -고 나서 + [Action 2]

Summary Table

Element	Complexity Level	Pattern Example
Simple coordination	Low	-고, -며
Time subordination	Medium	-(으)ㄹ 때, -기 전에, -은 후에
Reason subordination	Medium	-아/어서, -(으)니까, -기 때문에
Embedded clauses	Medium-High	-(으)ㄴ/는/ㄹ + Noun
Multiple embeddings	High	[Clause 1] + [Clause 2] + Noun
Conditional + Embedded	High	-(으)면 + [Embedded] + Verb
Quotation + Complex	High	-다고 + [Complex clause]
Multi-clause formal	Very High	-며... -므로... -도록...