-게 expresses purpose or manner, creating an intended result. It means "so that," "in a way that," or describes how an action is done.
Structure
Adjective/Verb stem + -게
Usage:
- Purpose: "So that [result]"
- Manner: "In a [adjective] way"
Basic Pattern
All Verbs and Adjectives: -게
No conjugation variations:
- 보다 → 보게 (so that [someone] sees)
- 듣다 → 듣게 (so that [someone] hears)
- 좋다 → 좋게 (in a good way / so that it's good)
- 크다 → 크게 (big / so that it's big)
Two Main Functions
1. Purpose (Result)
Creating a condition for someone/something:
- 잘 보게 크게 썼어요 (I wrote big so you could see well)
- 듣게 크게 말했어요 (I spoke loud so you could hear)
- 알게 설명했어요 (I explained so you would understand)
2. Manner (How)
Describing how action is done:
- 크게 말하세요 (Speak loudly)
- 빨리 가세요 (Go quickly)
- 조용히 하세요 (Do it quietly)
Common Adverbial Uses (Manner)
With Adjectives
How to do something:
- 크게 (big/loudly)
- 작게 (small/quietly)
- 빨리 (quickly/fast - irregular)
- 천천히 (slowly - irregular)
- 조용히 (quietly - irregular)
- 예쁘게 (prettily)
- 깨끗하게 (cleanly)
Examples:
- 크게 말하세요 (Speak loudly)
- 예쁘게 포장해 주세요 (Please wrap it prettily)
- 깨끗하게 청소하세요 (Clean it thoroughly)
Purpose Usage
Making Something Happen
Pattern: Action + -게 + Main verb
Examples:
- 보게 했어요 (I made it so they could see)
- 먹게 줬어요 (I gave so they could eat)
- 알게 말했어요 (I told so they would know)
- 듣게 설명했어요 (I explained so they could hear)
Creating Conditions
Setting up situations:
- 잘 자게 불을 껐어요 (I turned off lights so you could sleep well)
- 편하게 앉으세요 (Sit so you're comfortable / Sit comfortably)
- 맛있게 드세요 (Eat so it's delicious / Enjoy your meal)
- 건강하게 지내세요 (Live so you're healthy / Stay healthy)
Common Expressions
Everyday Phrases
Mannered actions:
- 맛있게 드세요 (Enjoy your meal - lit. "eat deliciously")
- 잘 자요 → 잘 주무세요 (Sleep well)
- 편하게 하세요 (Do it comfortably / Make yourself comfortable)
- 조심하세요 (Be careful)
- 건강하게 지내세요 (Stay healthy)
Instructions
How to do things:
- 크게 말하세요 (Speak loudly)
- 작게 쓰세요 (Write small)
- 빨리 오세요 (Come quickly)
- 천천히 하세요 (Do it slowly)
- 잘 들으세요 (Listen well)
With Verbs of Causation
Making Someone Do Something
하다 (make/do):
- 보게 하다 (make/let see)
- 먹게 하다 (make/let eat)
- 알게 하다 (make know / inform)
주다 (give):
- 보게 주다 (give to see / show)
- 먹게 주다 (give to eat / feed)
Examples:
- 아이가 보게 했어요 (I let the child see)
- 친구에게 알게 했어요 (I made my friend know / I informed my friend)
Negative Form
So That Not
Pattern: -지 않게 / 안 -게
Examples:
- 보지 않게 숨겼어요 (I hid it so they wouldn't see)
- 듣지 않게 조용히 했어요 (I was quiet so they wouldn't hear)
- 안 보게 가렸어요 (I covered it so you can't see)
Common Patterns
With 되다 (Become)
Making something become:
- 좋게 되다 (become good / turn out well)
- 나쁘게 되다 (become bad / turn out badly)
- 크게 되다 (become big)
Examples:
- 잘 되게 해 주세요 (Please make it turn out well)
- 좋게 되기를 바래요 (I hope it turns out well)
With 만들다 (Make)
Making in a certain way:
- 예쁘게 만들어요 (Make it prettily)
- 크게 만들어요 (Make it big)
- 맛있게 만들어요 (Make it delicious)
Irregular Forms
Common Irregular Adverbs
Some have special forms:
- 빠르다 → 빨리 (quickly - not 빠르게)
- 느리다 → 느리게 (slowly - regular)
- 조용하다 → 조용히 (quietly - not 조용하게)
Note: These are exceptions to the regular -게 pattern
Contrast with Similar Forms
-게 vs -(으)려고
-게: Result/manner (so that, in a way)
- 보게 설명했어요 (I explained so you could see)
- → Making result happen for others
-(으)려고: Speaker's purpose (in order to)
- 보려고 갔어요 (I went to see)
- → Speaker's own intention
-게 vs -도록
-게: Simple manner/purpose
- 보게 했어요 (I made it so they could see)
- → Simple causation
-도록: Stronger purpose (more formal)
- 보도록 했어요 (I arranged so they could see)
- → More formal, stronger intent
Example Dialogues
Dialogue 1: At Restaurant
A: 맛있게 드세요!
(Enjoy your meal!)
B: 감사합니다.
(Thank you.)
Dialogue 2: Instructions
A: 어떻게 할까요?
(How should I do it?)
B: 천천히 하세요. 그리고 크게 쓰세요.
(Do it slowly. And write big.)
Dialogue 3: Showing Something
A: 이거 친구한테 보여줘도 돼요?
(Can I show this to my friend?)
B: 네, 보게 해 주세요.
(Yes, please show them.)
Dialogue 4: Parting
A: 잘 가요!
(Goodbye!)
B: 건강하게 지내세요!
(Stay healthy!)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 크게게 말하세요
Double -게
✅ Correct: 크게 말하세요
One -게 only
❌ Incorrect: 보기 주세요
Using -기 instead of -게
✅ Correct: 보게 해 주세요
Use -게 for purpose/result
Summary Table - Manner
| Adjective | -게 Form | Meaning | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 크다 | 크게 | Loudly/big | 크게 말하세요 |
| 작다 | 작게 | Quietly/small | 작게 쓰세요 |
| 예쁘다 | 예쁘게 | Prettily | 예쁘게 포장하세요 |
| 깨끗하다 | 깨끗하게 | Cleanly | 깨끗하게 청소하세요 |
Summary Table - Purpose
| Verb | -게 하다 | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 보다 | 보게 하다 | Make/let see |
| 듣다 | 듣게 하다 | Make/let hear |
| 알다 | 알게 하다 | Make know/inform |
| 먹다 | 먹게 하다 | Make/let eat |
Key Takeaways
✅ Two main uses: Manner (how) and Purpose (so that)
✅ All verbs/adjectives: Just add -게
✅ Manner: Describes how (크게, 작게, 빨리)
✅ Purpose: Creates result (보게 했어요)
✅ Common expressions: 맛있게 드세요, 건강하게 지내세요
✅ Some irregular: 빨리, 조용히 (exceptions)
-게 is extremely versatile and common in Korean, used both for describing how actions are done and for expressing purposes that create specific results. It's essential for polite expressions, instructions, and everyday conversations.